Heading: Contact: General principles     Sub Heading: Guarding a player who does not control the ball

"A player who does not control the ball is entitled to move freely on the court and take any position not already occupied by another player.

When guarding a player who does not control the ball, the elements of time and distance shall apply. A defensive player cannot take a position so near and/or so quickly in the path of a moving opponent that the latter does not have sufficient time or distance either to stop or change direction.

The distance is directly proportional to the speed of the opponent, but never less than 1 normal step.

If a defensive player does not respect the elements of time and distance in taking an initial legal guarding position and contact with an opponent occurs, that player is responsible for the contact.

Once a defensive player has established an initial legal guarding position, that player may move to guard the opponent. The player may not prevent the opponent from passing by extending the arms, shoulders, hips or legs in the opponent’s path. The player may turn within the cylinder to avoid injury."