1. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 Definitions: Guarding is define in Rule 4.23-1 as follows: “Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent.”

2. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 KNOW THIS!! Every player is entitled to a spot on the floor – provided he gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent To officiate and rule properly on the act of GUARDING – you must know that the defender must first OBTAIN an initial legal guarding position. Then the defender is allowed to MAINTAIN a legal guarding position The only way to know if the defender has met these requirements, is to Referee the Defense! 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

3. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 OBTAIN To OBTAIN an initial legal guarding position – the guard must meet three requirements: 1.Legally get to the spot first 2.Both feet must be on the floor 3.The front of the guard’s body must be facing the opponent

4. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 MAINTAIN The guard may be moving This movement can be in any direction – except toward the offensive player when contact occurs. (short of contact – OK) The guard is not required to have a foot or feet on the floor while moving to MAINTAIN the legal guarding position. This means the guard could actually be in the air The guard may raise hands or jump within his own vertical plane The guard does not even have to continue facing the offensive player The guard is allowed to turn, duck to absorb the shock of contact

5. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 “Guarding ANY opponent – whether moving, stationary, with or without the ball, requires the defender to OBTAIN and then MAINTAIN a legal guarding position”

6. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 WHO IS BEING GUARDED? A STATIONARY Opponent with the ball A MOVING Opponent with the ball A STATIONARY Opponent WITHOUT the ball A MOVING opponent WITHOUT the ball

7. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 A STATIONARY & A MOVING OPPONENT WITH THE BALL When guarding an opponent WITH the ball – whether the opponent is MOVING or STATIONARY – no time or distance is required to OBTAIN an initial legal guarding position. However – if the opponent is AIRBORNE, the guard must have OBTAINED legal position BEFORE the opponent left the floor (Referee the DEFENSE!!!)

8. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 A STATIONARY OPPONENT WITHOUT THE BALL When guarding a STATIONARY opponent WITHOUT the ball – no time or distance is required to OBTAIN an initial legal guarding position (Referee the DEFENSE)

9. Guarding – Block/Charge Rule 4.23, 24 A MOVING OPPONENT WITHOUT THE BALL When guarding a MOVING opponent WITHOUT the ball – time and distance ARE factors required to OBTAIN an initial legal position 1.The guard must give the opponent the time and/or distance needed to avoid contact. The distance need not be more than two strides 2.If the opponent is AIRBORNE, the guard must have OBTAINED legal position BEFORE the opponent left the floor (REFEREE the DEFENSE) Get the defensive player or the next competitive match up