You Make The Call

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Tio

Over the back is a term that has worked its way into the vernacular of the game. If someone says it to you, you know what it means. It is probably best for your semantic choices to be consistent with using "rulebook verbiage." This means using similar terms as are in the rulebook with the hope that coaches are on the same page (reading the rules) and will speak the same language and terms.

Actually we do not know what they mean if you are applying the rules. Or at least what they are suggesting is not rules based. There is nothing in the rules that is special about the back. Just like a coach might say, "Well he had inside position right?" None of those things have rules backing and can be confusing or if we called it correctly we would not apply the actual rules. Fouls are about displacement and someone out jumping even on your back does not mean it is a foul and often coaches, players and fans thinks these are fouls simply because a player out jumps them from behind.

I had a game last night where a couple of the kids were 6'8" or bigger and their opponent might not have had a 6'3" player and every time the bigger kids out jumped someone, you would hear a cry for a foul. No displacement, hardly any contact at all but it does not stop them saying, "Over the back." I think as officials we should not feed into that ignorance.

Peace