Confusion in the circle

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32011, 11 June 1969, Page 13

Confusion in the circle

'THERE is increasing confusion in senior women’s basketball over the interpretation of the threefoot obstruction rule. The seven-a-side game now allows a player to attempt to block a pass or shot at goal by leaping up or balancing at full stretch at a distance of three feet from the player in possession of the ball.

An infringement of this distance is penalised as obstruction and the offending player must stand beside her opponent until the ball is passed on or a shot at goal is taken. There is little trouble in interpreting the rule in the centre and field parts of the defence and goal thirds as players tend to over estimate the allowable distance ratter than be held from play. But there is much confusion in the circle areas where the goal attack and goal shoot must be tightly defended by the goal defence and goal keep if a point is to be saved. The goal shooters must have landed cleanly in the circle before they can shoot but once landed on one foot they can move the other to bring them nearer the goal post. If the defence has already set up a block 3ft from the shooter’s landing foot, this forward movement of the shooter, if not carefully observed by the referee, may make the defender appear to be over obstructing. The New Brighton team has M. Simeonidis at goal keep and her exact use of this rule has been frequently penalised. Simeonidis has excellent balance and can hold a block whereas other defenders tend to give themselves extra inches in case they overbalance and interfere with the shooter’s play. S. Rogers and L. Burney (Technical) always employ this blocking technique as do A. Ogilvie (Hagley A) and J. Eddie (Teachers’ College). A. Cooper and K. O’Reilly (Sacred Heart) are blocking more effectively, but like all defence players —at the risk of being penalised.

The confusion as to the exact interpretation of this rule is marring the firstclass basketball being played by the leading teams and since Canterbury seems to be a pioneer in the full

use of circle defence it would be a shame to see the confusion continued.