The Charge/Block Rule...

[ConRay9]

Is it time the NCAA takes a look at this and try to rewrite the rule? It’s hard to count on the NCAA to do anything correctly, but this is getting ridiculous. The charge/block PUNISHES the more athletic player the majority of the time.

Should coaches get a charge/block challenge once a half? Once a game? Should charges have to be much more blatant than block calls (siding with the offensive player)? Or should they just scrap the rule all together and only rely on the charge/block circle on the inside block?

The fact of the matter is as long as Kentucky is recruiting the most athletic players in the nation the charge/block will continue to hurt us MUCH more than help us.

 

[K_TIME]

Is it time the NCAA takes a look at this and try to rewrite the rule? It’s hard to count on the NCAA to do anything correctly but it’s getting ridiculous. The charge/block PUNISHES the more athletic player the majority of the time.

Should coaches get a charge/block challenge once a half? Once a game?Should charges have to be much more blatant than block calls (siding with the offensive player)? Or should they just scrap the rule all together and only rely on only the charge/block circle on the inside block?

The fact of the matter is as long as Kentucky is recruiting the most athletic players in the nation the charge/block will continue to hurt us MUCH more than help us.

Totally agree with this take...it feels like in college kids that defensively set up for a charge get the call 90% of the time whether they beat you to a spot or not and does reward less athletic people...and this is quite the opposite in NBA refs that tend to prefer the more athletic guys. I'd love one charge/block call a game for coaches.

 

[ConRay9]

Totally agree with this take...it feels like in college kids that defensively set up for a charge get the call 90% of the time whether they beat you to a spot or not and does reward less athletic people...and this is quite the opposite in NBA refs that tend to prefer the more athletic guys. I'd love one charge/block call a game for coaches.

Completely agree with you. I was thinking about the NBA as well when writing this post. I feel like charges in the NBA are so very rarely called it makes me do a double take when I see it occur. That challenge flag would have been crucial on the Wenyen foul. I feel we were about to blow the game open at that point.

 

[Kats23]

As long a Coach K is roaming the sideline of a college floor, I wouldn’t expect any changes. But it just needs to be taken away all together on drives to the basket unless a player extends his arm forward. Players shouldn’t be allowed to step into the lane

 

[K_TIME]

Completely agree with you. I was thinking about the NBA as well when writing this post. I feel like charges in the NBA are so very rarely called it makes me do a double take when I see it occur. That challenge flag would have been crucial on the Wenyen foul. I feel we were about to blow the game open at that point.

I like the challenge flag per half...that option is in football and now even baseball. It's probably inevitable it happens in basketball.

The biggest issue is the NCAA refs need to be pulled to the side and instruct them to stop being the center of attention...I think to many NCAA refs are arrogant pricks and have nobody over them to put them in their place. In NBA, they are selling a product as well and don't want refs taking attention away from Durant, Lebron, etc. But in college they have no authority figure and refs just do what they want.

 

[Blueblood410]

Flopping and aging referees that can't keep up with college aged kids have completely ruined the charge/block call.

 

[warrior-cat]

I just think the refs need to learn the rule and call it right when it happens. Lowered shoulder like the one into Richards down the stretch is a charge pure and simple regardless of in the circle or not.

 

[UKcats#1]

Yes. The ref's get it wrong too often.

 

[4UK]

I don't disagree with the OP, but it's nothing new. It's been a problem for a long as I can remember. The reason is that the default call in college is always the charge. If it's remotely close, they are going to call a charge. It should be the exact opposite. Unless someone gets blatantly run over, it should be a block, or actually in many cases, no call at all.

 

[gossie21_rivals69805]

Get rid of the rule. Just rip it out of the rule book.

Either play defense or get out of the way.

 

[richbrookstomato]

Completely agree with you. I was thinking about the NBA as well when writing this post. I feel like charges in the NBA are so very rarely called it makes me do a double take when I see it occur. That challenge flag would have been crucial on the Wenyen foul. I feel we were about to blow the game open at that point.

I'm old enough to remember when to draw a charge the defender had to:

-Have his feet set
-Be squared to the driver
-Not be moving
-Not be leaning
-Be ran through

Then the defender only got the Charge Call 50% of the time.

The offensive foul call is destroying the College AND High School game. Refs LOVE making the Charge Call, which is the main reason we see it so much more in todays game.

