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Basketball Instruction/Tech - Unsportsmanlike conduct

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Expert: - 5/19/2011


Question
When a shooter goes up, sometimes a defender will 'stab' with his hand/arm at the mid-section of the shooter.  Other times, the defender will 'run at' and duck his head at the mid-section of the shooter.  Usually, no actual contact is made with the shooter.
My memory says that I've been schooled that a technical foul should be called for unsportsmanlike conduct.  Again, whether or not any physical contact is made, it strikes me as unsportsmanlike to make a threatening move like this at a shooter.
Am I right or am I mis-remembering?

Answer
Tim,

There is nothing defined in the rule book specifying this is unsportsman like. A defender can slap his hands or make any kind of move, and as long as no contact is made, it's legal. The one thing a defender may not do is maliciously stick or wave his/her hands in the face of a player with the ball. That would be a Technical foul. Otherwise what you explained, generally speaking is legal. Also Keep in mind, that any action of a player, could be determined as unsportsmanlike by an official, and therefore constitute a technical foul, even if it's not necessarily in the rule book. It's up to the official to determine whether or not certain actions deserve a technical, or maybe just a warning.

Thanks for the question.  

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Bret Temple

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My expertise is in the art of Officiating Basketball and I can answer questions pertaining to basketball rules; youth level through CIF High School, NCAA college and NBA rules as well. I can either help define a specific rule for you, or interpret a specific rule to clarify how other officials and I view and call the game.

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I have been a Basketball Official now for over 19 years, officiating at all levels. I have attended numerous training camps throughout the years in an attempt to constantly become a better official. I have been evaluated by top Officiating organizations and I've had the honor of being selected to officiate at the highest levels including former Division 1 College and NBA players.

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NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) CBOA (California Basketball Officials Association)

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El Sorrino Officials Association Accreditation CIF Certified(California Interscholastic Federation) WCPBL(West Coast Professional Baskeball League) The NBA Developmental League training

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Los Angeles City Parks and Recreation, Calabasas Basketball League, Calabasas Semi-Pro Men's League, AYBA California Interscholatic Federation, ARC League , (WCPBL)West Coast Professional Basketball League, Gary Grant Youth Basketball Program

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