block/charge article

[walter]

No place in the definition of intial guarding position does the phrase one step to change or alter direction, course, etc. occur. NFHS "to obtain intial guarding position the guard must have both feet touching the floor and the front of the guard's torso must be facing the opponent. (4-23-2)". NFHS "Guarding an ooponent with the ball or a stationary opponent without the ball no time or distance is required to obtain an intial guarding position. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor. (4-23-4). NCAA "Every player is entitled to a spot on the floor provided such players get there first without illegally contacting an opponent. It is assumed the guard may shift to maintain guarding position in the path of the dribbler provided the guard doesn't charge into the dribbler nor otherwise cause contact as outlined in Rule 10-10. ...to establish intial legal guarding position on the player with the ball, the guard must have both feet touching the floor. If the guard jumps into position initially, both feet must return to the floor after the jump before the guard has established a guarding position. The guard's torso must be facing the opponent. No time and distance are required. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have established legal position before the opponent left the floor. (4-19a)". The only place that time and distance are factors are guarding a moving opponent without the ball. Then, and only then, in both NFHS and NCAA, the distance given need not exceed more than two strides and the guard must give the opponent time and distance to avoid contact. I don't know where anyone came up with this one step business. If a guard is quick eneough to jump in front of a moving player, get both feet on the ground and take contact on the torso, the only call that can be made is player control. If an official is so focused on a dribbler and out of nowhere a defender appears in front of the dribbler and that defender meets the above criteria and because it happened so fast the official calls a block, in the words of one of my supervisors, "that official should be arrested because he stole a great defensive play from the defender because the official was so in love with the ball he forgot to ref the defense because he obviously never knew the defender was coming!" Intial guarding position can be established instantaneously when it relates to an opponent with the ball. No where does is one step required when guarding the ball. If the defender gets there first, no matter how fast, reward the defense!!!