Yes. PC

Yes, as long as the lateral movement by the defender came AFTER A1 jumped.
100% agree. The dribbler is not airborne and this allows BY RULE the defender to move laterally or obliquely to maintain legal position as the offensive player changes his path.
However, the rules are different after a player becomes airborne. (These rules have already been quoted and you know them anyway.) If the defender was in the airborne player's path before he left the floor, then he is fine, and doesn't have to relinquish that position (other than not moving forward), but if the airborne player picked a new path and jumped in that direction which is NOT the one along which the defender currently is, then the defender has to let him go. The defender cannot slide over to get in this new path AFTER the opponent has become airborne. Any illegal contact caused by doing so would be the fault of the defender.

It's really that simple.

If B1 is not in A1's path, B1 has lost LGP whether it is against a dribber or an airborne player. In the dribbling case, B1 re-obtains a new LGP when they get back in A1's path. By doing so, it is a PC. In the airborne case, B1 can not legally re-obtain LGP since A1 is airborne....thus it can only be a block.

It is possible that B1 could either continuously maintain LGP or lose it and re-obtain LGP against a dribbler.

As I've said, there's a gap in the rules: they do not specify how one can maintain a "legal position" (or, alternatively, how one loses it) after the shooter goes airborne.

One side of this conversation maintains that any movement by the defender entails loss of LP; the other side maintains that some movement is permitted (namely backward).

Without clarification from NFHS regarding what's missing from the rules, this debate is rationally irresolvable.

Ok, I think that I do know the rules, but honestly don't know how you justify this particular claim. Where is the rule that says LGP is lost immediately when an offensive player jumps laterally? That's an honest question, and not intended to sound snooty.

This is simply false. When a dribbler changes path, a defender who has obtained an initial LGP can "maintain" that LGP by moving laterally. (4-23-3c) They don't lose it and re-establish it.

The defender may indeed move to maintain LGP but that requires they stay in the opponents path while doing so. If the dribbler completely goes a new direction such that the defender is, even for a moment, not in the dribbler's path (the direction the dribbler is moving), the defender has lost LGP. That is the basic definition of guarding....you must be IN the path. If the defender doesn't meet the requirements of basic guarding, they certainly don't have LGP. Many times, the defender is able to keep up with the dribblers movements and is able to remain in the path continuously, but that is not always the case.

Respectfully, I think you're incorrect on that point, Camron. 4-23-3c clearly says that the defender maintains his position (which is a LGP, according to the previous article), by moving laterally.

Additionally, a defender maintains a closely guarded count even when the defender is not directly in the dribbler's path. By your reasoning, as soon as the dribbler moved laterally, the count should stop. (If he's not in the path, then he's not guarding; so how can he be closely guarding?)

Also, when the dribbler moves away from the defender, the defender does not need to move "in his path" to maintain LGP. That would require the defender to move around to cut him off.

And where might I read sumthin' that says a defender loses his position(LGP) by moving straight backwards while never leaving the direct path of the offensive player?

Rules citation, please.

The 2009-2010 Points of Emphasis Bulletin further clarifies what a defender can do to maintain his LGP.


4. BLOCK/CHARGE. The obtaining and maintaining of a legal guarding position on a person with and without the ball has been a point of emphasis over the years, but yet, remains one of the most difficult plays to coach and officiate.

A. The basics. To correctly understand the guarding rule, the following points are critical:

1) To obtain an initial guarding position on a player with the ball, the defender must get to the spot first without contact, have both feet touching the floor, and initially face the opponent. (not in dispute here)

2) Once the initial guarding position has been obtained, the defender may move laterally or at an angle or backwards in order to maintain a legal guarding position. Keep in mind that when a defender obtains an initial position with both feet touching the floor and facing his/her opponent, the defender need not be stationary but may continue to move in order to stay in front of the person with the ball. (clearly defines that movement at an angle or backwards movement is permissible to maintain LGP)

3) Once the defender obtains a legal guarding position, the defender may raise his/her hands in a normal stance or may jump vertically within his/her vertical plane. (not in dispute here)

4) A defender may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact. (not in dispute here)

5) A player is never permitted to move into the path of an opponent after the opponent has jumped into the air. (If a players already has LGP, then he is already in the path of the opponent. His backward movement is not moving into the path.)

Good find, asdf.

For the the tenth time or so, it's quoted in post 56. The defender must have his legal position (but not "a" legal position, apparently) BEFORE the opponent goes airborne. If the defender is moving after the opponent is airborne, then he doesn't have position yet, does he?

In any case, I'm leaving for two weeks vacation. So I'm afraid that I'm done with this discussion for a while. Everybody have a safe celebration on the 4th.

Irrelevant. And whether that is true or not really would never matter. When the dribbler moves away from the defender, there is no point in LGP as it would be impossible for their to be a collision where LGP would come into play. The only time LGP matters is when the dribbler is moving towards the defender.

Actually he does. What it doesn't say is that he has to maintain the same position. Nothing says the defender has to be stationary...just that they already have position. If they have legal position, why can't they move?

Before you go, be sure to post your street address and leave a key under the mat. Thanks. :cool: