The rule you cite (I'm think you meant 4-23-5a.) says that guarding a moving opponent without the ball:

Time and distance is required to obtain an INITIAL legal position.

Go to 4-23-3 and it tells you what can occur after an initial legal position is obtained. You'll find absolutely nothing that says anything about time or distance. You'll even see that it says once that initial legal guarding position is obtained, that a guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain that position...provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs. Time and distance is only relevant in first obtaining that initial guarding position on a moving opponent.

I think, no I'm sure, you're misunderstanding the rule. Time and distance are a factor when guarding a moving opponent without the ball but NFHS 4-23-5c reads "the distance need not be more than two strides." That would be the distance required for A1 to avoid contact. What you're saying, essentially, is if B1 establishes LGP and continues to move, (s)he has to keep racing backwards away from A1 to avoid any contact...which doesn't make sense. Once B1 establishes LGP, if (s)he maintains LGP the onus is on A1 to avoid illegal contact.


Take a look at NCAAM/W 4-17-6. It's virtually the same as NFHS 4-23-3
Art. 6. To maintain a legal guarding position after the initial position has been attained, the guard:
a. Is not required to continue having the torso face the opponent;
b. Cannot have either foot out of bounds;
c. May raise the hands or may jump within her own vertical plane;
d. May shift to maintain guarding position in the path of the dribbler, provided that the guard does not charge into the dribbler or otherwise cause contact;
e. May move laterally or obliquely to maintain position provided such a move is not toward the opponent when contact occurs;
f. Is not required to have the feet on the playing court when shifting in the path of the dribbler or when moving laterally or obliquely; and
g. May turn or duck to absorb shock when contact by the dribbler is imminent. In such a case, the dribbler shall not be absolved from the responsibility of contact.

^^What he said!

OBTAINING requires time/distance. MAINTAINING does not. If it did, the defense might as well just step out of the way and let the offense get to the basket because that would make it impossible to play defense without committing a foul on every play.