Reward the defense with the rules

The 2012-2013 high school basketball season begins soon. With each new season the officials are provided points of emphasis by the National Federation of State High School Associations. This season there are four points of emphasis:

1. Closely guarded situations
2. Contact above the shoulders
3. Intentional fouls
4. Guidelines to enforce illegal contact

For this post I'll focus on closely guarded situations.

During a boys game, a closely guarded situation occurs when a defender's foot is within six feet of the offensive player with the ball in the frountcourt. To avoid a violation by the offensive player, the offensive player may not dribble the ball for five consecutive seconds, or hold the ball for five consecutive seconds, while being actively guarded. The defense is considered to be actively guarding a player if the defender is within six feet of the ball handler and the offensive player does not have head and shoulders past the defender when making an offensive move toward the basket.

In the girls game, closely guarded situations only matter when the ball is held. There is no five second violations for dribbling in the girls game.

It should also be pointed out that the five second count does not stop and start again if defenders switch on an offensive player. For example, suppose player A1 is going to run a pick-and-roll play with player A2, and players B1 and B2 are on defense. Player A1 dribbles the ball for three seconds while actively guarded by A1, and player A2 comes to set a screen. Player B1 is unable to get around the screen, but player B2 engages the play and keeps within six feet of distance to continue actively guarding A1. If A1 dribbles for two more seconds, then A1 commits a violation.

If you are a coach or a player, you should expect officials to keep a more keen eye on this violation as the rules committee felt officials were not properly applying the rule and not rewarding good defense.

For all parties, officials, coaches, and players, using the free throw semi-circle is a good point of reference on the floor to gauge six feet of distance since the free throw semi-circle has a six-foot radius from the center of the free throw line to the top of the key.

I am looking forward to another great season, and I wish all involved the best of luck in improving and enjoying the game of basketball.