[scorecard]

[quote author=scorecard link=topic=11566.msg111060#msg111060 date=1421573272]

- We saw some odd flagrant fouls called for some weak incidental elbows last year.  Why was there no flagrant given for the elbow contact that split open Nastic's forehead?  Has the rule been changed?

I think Nastic could have actually been called for the foul there.
[/quote]

https://twitter.com/GoStanford/status/55...5864007680


It appears the rule has indeed been changed.  Officials are no longer required to give flagrants for elbow contact above the head.  Here is an excerpt from a NCAA press release 11/5/2013:

Elbow rules

The committee tweaked the rules regarding elbow contact above the shoulders.

A minimum of a flagrant 1 foul is no longer required when an official is responding to illegal elbow contact above the shoulders of an opponent. Now, officials also can call a common foul on any illegal elbow contact, which may result in no free throws and simply a throw-in to the offended team.

This rule change is a stark contrast to the former minimum flagrant 1 foul rule that has been in effect for three years, which awarded the offended player two free throws and the ball. Coaches felt that, sometimes, elbow contact did not merit such a harsh penalty. However, officials who deem elbow contact to be excessive, unnecessary, severe or extreme are encouraged to call a flagrant 1 or flagrant 2 foul.

In a flagrant 1 situation, the player who was struck is awarded two free throws and his team gets possession of the ball. In a flagrant 2 foul situation, the penalty is the same, but the player who threw the elbow is ejected from the game.

Committee members felt the mandatory flagrant 1 penalty of the elbow rule was too harsh for all elbow situations. While the intent of the elbow rule has always been to protect players, they said, some legitimate basketball moves result in contact that is not excessive and do not deserve the harsher penalty.

[scorecard]

[quote author=scorecard link=topic=11566.msg111060#msg111060 date=1421573272]

- We saw some odd flagrant fouls called for some weak incidental elbows last year.  Why was there no flagrant given for the elbow contact that split open Nastic's forehead?  Has the rule been changed?

I think Nastic could have actually been called for the foul there.
[/quote]

https://twitter.com/GoStanford/status/55...5864007680


It appears the rule has indeed been changed.  Officials are no longer required to give flagrants for elbow contact above the head.  Here is an excerpt from a NCAA press release 11/5/2013:

Elbow rules

The committee tweaked the rules regarding elbow contact above the shoulders.

A minimum of a flagrant 1 foul is no longer required when an official is responding to illegal elbow contact above the shoulders of an opponent. Now, officials also can call a common foul on any illegal elbow contact, which may result in no free throws and simply a throw-in to the offended team.

This rule change is a stark contrast to the former minimum flagrant 1 foul rule that has been in effect for three years, which awarded the offended player two free throws and the ball. Coaches felt that, sometimes, elbow contact did not merit such a harsh penalty. However, officials who deem elbow contact to be excessive, unnecessary, severe or extreme are encouraged to call a flagrant 1 or flagrant 2 foul.

In a flagrant 1 situation, the player who was struck is awarded two free throws and his team gets possession of the ball. In a flagrant 2 foul situation, the penalty is the same, but the player who threw the elbow is ejected from the game.

Committee members felt the mandatory flagrant 1 penalty of the elbow rule was too harsh for all elbow situations. While the intent of the elbow rule has always been to protect players, they said, some legitimate basketball moves result in contact that is not excessive and do not deserve the harsher penalty.