NFHS BASKETBALL 4 LEGAL POSITIONING DEFINITIONS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED 2024 - 2025
4-10,Closely,Guarding,,ANS,-
,,A,closely,guarded,situation,occurs,when,a,player,in,control,of,the,ball,in,his/her,team's,frontcourt,,is,cont
inuously,guarded,by,any,opponent,who,is,within,six,feet,of,the,player,who,is,holding,or,dribbling,the,ball.,
The,distance,shall,be,measured,from,the,forward,foot/feet,of,the,defender,to,the,forward,foot/feet,of,the
,ball,handler.,A,closely,guarded,count,shall,be,terminated,when,the,offensive,player,in,control,of,the,ball,g
ets,his/her,head,and,shoulders,past,the,defensive,player.
4-23.1,Guarding,,ANS,-
,,Guarding,is,the,act,of,legally,placing,the,body,in,the,path,of,an,offensive,opponent.,There,is,no,minimum,
distance,required,between,the,guard,and,opponent,,but,the,maximum,is,6,feet,when,closely,guarded.,Eve
ry,player,is,entitled,to,a,spot,on,the,playing,court,provided,such,player,gets,there,first,without,illegally,con
tacting,an,opponent.,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.
4-23.2,Obtaining,Legal,Guarding,Position,,ANS,-
,,a.,The,guard,must,have,both,feet,touching,the,playing,court.
b.,The,front,of,the,guard's,torso,must,be,facing,the,opponent.
4-23.3,After,Legal,Guarding,Position,is,Obtained,,ANS,-
,,a.,The,guard,may,have,one,or,both,feet,on,the,playing,court,or,be,airborne,,provided,he/she,has,inbound
,status.
b.,The,guard,is,not,required,to,continue,facing,the,opponent.
c.,The,guard,may,move,laterally,or,obliquely,to,maintain,position,,provided,it,is,not,toward,the,opponent,
when,contact,occurs.
d.,The,guard,may,raise,hands,or,jump,within,his/her,own,vertical,plane.
e.,The,guard,may,turn,or,duck,to,absorb,the,shock,of,imminent,contact.
, 4-23.4,Guarding,an,opponent,with,the,ball,or,a,stationary,opponent,without,the,ball:,,ANS,-
,,a.,No,time,or,distance,is,required,to,obtain,an,initial,legal,position.
b.,If,the,opponent,with,the,ball,is,airborne,,the,guard,must,have,obtained,legal,position,before,the,oppon
ent,left,the,floor.
4-23.5,Guarding,a,moving,opponent,without,the,ball:,,ANS,-
,,a.,Time,and,distance,are,factors,required,to,obtain,an,initial,legal,position.
b.,The,guard,must,give,the,opponent,the,time,and/or,distance,to,avoid,contact.
c.,The,distance,need,not,be,more,than,two,strides.
d.,If,the,opponent,is,airborne,,the,guard,must,have,obtained,legal,position,before,the,opponent,left,the,fl
oor.
4-24.1,Defender,extending,arms,vertically,above,shoulders,,ANS,-
,,It,is,legal,to,extend,the,arms,vertically,above,the,shoulders,and,need,not,be,lowered,to,avoid,contact,wit
h,an,opponent,when,the,action,of,the,opponent,causes,contact.,This,legal,use,of,the,arms,and,hands,usua
lly,occurs,when,guarding,the,player,making,a,throw-
in,,the,player,with,the,ball,in,pressing,tactics,and,a,player,with,the,ball,who,is,maneuvering,to,try,for,goal,
by,pivoting,,jumping,,etc.
4-24.2,Block,or,Slap,the,Ball,,ANS,-
,,It,is,legal,use,of,hands,to,reach,to,block,or,slap,the,ball,controlled,by,a,dribbler,or,a,player,throwing,for,go
al,or,a,player,holding,it,and,accidentally,hitting,the,hand,of,the,opponent,when,it,is,in,contact,with,the,ball
.
4-24.3,Defender,protecting,themselves,with,hands,,ANS,-
,,It,is,legal,to,hold,the,hands,and,arms,in,front,of,the,face,or,body,for,protection,and,to,absorb,force,from,a
n,imminent,charge,by,an,opponent.,This,same,protective,use,of,the,arms,and,hands,occurs,when,a,player,
who,has,set,a,screen,outside,the,opponent's,visual,field,is,about,to,be,run,into,by,the,player,being,screene
d.,The,action,,however,,should,be,a,recoil,action,rather,than,a,pushing,action.