It punishes athleticism, which in turn makes the game less attractive. If the NCAA wants to increase attendance and TV viewers, make the Charge call nearly impossible to draw.

 

[Blueisbest]

The block/charge rule is never called the same from game to game and even one end of the court to the other. The call on Wenyen was an obvious block. There were other plays called a block that probably should've been a charge.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger_rivals101482]

I get the need for the rule in theory. But as other posters said, it's not able to be consistently called. 2 identical plays will be called differently. That leads you to hating the rule when it goes against you, and not minding it when it goes your way.

 

[RACdad]

I'v wanted for yrs for the block/charge rule to just go away. Just at defense

 

[KyCatFan1]

I think the best thing to do would be to extend the circle area to include all of the paint. No more charges being drawn by secondary defenders in that area at all. I'd bet that 75%+ of the calls currently are in that area. If you are legally guarding your man and stay in front of him then you are the only one that can draw a charge in the paint. No more letting a guy slide in at the last second to draw a charge because his teammate couldn't stay in front of the offensive player.

If not this then give the coaches a couple of challenges that can be used for reviewing the block/charge, out of bounds calls, and shot clock violations. If they lose the challenge then you can charge them a timeout to cutback on the added game time. Just assign a replay official to already be investigating the calls as they happen like in football.

I wouldn't be opposed to having the replay guy being able to reverse the call on their own. It usually only takes about 5 to 10 seconds to watch a replay and to determine if it was a bad call. The charge on Gabriel was immediately known to be a bad call by the fans after a quick replay on the screens. This would be a good way to hold refs accountable. If you get your call reversed a bunch of times then you know you suck as an official.

At the minimum, make all the refs on the floor have to be in agreement of the call. No more having a guy 20' away and out of position calling a foul when the guy 5' away doesn't. The ref that called the charge on Gabriel was behind him running full speed on the sideline and no way could he have gotten a 100% clear view to determine what the call should have been in my opinion.

 

[JStaff21]

It seems like falling backwards with your hands in the air is enough to draw a change these days. Just scramble to get in a players path, don’t attempt to play D and flail backwards.

 

[rick64]

It used to be a simpler rule. If the defensive player had established position, it was a charge. They didn't have that stupid little semi circle in the paint either.

 

[Catapult_rivals218351]

Would have to see replay to be sure, but there was a block call on SKJ (or maybe it was Wenyen) in 2nd half where ref pointed to circle as if that was reason it was a block. Only problem was, our guy was primary defender so that shouldn't have been an issue. I'm not one to blame ref's for every loss, but these guys had a worse game than the players!

 

[drbubba]

Is it time the NCAA takes a look at this and try to rewrite the rule? It’s hard to count on the NCAA to do anything correctly, but this is getting ridiculous. The charge/block PUNISHES the more athletic player the majority of the time.

Should coaches get a charge/block challenge once a half? Once a game? Should charges have to be much more blatant than block calls (siding with the offensive player)? Or should they just scrap the rule all together and only rely on the charge/block circle on the inside block?

The fact of the matter is as long as Kentucky is recruiting the most athletic players in the nation the charge/block will continue to hurt us MUCH more than help us.

No. I can't stand replay. It's ruining sports. Block/charge review is like arguing balls and strikes. Too much.What would we gripe about? Just train and evaluate refs regularly.

 

[Rod Crandler]

I'm becoming convinced that the best way to clean up college basketball is to all but do away with the charge call. Error on the side of block call 90% of the time or even better don't call anything. Play on. Eventually players will figure it out and start trying to play real defense.

1. How many times do you see a charge in the NBA?
2. Setting up a charge the way it's taught by some coaches in college basketball is not playing basketball. It's trying to force a turnover on a technicality. Almost cheating.
3. It's about the hardest call to make by a ref. If you start calling it a block by default unless it's just an obvious player bowling over someone unexpectedly then it will free up the game and movement.
4. Telling a player to cross his arms stand there and wait to get run over causes a violent collision that's stupid and not necessary.
5. If you can't tell, I hate it as a defensive play
6. Duke would no longer be able to flop

 

[sambowieshin_rivals]

Make every block/charge call an alternating possession like a jump ball. It is probably about as accurate and fair as you can get since it is typically a 50/50 call almost every time.

