What is considered goaltending
Origin of goaltending
Words nearby goaltending
MORE ABOUT GOALTENDING
What does goaltending mean?
In basketball, goaltending refers to a rules violation in which a player interferes with a shot by touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket or while it is over, on, or within the rim of the basket.
The word goaltending can also refer to the act of being a goaltender, which in sports like ice hockey and lacrosse is another name for the goalkeeper. This is the player positioned in front of the goal whose job is to prevent the ball or puck from entering it (or crossing the goal line). (Basketball does not have a goaltender or goalkeeper position.)
In basketball, when a player interferes with the ball in a certain way, the referee will call goaltending. Goaltending is often done accidentally by a defensive player trying to keep the ball from going in the basket. When the referee calls goaltending on a play like this, the basket will be counted as if the ball had gone in, and the offensive team will be awarded points for it.
Goaltending can also be done by an offensive player who interferes with the ball in this way. In this case, the basket is not counted, and no points are awarded (even if the ball went in).
The informal verb goaltend is sometimes used in basketball to refer to the action of goaltending, as in Don’t goaltend by hitting the ball on its way down. Goaltend is also informally used to refer to an instance of doing so or to the call made by the referee, as in She just got called for a goaltend.
Example: The replay shows that he touched the ball on the way down, so they’re going to call this goaltending.
Where does goaltending come from?
The first records of the word goaltending come from the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the late 1930s that it was used in reference to basketball. In the earlier word goaltender, the word tender refers “someone who tends to or takes care of something” (it’s used in a similar way in the word bartender).
In a lot of sports, the object of the game is to get the ball or puck into the goal. And in most of those sports, there is someone there to guard the goal and try to prevent that from happening: the goalkeeper or goaltender. In basketball, though, there is no goalie, and all defensive players try to prevent the other team from putting the ball in the hoop. Because positioning a player under the basket to swat the ball away any time it gets near the rim would make it too difficult to score, the goaltending rule was introduced. Rules vary in different leagues, but players usually can only touch the ball on its way up, not on its way down (in college and professional basketball, instant replay is often called upon to determine whether this has happened). Goaltending can also consist of a player touching the ball when it’s inside or within the circle or the rim, or after the ball has touched the backboard and is near the rim.
When goaltending is used in the context of sports with goaltenders (like ice hockey), it’s often used in discussion of how a goaltender has performed, as in We’ve some excellent goaltending from him during this series.
Did you know . ?
What are some other forms related to goaltending?
What are some words that share a root or word element with goaltending?
What are some words that often get used in discussing goaltending?
- basketball
- ball
- basket
- hoop
- rim
- hockey
- ice hockey
- referee
- call
How is goaltending used in real life?
Goaltending is most commonly used in the context of basketball and ice hockey, but it’s used in a different way for each sport.
Dominique Wilkins of Georgia blocks North Carolina’s James Worthy in a 1982 NCAA basketball game. Nique is called for goaltending, but provides yet another incredible highlight.
HBD to the late great NBA pioneer George Mikan!
He’s responsible for:
Goaltending rule in the NCAA
Wider lanes & the shot clock in the NBA
Red/White/Blue ball & 3-Pointers in the ABA
Here’s KG on Mikan’s influence on the game
Goaltending is secure for the #NHLDucks with John Gibson and Ryan Miller. But what if Miller opts not to return next season? We look at some possibilities if a new backup is needed.
Try using goaltending!
Is goaltending used correctly in the following sentence?
That’s just poor goaltending by the goalie.
How to use goaltending in a sentence
Despite scoring the ninth-most goals in the league, with Barkov and Huberdeau both eclipsing 90 points, Florida missed the playoffs because it ranked 27th in defensive GAR and 30th in goaltending .
Washington’s back-to-back games against the Devils this weekend will come with further goaltending questions.
The early returns suggest the defense and goaltending from the divisions teams has declined.
This mailbag will address the Capitals’ goaltending battle, Vitek Vanecek, Washington’s power play unit, Jakub Vrana and Dmitry Orlov production predictions, and who is already back in town ahead of the projected January NHL start date.
Unfortunately for Carolina, its regular-season goaltending was ordinary at best.
Section I—A Player Shall Not:
- Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is sitting or rolling on the ring and using the basket ring as its lower base or hang on the rim while the ball is passing through.
- EXCEPTION: If a player near his own basket has his hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if his contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, he touches the basket.
- Touch any ball from within the playing area when it is above the basket ring and within the imaginary cylinder.
- During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight.
- During a field goal attempt, touch a ball, which has a chance to score, after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
- Trap the ball against the face of the backboard after it has been released. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.)
- Touch any ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to score. This is considered to be a “field goal attempt” or trying for a goal.
- Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring.
- Vibrate the rim, net or backboard so as to cause the ball to make an unnatural bounce, or bend or move the rim to an off-center position when the ball is touching the ring or passing through.
- Touch the rim, net or ball while the ball is in the net, preventing it from clearing the basket.
- PENALTY: If the violation is at the opponent’s basket, the offended team is awarded two points, if the attempt is from the two point zone and three points if it is from the three-point zone. The crediting of the score and subsequent procedure is the same as if the awarded score has resulted from the ball having gone through the basket, except that the official shall hand the ball to a player of the team entitled to the throw-in. If the violation is at a team’s own basket, no points can be scored and the ball is awarded to the offended team at the free throw line extended on either sideline. If there is a violation by both teams, no points can be scored, play shall be resumed by a jump ball between any two opponents in the game at the center circle.
