New rules on contact / hand-checking

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I kept the new rule in my during camp last weekend. The camp director noted I was calling hand-checks at times that were probably pushes.

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Bainsey:

My rule of thumb is: a) one hand is a hand check, and b) two hands is a push. That said, if I were evaluating you I would give you my rule of thumb but not ding you. I would ding you if a defender put two hands on the ball handler and you did not call a foul.

The "hand-check" foul has only been in the books for a few years. Why? All hand checks are also either a push or illegal use of hands or both. The only actual difference is in that each communicates a slightly different thing.

The hand check foul was only added because those types of fouls were not getting called enough. After still not being called enough the NFHS has now added explicit wording. They really want it called.