Four-Part Formulato Get More Block/ChargeCalls Correct

How to Get More Block/Charge Calls Correct

1) Know the relevant rules

2) Be able to refute the most common mythological claims

3) Be looking at the right thing

4) Study, study, study video, video, video

1) RULES RELEVANT TO BLOCK/CHARGE

GUARDING 4-23-1,2,3

BLOCKING/CHARGING 4-7-1,2

ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of anoffensive opponent. … Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball……b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor

GUARDING 4-23

ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of anoffensive opponent. … Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball……b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor

GUARDING 4-23

ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of anoffensive opponent. … Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball……b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor

GUARDING 4-23

ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of anoffensive opponent. … Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball……b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor

GUARDING 4-23

BLOCKING/CHARGING 4-7

ART. 1 . . . Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress ofan opponent with or without the ball.ART. 2 . . . Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or movinginto an opponent’s torso.a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change directionto avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding positionin his/her path.…d. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain anadvantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

BLOCKING/CHARGING 4-7

ART. 1 . . . Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress ofan opponent with or without the ball.ART. 2 . . . Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or movinginto an opponent’s torso.a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change directionto avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding positionin his/her path.…d. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain anadvantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

BLOCKING/CHARGING 4-7

ART. 1 . . . Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress ofan opponent with or without the ball.ART. 2 . . . Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or movinginto an opponent’s torso.a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change directionto avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding positionin his/her path.…d. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain anadvantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

BLOCKING/CHARGING 4-7

ART. 1 . . . Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress ofan opponent with or without the ball.ART. 2 . . . Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or movinginto an opponent’s torso.a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change directionto avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding positionin his/her path.…d. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain anadvantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

VIDEO RESOURCE

One video resource that illustrates especially well the rules regarding block/charge comes from the training videos produced by FIBA. Though the wording of their rules is a little different, the principles of block/charge rules are essentially the same between FIBA and NFHS. Paste this link in your web browser to access this excellent 18-minute video presentation: https://vimeo.com/395706

2) MYTHOLOGICAL CLAIMS

“He wasn’t set!!!”“She was moving!!!” He was under the

basket!!! Her feet were off the

floor!!!Coaches will challenge you with popular yet inaccurate claims like these. Are you able, if/when necessary, to tactfully respond with a rule-based reply to express why your call was either a block or a charge?

Sample Rule-Based Responses to MYTHOLOGICAL CLAIMS

“He wasn’t set!!!”Correct, coach. But the defender had Legal Guarding Position and kept it. “She was moving!!!”Correct, coach. Legally and laterally. He was under the basket!!!Sorry, coach. We don’t have the “arc” in high school. Her feet were off the floor!!!Correct, coach. But she stayed in her vertical.

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours

B) When a dribble-drive starts out top, don’t be ballwatching on the dribbler

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours

B) When a dribble-drive starts out top, don’t be ballwatching on the dribbler

C) Identify the “secondary defender”

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours

B) When a dribble-drive starts out top, don’t be ballwatching on the dribbler

C) Identify the “secondary defender”

D) Assess GP, legal or illegal, prior to the crash prior to the shooter leaving the floor

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours

B) When a dribble-drive starts out top, don’t be ballwatching on the dribbler

C) Identify the “secondary defender”

D) Assess GP, legal or illegal, prior to the crash prior to the shooter leaving the floor

E) Stop the clock with an upraised arm, THEN signal * More time to digest what just happened * Time to glance at partner for double whistle and potential “blarge”

3) BE LOOKING AT THE RIGHT THING

A)Know the PCA’s and maintain primary focus in yours (Officials prone to ballwatching will most often get this call wrong and will get this call wrong most often)

B) When a dribble-drive starts out top, don’t be ballwatching on the dribbler (When dribbler A1 beats his defender B1, don’t be looking at A1…find and focus on B2, the player likely to be trying to ‘take a charge’)

C) Identify the “secondary defender” (Proper off-ball surveillance and early detection of this player will help you get this call right more often)

D) Assess GP, legal or illegal, prior to the crash prior to the shooter leaving the floor (This takes knowing the rules and advance notice of the status of that secondary defender prior to the crash)

E) Stop the clock with an upraised arm, THEN signal “Block” or “Charge” (Going straight to the signal minimizes the likelihood of accuracy)

4) STUDY VIDEO OF BLOCK/CHARGE PLAYS

Find and study the many clips of block/charge plays available on YouTube, elsewhere on the internet, maybe at your state’s association website, and at resource sites like www.myvirtualofficialsassociation.com. When you watch and study block/charge clips, view them over and over and over again. Visualize the action from the perspective of the Lead official. Accurately identify the status – legal or not – of the secondary defender and train your eyes to assess that status prior to the crash. Never tire of watching video clips repeatedly. By doing so, the previous three principles of this four-part formula will become habitual and innate. And you’ll find yourself getting block/charge plays right more confidently and more often.