Welcome to our first installment of the NBA Rule Authority. Throughout the 2011-12 season, we will be posting on this page explanations to some of the NBA’s more complicated rules to help fans better enjoy the game. First up is the NBA’s Block-Charge rule, which involves contact between an offensive and defensive player. Just below is our plain-English explanation of the Block-Charge rule, followed by four video examples.
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TOPIC 1: BLOCK-CHARGE
Block-Charge: An on-ball, block-charge situation occurs when contact is made between an offensive player (who is moving in a particular direction or trying to change directions) and defensive player. The defender is permitted to establish his legal guarding position in the path of the dribbler regardless of his speed and distance. To get into a legal position, the defender needs to establish himself in the path of the offensive player before contact is made, thus “beating him to the spot,” and before he starts his upward shooting motion.
When a player receives the ball outside the lower defensive box (the area between the three-foot posted-up marks, the bottom tip of the circle, and the endline), the defensive player must allow the offensive player the space to stop and/or change directions (or land, stop and/or change directions, if landing). The defensive player may establish a legal guarding position in the path of the offensive player who received a pass inside the lower defensive box, regardless of speed or distance, by beating him to the spot. However, he must always allow an airborne offensive player the space to land.
A secondary defensive player cannot be in a legal guarding position, even if stationary, inside the “Restricted Area,” if the offensive player receives the ball outside the lower defensive box, unless he jumps vertically in an attempt to defend the shot. He may establish a legal guarding position inside the Restricted Area if the offensive player received the ball inside the lower defensive box or he is the primary defender. If the defender does not get into a legal guarding position before contact occurs, it is a blocking foul on the defender. If he gets to a legal guarding position before contact occurs, it is an offensive foul. Of course there are exceptions, such as when an offensive player leads with a foot or knee.
Here are four plays (with explanation and video) to help explain the rule.
Play 1: Block. Defender hedges on a pick’n roll and does not establish a legal position. Click Video Here
This is an example of a defensive foul for illegal contact on the perimeter. An on-ball, block/charge situation occurs when contact is made between a defensive player and an offensive player who is moving in a particular direction or trying to change directions. A defender is permitted to establish his legal guarding position in the path of a dribbler, thus “beating him to the spot.” To get into a legal position, the defender needs to establish himself in the path of the offensive player before contact is made. On this play, the defender does not establish a legal position in the path of the dribbler and he makes illegal contact with the dribbler.
Play 2: Charge. Secondary defender establishes a legal position outside the restricted area.Click Video Here
This is an example of an offensive foul for charging, with a defender legally positioned outside the Restricted Area. The Restricted Area is the area within the arched line on the court below the rim. It applies to secondary defenders and was established to ensure offensive players have room to drive to the basket, without allowing defensive players an unfair advantage in drawing an offensive foul. To be considered legal and to draw an offensive foul, a secondary defensive player must establish legal position prior to the offensive player starting his upward motion, and the defender must have both feet established completely outside the Restricted Area line. On this play, the replay clearly shows that the secondary defender did establish legal position prior to the offensive player starting his upward motion, and the defender’s feet are completely outside the Restricted Area.
Play 3: Charge. New possession is created in the lower defensive box and the restricted area does not apply.Click Video Here
This is an example of an offensive foul for charging, where the Restricted Area does not apply. The Restricted Area is the area within the arched line on the court below the rim. It applies to secondary defenders and was established to ensure offensive players have room to drive to the basket, without allowing defensive players an unfair advantage in drawing an offensive foul. The Restricted Area does not apply in several situations, one of which is when new possession occurs inside the Lower Defensive Box (the area from the bottom tip of the free throw circle to the baseline between the two 3′ posted-up marks). On this play, the defensive player establishes a legal guarding position in the Restricted Area in the path of the offensive player who received the ball in the Lower Defensive Box.
Play 4: Legal Play. Secondary defender in the restricted area jumps vertically to defend a shot.
Click Video Here
This is an example of an airborne defensive player maintaining verticality in a legal defensive play. Even if he is positioned inside the Restricted Area, a secondary defender does not commit a blocking foul if contact is made while he is jumping vertically in an attempt to defend the shot (but he would commit a blocking foul if he were trying to draw an offensive foul instead of trying to defend the shot or did not jump vertically). Note also that the defender must establish legal guarding position prior to the start of the offensive player’s upward motion. On this play, the defensive player jumps straight up and down in an attempt to contest his opponent’s field goal attempt. As the contact on the play is initiated by the offensive player, and it is marginal, the defender is legal.