Due to the vast number of different types of screens utilized by offensive teams today, deciphering between illegal versus incidental contact can be a tough assignment for game officials, especially in a two-person crew. From the perspective of fans and some coaches, if the offensive team was able to get an open shot, surely it must have been illegal. As Lee Corso would say “Not so fast my friend!” There are several elements in play when it comes to understanding screening action. Let’s now dive into the NFHS Rule Book, so next time you can scream intelligently (Rule 4-40;1-8).

Definition: A screen is legal action by a player who, while touching the court, without causing contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching a desired position.
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In order to establish legal screening position:

• The screener may face any direction.
• Time and distance are relevant.
• The screener must be stationary, except when both the screener and opponent are moving in the same path and the same direction.
• The screener must stay within his / her vertical plane with a stance approximately shoulder width apart.

Screening a Stationary Opponent:
When screening a stationary opponent from the front or side (within the visual field), the screener may be anywhere short of contact. When screening a stationary opponent from behind (outside the visual field), the screener must allow the opponent one normal step backward without contact.

Screening a Moving Opponent:
When screening a moving opponent, the screener must allow the opponent time and distance to avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player being screened will determine where the screener may take his / her stationary position. It is important to note that this position will vary and may be one to two normal steps or strides from the opponent.

When screening an opponent who is moving in the same path and direction as the screener, the player behind or trailing is responsible if contact is made due to the player in front slowing down or stopping. It is really no different than you rear-ending someone in your car, you will be found at fault.

Guidelines for Player Being Screened:
A player who is screened within his / her visual field is expected to avoid contact by going around the screener. In cases of screens set outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener and based on the speed of the opponent, the contact may be severe. In this situation, we have incidental contact provided the opponent stops or attempts to stop on contact and moves around the screen, and provided the screener is not displaced if he / she has the ball.

A player may not use the arms, hands, hips or shoulders to force their way through a screen or to hold the screener and then push them aside in order to maintain a guarding position on an opponent.

**It is also important to note that contact must be made in order for an illegal screen to be present**

As you can see, this is quite a bit of information for officials to process when ruling on contact involving screens, and we have only touched on the basic principles. As always, your gauge on officials regarding these plays, should be on how consistent they were throughout the contest.

Now that you know the basics, take a look at the clip below and let me know if you have illegal or incidental contact.

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How many times have you screamed or heard someone shout “She was not Set!” or “He was moving Ref!” when an official calls a player control foul?

Myth: A defensive player must be set in order to draw an offensive foul.

Fact: A defensive player is required to obtain initial legal guarding position.

After a defensive player has established legal guarding position:

• They may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status. To further clarify, if a defensive player has one foot inbounds and the other foot touching an out-of-bounds line, they do not have legal guarding position and the correct call would be a blocking foul.
• They are not required to continue facing the offensive player.
• They may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, provided it is not toward the offensive player if / when contact occurs.
• They may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane. This vertical plane extends to the top of the gym, provided someone can jump that high.
• They may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.

A charging foul by an offensive player is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or moving into the defensive player, provided the defensive player has established legal guarding position as shown above.

Here are some more key elements:

• An offensive player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change direction to avoid contact if the defensive player has obtained legal guarding position within his / her path.
• If the defensive player has obtained legal guarding position, the offensive player with the ball must get his / her head and shoulders past the torso of the defensive player. If contact occurs on the torso of the defensive player, the dribbler is responsible for the contact.
• There must be reasonable space between two defensive players or a defensive player and a boundary line to allow the dribbler to continue his / her path. If there is less than 3 feet of space, the dribbler once again has the greater responsibility for the contact.
• The offensive player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain an advantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

As officials, we are trained to referee the defense first in order to ensure the above criteria has been met and maintained. It is important for the common fan to know that this is one of the most difficult plays for officials to rule on, especially for officials that are early in their career. This play is a judgement call and since we are human, it would be poor judgement on your part to believe that all officials will see these plays the same.

You just have to accept the fact that there are officials that will call a block most of the time and some that lean towards calling a charge. It is up to the coaches and players to adjust to the way the game is being officiated, which adds to the complexity and challenge of the game.

I know it is difficult, but I would encourage fans to try and view the game objectively and judge officials based on their consistency, hustle and professionalism.

Myth # 2: Officials have a vested interest in making sure the home team wins and gives the home team the benefit of the doubt on 50/50 plays like a block or charge.

Fact: Most people serving as officials do so to give back to the game and the communities in their area. We are doing good to be in a different city 4-5 times per week and keep up with the pace of the game, so there is no time to think about cheating the road team.
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**NFHS Basketball Rule Book was utilized to help create this post. Please see rules 4-23-2, 4-23-3, and 4-7-2**

Contrary to popular fan opinion and a few uninformed coaches, there is no such thing as an “over the back” foul. As the screenshot above shows, a full search of the NFHS Rule Book was conducted for those that don’t believe everything they read online.

​ Typically, the phrase “Over the back!” is more prevalent when team A is equipped with a 6’8” post player and team B has nobody over 6’0”. In this scenario, fans just want the bigger athlete out of the game immediately and beg the officials for help, starting with the jump ball and never relenting!

FACTS:

• It is legal for a player to use their height advantage to simply reach over an opponent to secure a rebound.
• Any player has the right to any spot on the floor provided they acquire it legally.
• There can be rebounding contact that does not constitute a foul, if two opposing players are hustling to a spot on the floor, or after the ball, and arrive at approximately the same time.
• A rebounding foul occurs when a player gains an advantage by pushing, holding or displacing an opponent in order to gain a position or secure the ball.

The primary thing to evaluate throughout a contest is the consistency in which the game is being officiated. Please understand that consistency does not mean the foul count should be even. The style of play and player aggressiveness can often skew the foul count.

So the next time you attend a game, be an educated fan and scream “She pushed her!” or “Quit letting them hold us!” and you might just be taken a little more seriously, at least by those sitting around you…

Think Tank: If a person you respected or wanted to please most in life was sitting next to you at a basketball game, would you act differently?

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