Section I: A Player Shall Not:
a. Touch the ball or the basket ring when the ball is on or within either basket.
b. Touch the ball when it is touching the cylinder having the basket ring as its lower base. Exception: In (a) or (b) above if a player near her own basket has her hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if her contact with the ball continues after the ball enters the cylinder, or if, in such action, she touches the basket.
c. Touch the ball when it is above the basket ring and touching the imaginary cylinder.
d. Touch the ball when it is on its downward flight during a field goal attempt, while the entire ball is above the basket ring level and before the ball has touched the basket ring or the attempt has ended.
e. For goaltending to occur, the ball, in the judgment of the official, must have a chance to score.
f. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball after it has touched any part of the backboard above ring level, whether the ball is considered on its upward or downward flight. The offensive player must have caused the ball to touch the backboard.
g. During a field goal attempt, touch a ball after it has touched the backboard below the ring level and while the ball is on its upward flight.
h. Trap the ball against the face of the backboard. (To be a trapped ball, three elements must exist simultaneously. The hand, the ball and the backboard must all occur at the same time. A batted ball against the backboard is not a trapped ball.)
i. Touch any live ball from within the playing area that is on its downward flight with an opportunity to touch the basket ring. This is considered to be a “field goal attempt” or trying for a goal (except a “tap” from a jump ball situation.)
j. Touch the ball at any time with a hand which is through the basket ring.
Penalty:
If the violation is at the opponent’s basket, the offended team is awarded two points, if the attempt is from the two point zone and three points if it is from the three point zone. The crediting of the score and subsequent procedure is the same as if the awarded score has resulted from the ball having gone through the basket, except that the official shall hand the ball to a player of the team entitled to the throw-in. If the violation is at a team’s own basket, no points can be scored and the ball is awarded to the offended team at the out-of-bounds nearest the spot of the violation. If there is a violation by both teams, play shall be resumed by a jump ball between any two opponents at the center circle.
Goaltending is a penalty in basketball when a player interferes with a ball via a scoring chance. The rule is across the NCAA, NBA, WNBA, and High School. This penalty has several features that separate it from a basket interference call, which is a similar penalty. Keep reading more to see examples of goaltending, the history of the penalty, and more below.
What is the Penalty for Defensive Goaltending?
During a basketball game, a defensive goaltending violation results in automatic points for the offensive team. The points that go to the offensive team result in where that shot took place. For example, if the goaltending violation took place from a three-point shot, the offensive team receives 3 points.
For the box score of the game, the shooter will receive point credits even with the assistance of goaltending. That is important for any fantasy basketball player that their player still receives point credit on a goaltend.
Finally, if a player blocks a shot during a free throw attempt, the team receives a technical foul. Also, that block shot automatically counts as one point.
What’s the Difference Between Goaltending and Basket Interference?
When referees look at a basket in the NBA, they take note of several parts about it. Namely, baskets have a backboard, a net, a hoop, and an imaginary cylinder that traces the space of the hoop upwards.
For a player to commit goaltending, they must touch the ball while it is on a downward trajectory on the way to the basket. This downward trajectory can start as either a free throw or a field goal attempt. Further, the goaltending rule stipulates that the ball must be above the hoop to qualify for a penalty but not touching the invisible cylinder.
Suppose a defensive or offensive player touches the ball while it is in the imaginary cylinder. The play is automatically called basket interference. Players also can’t touch the net or hoop to prevent the other team from scoring. The only exception is if a player is touching the hoop due to a dunk or layup.
What about Offensive Goaltending?
Offensive players can also commit goaltending penalties, which is offensive goaltend. This often happens when offensive players move the rim down to help the ball go into the net. If the ball goes into the hoop due to offensive goaltending, the offensive team receives no points, and the goaltender’s team loses possession of the ball.
What is the Difference Between Blocking and Goaltending?
If you’re wondering whether a block was a goaltending violation, pay attention to the trajectory of the ball. It would be a block if the ball were in upward flight, say from a field goal attempt. The rulebook specifies that downward flight is necessary for a goaltending penalty.
Similarly, a player going for a rebound may get a goaltending violation if the ball is in downward flight above the hoop. The ball must be below the basket ring level for someone to safely recover the ball for a rebound.
When was a Goaltending Penalty First-Called in the NBA?
The NCAA made goaltending a violation in 1944, while the NBA made that official in 1945. For many years, officials in the NCAA and NBA thought goaltending was impossible because no one could reach the area above the hoop. However, in 1944, goaltending was outlawed in NCAA basketball, thanks to George Mikan.
At the time, Mikan was one of the tallest and most athletic basketball players, standing at 6’10” and nearly 250 lbs. The NBA added a goaltending rule one year later, in 1945.
Special Circumstances Regarding Goaltending
While a defensive player can block a field goal attempt at any time before it reaches its apex, there are different rules for free throws. If a defensive player touches a ball at any time during a free throw attempt, basketball rules qualify that as a goaltend. This infraction counts as a technical foul against the offending player, giving a point to the opposing team.
Goaltending can occur after the final buzzer of a basketball game. This happens if a player shoots the ball before time runs out, making it a live ball. After attempting to block a shot after the final buzzer, Phoenix Suns player Jermaine O’Neal was called for goaltending during a 2012-2013 NBA game. His penalty granted the Houston Rockets two points, causing them to beat the Suns 101-98.
International Goaltending Rules
For the most part, international basketball goaltending rules are similar to the NBA. However, the primary difference between the NBA and international rules is that the international game allows players to touch the ball after it hits the rim. That means even if the ball is coming straight down through the hoop after hitting the rim, a player can block that shot and not get a goaltending violation.
Conclusion: What is Goaltending in Basketball?
In summary, goaltending is a rule during a basketball game to ensure that no players interfere with the routine flight of a ball into the hoop. While this rule is closely related to basket interference, a key difference sets it apart. Namely, goaltending happens while the basketball has a downward trajectory to the hoop, while a basket interference can occur on the rim, the net, and more to help the ball go in or stay out.