May 08, 2020
The Magic and Mystery of Fouls
NBC Basketball Camps
What is a foul?
Anything that looks like a foul to officials that results in a whistle. It doesn't matter if you didn't touch the person, if the officials call a foul, that is what it is.
When fouls are foul (bad).
Fouls which are errors and mistakes create headaches for you and your team. You need to feel the same about fouls as you do turnovers. Feel the same about your first foul as you do your fourth. Learn to play clever and avoid play which involves things which look like fouls to the officials.
Defensive behavior to avoid:
Reaching, slapping, moving with the palm down.
History of the Foul:
1972 a big debate between coaches and officials raged. The coaches wanted more consistency from the refs on calling fouls.
Agreement was reached: Anytime a player slaps with a palm down, it is a foul.
Best Way to Play:
Become really savvy at recognizing what refs consider fouls. Learn quickly and make adjustments. Reffing is a tough job and everyone has a propensity to ref based on what they consider a foul. Some refs allow lots of body contact, others allow none and all shades in between.
Quick changes that work:
- Slap UP for a ball.
- Be a player that makes contact hundreds of times but doesn't get called.
- Be physical with your lower body not your arms and hands.
- At any level of play, statistics reveal only 3% of players are shot blockers. Therefore, don't leave your feet on the shot, bother shots, get your hand up, block the bottom of the ball. Just tip the bottom and get the position