one in four years

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by JeffTheRef
on this situation, not that anyone has uncovered. So I am trying to reference 'common practice'. Are you suggesting that it is common practice, when a player has picked up the ball and has it at waist level or below and it is batted out of his hands, to consider that a blocked shot?

I dont' know. I don't think so - though perhaps the ramifications of whether it is or isn't rarely come up!

Jeff, no, it's not common practice. It's the rule. This one isn't rocket science. A try starts when the player begins the motion which habitually precedes the release of the ball. If the ball is slapped away by a defender after the motion has begun, YES SIR, IT IS A BLOCKED SHOT. There is no question about that.

If there was a foul, wouldn't you give the shooter two FTs? If so, how can you not consider it a blocked shot if there is not contact?

There is no gray area here. If you think this isn't a block, you're dead wrong. Use the rules. That's why we have them.