POI 2003-2004

[wizard]

Originally posted by Hawks Coach
You can extend your hands anywhere you want, anytime you want. Just don't make illegal contact when doing so. The reason the rule is stated as such is to make clear that if you put your hands, arms, elbows, etc., out there, you don't own that space in addition to the space over your feet. There is no violation nor penalty listed for extending hands illegally - just for making illegal contact when doing so.

If you move your feet and maintain the block out with your hips, you will be fine regardless of where any part of the rest of your body is because you aren't making contact with any other part of your body. If you don't move your feet, and your arms in their extended postion become all that you contact the oppontnet with, the contact will be deemed illegal if it gives you an advantage (i.e., hinders the opponent from making normal movements). If you make contact but gain no illegal advantage, play on because the your opponent just went around you for a rebound.

Coach,
Thanks for the clarification. But if that's what the rule means, then why isn't it stated that way? Then again, if the rules book wasn't written the way it is, we wouldn't have this wonderful forum to discuss how the game is played, coached and officiated.