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Long Island District
Board # 41
The Principle of Verticality – The “Shooter” &
the Defender
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The principle and involved rules apply equally to the “shooter” and
the defender.
Thorough understanding of “The Principle of Verticality”, acquiring
coverage position to
observe the entire play from beginning to end and ruling correctly is
vital to the balance
of defensive and offensive play.
As per any guarding/match up situation, the defender must initially
obtain legal guarding
position.
All too often, the official rules blocking or illegal use of the
arm(s)/hand(s) on the
defensive player when the defender’s position was legal and all of the
contact was a
result of the movement of the offensive dribbler or “shooter”. The
incorrect ruling very
often involves contact with the arm(s) of the defender in the vertical
area above her/his
body.
Basics of “The Principle of Verticality”:
1) The defender must initially obtain legal guarding position then
maintain it by
legal movement.
2) The defender may rise/jump vertically and occupy the space within
her/his
vertical plane.
3) The arms of the defender may be raised within her/his vertical
space while on the
floor or while airborne.
4) The defender, while on the floor or while airborne, may not “belly
up” or jump
into or use the lower part of her/his body or use hand(s) or arm(s),
or displace the
offensive player or otherwise cause contact, beyond incidental, within
the
offensive player’s vertical space.
5) The offensive player, whether on the floor or while airborne, may
not “clear out”,
or jump into or displace the defender or otherwise cause contact,
beyond
incidental, within the defender’s vertical space.
6) The player with the ball is not to be given more protection or
consideration than
the defender in ruling which player has violated the rules.
The game involves player movement in the air as well as on the floor.
Much
misunderstanding continues to exist regarding a player’s right and
responsibility to the
vertical space above the body. The misunderstanding generally results
in the defensive
player being charged with a foul when the actually her/his vertical
space has been
violated. No opponent may occupy that space without being responsible
for the contact
which may occur. If contact results because the “shooter” dislodges
the arm(s) of the
defender or moves into/pushes the defender, within the defender’s
vertical space the
“shooter” has fouled.
Two additional situations which need attention are: a) when a player
is stationary but too
far under the basket/backboard; b) the dribbler, advancing along the
endline, finds
her/himself too far under the basket/backboard. In either situation,
the offensive player is
unable to “shoot” unless she/he invades the defender’s vertical plane
and displaces the
defender. Too often, a blocking foul of illegal use of hand(s)/arm(s)
is ruled even though
the defender was completely motionless with arm(s) fully extended
throughout the entire
contact situation.
Some Guidelines to making a correct Ruling:
1. A defensive player’s arm(s) may not be placed above the offensive
player to
prevent the player from assuming a normal standing position. If
contact occurs at
this point the defensive player is responsible. The defender may not
occupy the
offensive player’s vertical space and cause contact.
2. If the defender’s arm(s) are within her/his vertical space and
remain within the
space, the offensive player may not cause contact even if the defender
jumps
vertically.
3. When the “shooter” drives into the lane and the defensive player
has a legal
guarding position before the “shooter” becomes airborne, the
responsibility for
contact is on the “shooter” if the defender rises vertically with
arm(s) extended to
block the try..
4. Be aware of the affect that contact has on the defender when the
offensive player hits, bumps, pushes into the midsection or chest of
the defender.
The contact causes the defender’s arm(s) to move forward breaking the
offensive
player’s vertical plane and space. If the official does not see the
entire play, she/he
incorrectly rules illegal use of hand/arms on the defender. |
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updated
01/26/11 |
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