 

[mjj_2K]

I've always argued that the charge/block call should be the basketball equivalent of "tie goes to the runner" in baseball. If there's any doubt at all about the call, it's a block. I think that's how the NBA tends to call it, and bad charging calls are far less of a problem there than in the college game. Unfortunately, a lot of college refs seem to go the opposite way on it, and give every advantage to the defender.

I also think that flops (both ways) should be potentially subject to technical fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct. It's gone beyond gamesmanship to become a complete plague on the game.

 

[ConRay9]

No. I can't stand replay. It's ruining sports. Block/charge review is like arguing balls and strikes. Too much.What would we gripe about? Just train and evaluate refs regularly.

I agree replay can get out of hand sometimes but I doubt adding one challenge would make a noticeable difference. I’m not even saying that’s for sure the answer but something has to change with the rule.

I’ve lost faith in them training their officials to an efficient level. They simply can’t fairly ref the athletes on the court today. It has been atrocious for years now and if it hasn’t changed by now I don’t know that they ever will be trained to an acceptable level.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

I’m good with the rule as it is.

BUT there should be 2 other rule additions that would affect charge/block calls.
1) give coaches 2 chances to appeal a call and have it reviewed
2) allow refs to call a technical on a player that flops!

 

[bbnkat02]

Flopping should be a technical. It is in the NBA because they were having such a problem with it. Guess what? They don’t have a problem with it anymore.

The block/charge is fine as is. Refs just need to learn to call it. If you’re feet are moving it cannot be a charge. Ever.

And if a player is in the air, it can only be a block. You shouldn’t be allowed to slide up under him to take a call; last I checked humans can’t change direction in mid-air unassisted. Not even His Airness could do that.

 

[carolinacat]

For too many years, the rule as written wasn't enforced properly. Officials called blocks way to often when, by rule, it should have been a charge. Obviously, on the Wenyen play, they completely missed that one.

Most people on this board have no idea what the rule book says on the block/charge call. The defensive player can move laterally, obliquely, or even backwards, and as long as he has established legal guarding position, he is entitled to that space. Most people think he has to be a statue to get the call...simply not true. If the above conditions are met, and contact occurs on the torso of the defender, it's going to be a player control foul. I happen to like the rule and believe that it rewards good defensive play.

 

[kybassfan]

I don't disagree with the OP, but it's nothing new. It's been a problem for a long as I can remember. The reason is that the default call in college is always the charge. If it's remotely close, they are going to call a charge. It should be the exact opposite. Unless someone gets blatantly run over, it should be a block, or actually in many cases, no call at all.

Exactly. This has been an issue for decades. I’m not sure how it could be rewritten to make it less subjective. I’ve heard it suggested that one re-write could be if the defender interferes with the arms or hands, the foul is against the defender with no call on body contact inside the lane. Would make for a rough but more objective game. Never happen though as it would cost a Ratface team 10 or more points a game as the flop would be one a non issue.

 

[ConRay9]

For too many years, the rule as written wasn't enforced properly. Officials called blocks way to often when, by rule, it should have been a charge. Obviously, on the Wenyen play, they completely missed that one.

Most people on this board have no idea what the rule book says on the block/charge call. The defensive player can move laterally, obliquely, or even backwards, and as long as he has established legal guarding position, he is entitled to that space. Most people think he has to be a statue to get the call...simply not true. If the above conditions are met, and contact occurs on the torso of the defender, it's going to be a player control foul. I happen to like the rule and believe that it rewards good defensive play.

Regardless of the rule's official wording I don't believe the calls on a court should be open to such subjectivity on the ref's part. I'm not concerned with the wording of it. This isn't the 1980's where the average athlete pales in comparison to today.

The more athletic player almost always is punished for a play because the ref sees the faster, bigger, stronger, player bull-dozing a defender that isn't set. The defending player gets hit so hard their first reaction is that the offensive player must be out of control which is simply not true many times with an explosive athlete.

It's time we start modernizing the game. The refs training and rules were made at a time that didn't see the kind of athletes on the court today.

 

[carolinacat]

Regardless of the rule's official wording I don't believe the calls on a court should be open to such subjectivity on the ref's part. I'm not concerned with the wording of it. This isn't the 1980's where the average athlete pales in comparison to today.

The more athletic player almost always is punished for a play because the ref sees the faster, bigger, stronger, player bull-dozing a defender that isn't set. The defending player gets hit so hard their first reaction is that the offensive player must be out of control which is simply not true many times with an explosive athlete.

