
Goaltending is a violation in basketball, where a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket. In high school basketball, goaltending is called when a player touches the ball when it is in downward flight, or when it is above the basket rim and within an imaginary cylinder projecting above the rim. If goaltending is called, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made. The rule is often misunderstood, and its application can be controversial, with some arguing that instant replay should be used to determine if a goaltending call is correct.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Goaltending defined | Player interference with the ball while it is on its way to the basket |
| When is goaltending called in high school basketball? | When a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket |
| What happens if goaltending is called for interference with a field goal? | The shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made |
| What happens if goaltending is called on a free throw? | The shooting team is awarded one point, and a technical foul is called against the offending player |
| What is goaltending commonly confused with? | Basket interference or offensive goaltending |
| Basket interference | When a player touches the basket, the rim, or the ball when it is on the rim or directly above it |
| Goaltending and the backboard | The backboard has nothing to do with goaltending. Touching the ball after it hits the backboard is not goaltending |
| Goaltending review rule | Referees can use instant replay to determine if a goaltending call is correct only when a call has been made on the floor |
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What You'll Learn
- Goaltending is called when a player interferes with a free throw
- Goaltending is a violation when a player touches the ball in downward flight
- Goaltending is not called when a player touches the ball after it hits the backboard
- Goaltending is different from basket interference
- Goaltending review rules are unpopular

Goaltending is called when a player interferes with a free throw
Goaltending is a violation of the rules in basketball. It occurs when a player interferes with the ball as it is on its way to the basket. In high school basketball, goaltending is called when a player interferes with a free throw at any point during its flight towards the basket.
Goaltending is specifically called when a player touches the ball when it is in downward flight, above the basket rim and within an imaginary cylinder projecting above the rim, or already touching the rim. It is also considered goaltending if a player touches the ball after it has touched the backboard and still has a chance of going in the hoop. This is a common misconception, as some believe that touching the ball after it touches the backboard is not goaltending. However, officials will call it a goal-tend if they believe the ball still had a chance of going in the hoop.
If goaltending is called for interference with a field goal, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made. The offending team then inbounds the ball at its baseline, the same as if it had conceded a basket. In high school basketball, if goaltending is called on a free throw, the shooting team is awarded one point, and a technical foul is called against the offending player.
Goaltending is often confused with basket interference, which occurs when a player touches the basket, the rim, or the ball when it is on the rim or directly above it. This can also be referred to as offensive goaltending. The rules of goaltending are designed to define what is considered a legal block of a field goal, and to ensure fair play during basketball games.
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Goaltending is a violation when a player touches the ball in downward flight
Goaltending is a violation in basketball, and it occurs when a player interferes with the ball as it is on its way to the basket. In the context of high school basketball, goaltending is called when a player interferes with a free throw at any point during its flight towards the basket.
Goaltending is specifically called when a player touches the ball in its downward flight, with a chance of the ball going into the basket. This means that if the ball is on its downward trajectory towards the basket and a player makes contact with it, it is considered goaltending. The downward flight is an important distinction because it indicates that the ball has passed its apex and has a chance of going into the basket.
The backboard is not relevant to the call for goaltending. Touching the ball after it has made contact with the backboard is not considered goaltending, as the ball is often still in its upward flight after hitting the backboard. The key factor is whether the ball is in its downward flight and has a chance of going into the basket.
If goaltending is called for interference with a field goal, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made. This means that the team that committed the violation must inbound the ball at their baseline, just as they would if they had conceded a basket.
Goaltending is a significant rule in high school basketball, and it can have a substantial impact on the outcome of a game. It is a frequently discussed and sometimes controversial topic in basketball, especially regarding reviews and instant replays of goaltending calls. It is important for players, coaches, and officials to understand this rule to ensure fair and consistent application during games.
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Goaltending is not called when a player touches the ball after it hits the backboard
Goaltending is a violation of the rules in basketball, and it occurs when a player interferes with the ball as it is on its way to the basket. In high school basketball, goaltending is called when a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket.
