One thing I learned this year while serving as the "official scorer" for the local
University NCAA men's and women's games is that the
5-second "closely guarded" rule in the men's game doesn't exist in
the women's game. That is, if the woman is dribbling, she doesn't have to
advance the ball - she's only limited by the shot clock:
A five second closely guarded violation occurs if, a player with the ball is guarded closely for five seconds. For men's college basketball, to be considered closely guarded, a defender must be guarding a player who is located in the frontcourt and within six (6) feet of the player.[2] The count applies to a player holding or dribbling the ball. This allows for multiple closely guarded counts to occur. Women's college basketball requires the defender to be within three (3) feet and can be anywhere on the playing court but only applies to a player holding the ball.[3] A count ends whenever the player with the ball gets his head and shoulders past the defender, the defender is no longer within the required distance, the same defender does not continuously closely guard the player in control of the ball, or another opponent is between the defender and the ball.[4]
High school rules mimic men's college basketball's closely guarded rule. A defender must be guarding the player in control of the ball, in the frontcourt, and must be within six feet of the player. A player may be holding or dribbling the ball. If a defensive teammates switch, and both are within six feet of the player in control of the ball, the same count is continued.
Under FIBA rules, a defender must be within one meter of a player holding the ball and must be in an active guarding position.[5] This count can occur anywhere on the playing court.
There is no five second closely guarded violation under NBA rules.
University NCAA men's and women's games is that the
5-second "closely guarded" rule in the men's game doesn't exist in
the women's game. That is, if the woman is dribbling, she doesn't have to
advance the ball - she's only limited by the shot clock:
A five second closely guarded violation occurs if, a player with the ball is guarded closely for five seconds. For men's college basketball, to be considered closely guarded, a defender must be guarding a player who is located in the frontcourt and within six (6) feet of the player.[2] The count applies to a player holding or dribbling the ball. This allows for multiple closely guarded counts to occur. Women's college basketball requires the defender to be within three (3) feet and can be anywhere on the playing court but only applies to a player holding the ball.[3] A count ends whenever the player with the ball gets his head and shoulders past the defender, the defender is no longer within the required distance, the same defender does not continuously closely guard the player in control of the ball, or another opponent is between the defender and the ball.[4]
High school rules mimic men's college basketball's closely guarded rule. A defender must be guarding the player in control of the ball, in the frontcourt, and must be within six feet of the player. A player may be holding or dribbling the ball. If a defensive teammates switch, and both are within six feet of the player in control of the ball, the same count is continued.
Under FIBA rules, a defender must be within one meter of a player holding the ball and must be in an active guarding position.[5] This count can occur anywhere on the playing court.
There is no five second closely guarded violation under NBA rules.