It's time we start modernizing the game. The refs training and rules were made at a time that didn't see the kind of athletes on the court today.

The defender is not required to be "set"....whatever that is. I suppose to most people it means stationary. That's the crux of the rule's misconception.

 

[jrpross_rivals]

I think the rule should be that if a defender steps in front of the player driving the ball and falls backward totally unnecessarily, and the ref calls a charge, the coach should be allowed to kick the defender and referee in the balls.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Rule is fine. The application is terrible. Officials are so incompetent they reward a flop almost every time.

Officiating in the NCAA is so poor, the only fix is probably firing all and completely rebuilding

 

[mjj_2K]

The defender is not required to be "set"....whatever that is. I suppose to most people it means stationary. That's the crux of the rule's misconception.

And it's the crux of why the rule needs modified, clarified, whatever-fied.

It's like the catch rule in the NFL currently. If 10 people watch a play and say "that's a catch", but somehow it's not on a technicality, then it's a stupid rule that needs to be changed.

Ditto blocks/charges. Maybe it's not THAT clear-cut, but if 9 out of 10 lifelong basketball fans watch a play and say "That's a block" (maybe 5 different times a game) on a charging call, then there's something wrong with the rule, or the way the rule is being interpreted.

And one area where players should absolutely HAVE to be stationary is if they're playing help defense on a player who has already left the ground. It's completely absurd that a defender can slide under a guy who's already in the air and actually get the call, yet you see it all the frickin' time in the college game (not so much in the NBA).

 

[preacherfan]

And it's the crux of why the rule needs modified, clarified, whatever-fied.

It's like the catch rule in the NFL currently. If 10 people watch a play and say "that's a catch", but somehow it's not on a technicality, then it's a stupid rule that needs to be changed.

Ditto blocks/charges. Maybe it's not THAT clear-cut, but if 9 out of 10 lifelong basketball fans watch a play and say "That's a block" (maybe 5 different times a game) on a charging call, then there's something wrong with the rule, or the way the rule is being interpreted.

And one area where players should absolutely HAVE to be stationary is if they're playing help defense on a player who has already left the ground. It's completely absurd that a defender can slide under a guy who's already in the air and actually get the call, yet you see it all the frickin' time in the college game (not so much in the NBA).

Excellent post!

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Most people on this board have no idea what the rule book says on the block/charge call. The defensive player can move laterally, obliquely, or even backwards, and as long as he has established legal guarding position, he is entitled to that space. Most people think he has to be a statue to get the call...simply not true. If the above conditions are met, and contact occurs on the torso of the defender, it's going to be a player control foul. I happen to like the rule and believe that it rewards good defensive play.

You beat me to it. :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

 

[preacherfan]

You beat me to it. :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Serious question: Is it right to reward good defense and punish good offense? We have two players moving to the same spot at the same time. The foul is called on the offense because the defense is entitled to that spot on the floor but the offense is not?

 

[larry the cable guy]

You can tell instantly when they are going to call a charge. They start the one foot hop before punching the air like they are trying to knock out Mike Tyson.

 

[JoeBeeHall]

Can they stop my wife from charging ?

 

[larry the cable guy]

For too many years, the rule as written wasn't enforced properly. Officials called blocks way to often when, by rule, it should have been a charge. Obviously, on the Wenyen play, they completely missed that one.

Most people on this board have no idea what the rule book says on the block/charge call. The defensive player can move laterally, obliquely, or even backwards, and as long as he has established legal guarding position, he is entitled to that space. Most people think he has to be a statue to get the call...simply not true. If the above conditions are met, and contact occurs on the torso of the defender, it's going to be a player control foul. I happen to like the rule and believe that it rewards good defensive play.

In your opinion was the call on Wenyen a good call and a good defensive play?

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

nm

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Serious answer. It has nothing to do with 'good offense'. If you have a legal position on the floor, then nobody has the right to take it from you. Good offense should involve not running over someone to make your play.

Your example of two players moving to the same spot at the same time is harder to call. It's like two cars backing out in a parking lot at the same time that run into each other. Who's at fault? They both are. But you can't call it on both unless it's flagrant.

Obviously we're not talking about that trash call against Wenyen. The player didn't come close to having legal guarding position. Total blown call.