Post Player

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Back In The Saddle

I have heard this phrase, referee the defense, several times recently (including in the FIBA officials manual). Could you kindly tell me what this means?

The block/charge decision is based on whether the defender had legal guarding position. If she didn't, it's block, if she did, it's charge. If you were watching only the dribbler, or only the ball, you won't know where defense was prior to the contact. Sometimes legal guarding position is determined several seconds before the contact, and you've got to have already seen it. So keep more eye on the defender and less on the ball. It's possible to miss a travel, or a carry, but that's not as serious as calling block/charge wrong. IMHO