Late but relatively mild hits

[DanHS]

What would you call?

There are teams that seem to be taught to let the passer know that they are there even after the throw has been made. I am not trying to describe a slash nor would this rise to the level of a violent act. This is mostly an annoying habit that some players seem to have after the play has moved on. They either give a small and ‘legal’ push or a check that would be ‘legal’ if the play had not moved on.

These are just cheap but light shots but they can precipitate retaliation which may be the objective. After warning(s), what can you call short of UR/IBC/USC? This does not seem to hit the definitions of any of the technical fouls. I called GKI on one pass and late check that did not impact the pass but I was tired of the ‘late’ hits.

[LaxRef]

When the defender runs into the shooter well after the ball has been passed, but doesn't really check him, I call interference, which is a legitimate call by the rules. It lets them know you're watching the passer/shooter and tells them they need to knock it off. But the call is a little tricky.

In NCAA rules, it's a play on, and the play-on ends when the ball is caught (if it happens when the ball is in player possession, it's a flag-down technical foul).

In NFHS rules, if it happens when the ball is in flight, it's a play-on. If the ball is not caught, kill the play and award the ball unless the fouled team is in position to get the ball immediately. But if the pass is caught, you now have a technical foul with possession (since a ball in flight is in possession if caught), so now you need to change the call from play-on to flag-down.

The same applies to checking the stick of a player not in possession or within 5 yards of a loose ball: it's interference. I'd be reluctant to call this just after a pass, but if their hacking at a guy's stick during a set offensive play I'd warn once and then start throwing flags.

[laxfan25]

When I see these less-severe late hit events, I will loudly tell the offender to "watch the late hits!". I like LaxRef's idea on the play-on interference as a next step, and if it continues, make it personal.
I am all in favor of well-timed, legal hits on a passer or shooter - an important part of the game. I take a very dim view of cheap shots, and make my opinion known to the perpetrators. I frequently talk to players as the ball moves up field, letting them know that a certain body or stick check was treading the line, so when they do get called later they know they deserve it.

[LaxRef]

When I see these less-severe late hit events, I will loudly tell the offender to "watch the late hits!". I like LaxRef's idea on the play-on interference as a next step, and if it continues, make it personal.

As officials, we're supposed to be objective. We're never supposed to make it personal. :chuckle:

I am all in favor of well-timed, legal hits on a passer or shooter - an important part of the game. I take a very dim view of cheap shots, and make my opinion known to the perpetrators. I frequently talk to players as the ball moves up field, letting them know that a certain body or stick check was treading the line, so when they do get called later they know they deserve it.

To me, the big difference is whether they appear to be letting up when the pass is gone or if they're continuing at the same speed or accelerating as they hit. A little bump as they're throttling down, no call. A bigger, "Hey, I'm coming at you" bump, interference. A full-on check, IBC.

[eme]

A great alternative to IBC is interference.

[laxfan25]

As officials, we're supposed to be objective. We're never supposed to make it personal. :chuckle:

I'm glad you noticed that! :clap: Actually, cheap shots are one thing that I take personally - they have no place in the game. :nono:

[DanHS]

Sounds like the progression should be warning - interference - IBC - with a quiet word to the bench at some point to let the coach know

[ColtsLax]

a lot depends on the hitter, if they make a noticable attempt to pull op and avoid the hit, but are unable to do to physics, im not going to penalize that player, atleast on the first shot. If i see its getting to be a rpetative thing, i take action as i deem nessecary.

[DanHS]

I was trying to determine a course of action for very deliberate hits. There are players that just hit late, perhaps to intiminate the other player. The violent hit is easy to call but I was loking for progressive steps when the slap is just hard enough to invite retaliation but not hard enough for UR. I had a game the other night and realized that Team A always hit/tapped/slappped Team B after the pass or shot.

[LaxRef]

I was trying to determine a course of action for very deliberate hits. There are players that just hit late, perhaps to intiminate the other player. The violent hit is easy to call but I was loking for progressive steps when the slap is just hard enough to invite retaliation but not hard enough for UR. I had a game the other night and realized that Team A always hit/tapped/slappped Team B after the pass or shot.

I think interference is the call you want. If they get dinged for interference every time they do it, they'll stop doing it.

[laxfan25]

I was trying to determine a course of action for very deliberate hits. There are players that just hit late, perhaps to intiminate the other player. The violent hit is easy to call but I was loking for progressive steps when the slap is just hard enough to invite retaliation but not hard enough for UR. I had a game the other night and realized that Team A always hit/tapped/slappped Team B after the pass or shot.
Hopefully the ladder works! Warn 'em clearly, then assess interference, and if they continue to do it annoyingly but not violently - USC for repeated infractions of the same technical foul. That should deliver the message. A word with the coach beforehand can also be effective, so he is not caught by surprise if and when the sanctions occur.