A point of emphasis was put in place this season to call the hand check foul more closely. Other than the start of a game, or when a coach is heard pointing them out, I have not noticed these calls being made more often than years past.

 

Hand checking gives the defense an unfair advantage. It is more evident to me when a team is pressing. In the 9th, I have witnessed Newport, Holmes and Lloyd even grabbing/holding in the backcourt without being called for fouls. Holy Cross was the one team I saw who pressed without constantly using their hands.

 

Agree? Disagree? Has hand checking been enforced?

It is not being enforced consistently.

1. If it was, games would last forever

2. Proper defense is no longer taught, Players are now taught to "muscle up" when playing defense which includes more than just "hand checking".

Maybe they should mandate 3 person crews. The kids today are so big and fast, it is next to impossible for 2 person crews to keep up. And I agree, if every hand check was called, we would have 3 hour games.

My biggest thing with hand checking is how inconsistent most crews are with their calls. You'll have a quarter where it's called nonstop, then the next two nothing has changed game wise but the whistles are sucked in.

You can't call everything, but I haven't seen it called as much as it should. Games would last forever, and lots of players fouling out.

If they referees were consistant with it then the players would adjust. It is a very big advantage for a defense and IMO should be called. I really don't want to see the HS or college level turn into the NBA. I don't think it has been called consistently this year even though it is supposed to be a point of emphasis.

I think the NFHS is trying to get the game of basketball back, but until there is some accountability, "points of emphasis" are nothing more than words on a piece of paper. Proper dribbling is a point to try to stop the carrying of the ball. Have you ever watched a point guard dribble the ball down the floor? They all carry the ball even when casually walking the ball down the floor...bounce ball, catch ball palms up, turn palms down, bounce the ball, etc.

http://www.nfhs.org/basketball.aspx

 

A. Hand checking.

1) Hand checking is any tactic using the hands or arms that allows a player, on offense or defense, to control (hold, impede, push, divert, slow or prevent) the movement of an opposing player.

2) Hand checking is a foul and is not incidental contact.

3) Defensive players shall not have hand(s) on the offensive player. When a player has a hand on, two hands on or jabs a hand or forearm on an opponent, it is a foul.

4) When a player contacts an opponent with his or her hands as an aid in starting, stopping, driving around, defending a screen, controlling or anticipating the

opponent’s next move, it is a foul. Players may not place their hands on an opponent with or without the ball.

5) Much of the roughness in the interscholastic game today is a direct result of not assessing the proper penalty when illegal contact with the hand(s) occurs.

 

B. Palming.

1) When the hand is in contact with the ball and the palm of the hand is beyond the perpendicular position (more than a handshake), tilted in a skyward position so the ball has come to rest on the hand, the dribble has ended.

2) When the player then pushes the ball to the floor, he or she is starting another dribble (illegal dribble), which is a violation.

The only thing called more inconsistently than hand-checking is carrying/palming the ball.

Several great comments about the subject! During a recent game, an official called a foul and verbally commented that the defender checked the player with "BOTH HANDS". What's really the difference of one or two hands....nothing! However the single hand checks were questioned all night long, without being called. Another call that should be enforced is when a player picks up the dribble and two defenders make contact with the offensive player and is eventually pushed either out of bounds or is bumped moving the pivot foot. Obvious contact in both situations and unfortunately the offensive player is charged with a turnover because the official didnt make the right call. MOST officials need to go back to officiating 101 and learn the real rules of basketball.....20 years ago, a small sized fundamental team had a chance to compete against larger players. IMO, officials are usually the instigators of a hostile game because they don't call the game the way it should be!!

Allows less athletic defenders to guard quicker/stronger guards. I think if it were called consistently again, players would adjust. Watch a college game from 30 years ago and note that defenders moved their feet and stayed in front of their man and did not hand check like they do today.

Everybody wants 3 man crews, I personally think games are called worse with a 3man crew.

Everybody wants 3 man crews, I personally think games are called worse with a 3man crew.

 

How is this possible?

Well just watched the girls 10 region class a, the game I was at, it could have been done with 1 ref. And that is not because there wasn't any fouling going on either.

Everybody seems worried that we would have 3 hour games if hand checking was called. I don't think it would take 3 hours to foul everybody out if the hand checking was called. It only takes 5 hand checking calls for a kid to realize that they won't play in the game anymore. Kids are somewhat smart these days. They foul out a couple of times, and I bet they quit hand checking.

 

Worst response regarding hand checking from a referee was that the kids can handle it. Who do referees think they are to determine whether or not a kid can handle the brutality they allow these days? Get rid of the thugs and bring back the skill in basketball I say.

Several great comments about the subject! During a recent game, an official called a foul and verbally commented that the defender checked the player with "BOTH HANDS". What's really the difference of one or two hands....nothing! However the single hand checks were questioned all night long, without being called. Another call that should be enforced is when a player picks up the dribble and two defenders make contact with the offensive player and is eventually pushed either out of bounds or is bumped moving the pivot foot. Obvious contact in both situations and unfortunately the offensive player is charged with a turnover because the official didnt make the right call. MOST officials need to go back to officiating 101 and learn the real rules of basketball.....20 years ago, a small sized fundamental team had a chance to compete against larger players. IMO, officials are usually the instigators of a hostile game because they don't call the game the way it should be!!

 

I've heard the official call "two hands" as well.