closely guarded?

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Kelvin green
what is legally in front of the player? The rule says closely guarded I dont recall anywhere where the rule states that you must be in legal guarding position to be closely guarding another player.

You have to be in a guarding position to have a closely guarded count. Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. Chasing him from behind after he's by you is not in his path.