Goaltending

Also known as: Goal tending

Blocking a shot that’s already on its way down.

The rule

A player may not touch a shot while it’s on its way down toward the basket and above the rim, with a chance to go in. Blocking a shot on the way up is fine.

The penalty

If a defender goaltends, the shot counts as if it went in. If an attacker does, the shot doesn’t count and the defense gets the ball.

The reason

In the 1940s, tall centres like Bob Kurland and George Mikan stood by the rim swatting shots away as they came down. College basketball banned it in 1944, because no shot could beat a tall enough player waiting at the basket.

Around the leagues

• On the way down, or off the glass: NBA, WNBA. Also illegal: touching a shot after it hits the backboard above the rim, even on the way up.
• On the way down: FIBA, NCAA M, NCAA W, Wheelchair, 3x3. The ball has to be above the rim with a chance to go in.

Related: Basket Interference

In the Dictionary: Block, Goaltending, Rim