Expansion On A Recent Topic
 

Rather than hijack the thread on displacement in the post I wanted to start a new one.

Low post play has always perplexed me a bit at any level of ball simply because of the amount of contact that goes on. There seemed to be a lot of individual judgement (i.e., HTBT) that went into just about every scenario or experience I've had with this aspect of the game.

I've never been a believer in coincidences so it shouldn't have surprised that while reading the rulebook last night in preparation for the season I came across 4-25-3:

Incidental contact is contact with an opponent which is permitted and which does not constitute a foul. Similarly, contact which does not hinder the opponent from participating in normal defensive or offensive movements should be considered incidental.

This is the rules justification for allowing the inevitable low-post jockying that goes on between offense and defense. Where a foul occurs is when one gains an advantage over the other because of the contact.

Thinking about it in that way helped clear it up for me and sharpen the line between contact and foul in the low post. What I wanted to check was am I thinking about this correctly? Is there a different way to view low post play and decide what is/isn't a foul?

Players in the post can move around, but when they grab, push, pull and hold to either get to a position or keep their position then it should be called. Again sometimes an advantage is hard to tell when both players are doing the same things or when the ball is not going to that area. This is why you talk to them early and let them know that you are there. Then if they do not listen call the foul. All it takes is a couple fouls and this will usually stop being a problem.

Peace

There a few absolutes in the post that we dont apply advantage/disadvantage to:

2 hands on the post player
Extending the forearm
Def/Off wraps
Knee in the defenders backside

Those depend on the level and location (and sometimes the year).

I do not agree with the first one unless they have the ball. It is possible they are just touching them and not moving them in this case. And on the second one I do not even allow them the forearm for the most part either. Again the part that matters is displacement.

Peace

You're right, without the ball its all good in the post. Perimeter ball handler is the absolute.

I am not saying anything goes, just that if that happens it is not something that will automatically draw a foul. It could be a foul if those hands are used to keep a position or direct or hold a player from movement.

Peace

Post Play ...
 

Let’s not allow a defender to use a leg or knee to move a player off the block. Let’s make sure the offensive
player isn’t holding off the defender, or holding him with his off-hand. As Lead, let’s find the post matchup
as soon as possible so that we get the first foul. Remember RIDD. Don’t let players Redirect, Impede,
Displace, or Dislodge.

i have not heard of RIDD before....remember that RSBQ (rythm, speed, balance, and quickness) applies to all players on the floor. a defender that impedes or interrupts the RSBQ of any offensive player has committed a foul.

RIDD is the new RSBQ. :/

Never heard of it.

Peace

My only quibble here is that a defender gets the same RSBQ protections.