Player on the floor

[NOWIS]

I had been meaning to ask before but the incident in last night's game reminded me. Why are players allowed to make contact with a player on the floor that they would not be allowed to make if he were standing? They look like football players going after a fumble, diving on top of one another. If they are vertical and one player runs into or over another player to get the ball it is a foul.

[lighthouse]

I had been meaning to ask before but the incident in last night's game reminded me. Why are players allowed to make contact with a player on the floor that they would not be allowed to make if he were standing? They look like football players going after a fumble, diving on top of one another. If they are vertical and one player runs into or over another player to get the ball it is a foul.

Great Question! Without looking at the rule book, let me try to answer. In almost every play like you describe, fouls and/or violations occur. If the player with control of the ball rolls over or tries to get up without a dribble, that's walking. If a player going for the ball pushes or gains an advantage, that's a foul. Usually there is no ball control and players are scrambling for a loose ball, and officials (me included) wait for two players to grab the ball together, hence a held ball. It would be the same if two vertical players go for a loose ball and contact is made with no advantage, there should be no foul call there either.

Is that clear as mud? :)

[NOWIS]

clear as mud, yeah. What you said seems to be what I am seeing. The refs always seem to be waiting for two people to be touching the ball at the same time so they can call a held ball. That is what brought up my question. Why are they oblivious toeverything that is going on? If someone dives on another playerto tie him up, he obviously gained an advantage. All of that pushing, shoving and wrestling is to gain an advantage and the refs are bending over intently watching the ball so they can blow their whistle when two players hands are on it. Somehow that just doesn't seem right to me.