Now, according to the rules, it is considered goaltending if a player touches the ball when it is in downward flight, or above the basket rim and within an imaginary cylinder projecting above the rim, or already touching the rim. It is also goaltending if a player touches the ball after it has touched the backboard and has a chance of scoring.
However, it is important to note that if a player near their own basket has their hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not considered a violation if their contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if they touch the basket in the process. This means that if a player touches the ball after it hits the backboard, it may not be considered goaltending if the ball is still on its upward flight and not within the cylinder above the basket.
In other words, while touching the ball after it hits the backboard can be goaltending, it is not always the case. The determining factors include the ball's direction, its proximity to the basket, and whether the player's hand was already legally in contact with the ball before it entered the cylinder.
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Goaltending is different from basket interference
Goaltending is indeed called in high school basketball games, although it is uncommon compared to higher levels of play. This is due to the large variations in player size, age, athleticism, and skill level. In the rare instances where goaltending may apply, officials generally follow the guidelines in the men's NCAA rulebook.
Goaltending is a violation of the rules in basketball. It occurs when a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket. It is also goaltending if a player touches the ball when it is in downward flight, above the basket rim and within an imaginary cylinder projecting above the rim, or already touching the rim. Goaltending is commonly confused with basket interference, but they are different.
Basket interference, also called offensive goaltending, occurs during an attempted field goal when a player touches the basket, the rim, or the ball when it is on the rim or directly above it. It can also occur when a player touches any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder. During a field goal attempt, it is basket interference to touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above the ring level, whether the ball is on its upward or downward flight.
Goaltending and basket interference are two different violations in basketball. Goaltending focuses on the illegal obstruction of the ball or goal by a player, while basket interference involves a player touching the basket, rim, or ball in a specific way during an attempted field goal. Goaltending can occur when a player interferes with a free throw or a field goal attempt, while basket interference specifically pertains to actions during a field goal attempt.
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Goaltending review rules are unpopular
Goaltending is a violation of the rules in basketball. It occurs when a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket. If goaltending is called for interference with a field goal, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made. The rules regarding goaltending can be confusing, and they vary slightly at different levels of the sport.
In high school and NCAA basketball, if goaltending is called on a free throw, the shooting team is awarded one point, and a technical foul is called against the offending player. Goaltending is often confused with basket interference, which occurs when a player touches the basket, rim, or ball when it is on or directly above the rim during an attempted field goal.
The goaltending review rule in college basketball has been widely unpopular. Social media has been filled with complaints from fans, pundits, and even TV announcers. Coaches, known for their impatience and lack of understanding, have also voiced their displeasure with the rule, especially during games. The rule allows referees to use instant replay to determine if a goaltending call is correct, but only when a call has already been made on the floor.
One of the main issues with the rule is that it can disrupt the flow of the game. Hall of Fame college basketball writer Mike DeCourcy called it "one of the worst rules ever passed in college hoops". He pointed out that even if a wrong call is corrected upon review, the flow of the game has already been impacted.
The rule was implemented to improve the accuracy of calls, with coaches pushing for the ability to review goaltending decisions. Despite this, the review rule has not been well-received, and there are discussions about possible changes in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Goaltending is a violation of the rules in basketball. It occurs when a player interferes with a free throw at any time in its flight towards the basket.
If goaltending is called for interference with a field goal, the shooting team is awarded the points for the field goal as if it had been made. The team that commits the violation then inbounds the ball at its baseline, the same as if it had conceded a basket.
Basket interference, or offensive goaltending, occurs when a player touches the basket, the rim, or the ball when it is on the rim or directly above it during an attempted field goal. Goaltending, on the other hand, involves touching the ball when it is in downward flight or within an imaginary cylinder above the basket rim.
Instant replay for goaltending calls is currently used in college basketball, but it is unclear if this rule extends to high school basketball.































