(English)

The basketball rules specify that:

Screening is an attempt to delay or prevent an opponent without the ball from reaching a desired position on the playing court.

Legal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was stationary (inside their cylinder) when contact occurs.
• Had both feet on the floor when contact occurs.

Illegal screening is when the player who is screening an opponent:

• Was moving when contact occurred.
• Did not give sufficient distance in setting a screen outside the field of vision of a stationary opponent when contact occurred.
• Did not respect the elements of time and distance of an opponent in motion when contact occurred.

If the screen is set within the field of vision of a stationary opponent (front or lateral), the screener may establish the screen as close to them as they desire, provided there is no contact.

If the screen is set outside the field of vision of a stationary opponent, the screener must permit the opponent to take 1 normal step towards the screen without making contact.

If the opponent is in motion, the elements of time and distance shall apply. The screener must leave enough space so that the player who is being screened is able to avoid the screen by stopping or changing direction.

The distance required is never less than 1 and never more than 2 normal steps.

A player who is legally screened is responsible for any contact with the player who has set the screen.²⁰

(English)

Setting the Screen

A player setting a screen should use a jump stop (one count) to ensure that they are stationary prior to any contact with the defender – remembering that nthe intended purpose of the screen is that there will be contact. The screener should also be in a low, balanced stance to ensure that they can hold their position when there is contact.

Sometimes in a team offence , they will designate that a particular screen is set at a certain time. Even in this case though, the screener should communicate to their teammate that they are screening. The screen should have both a visual cue (often a raised fist is used) as well as verbal.

The screener should also use a verbal cue to communicate to the cutter when to move, such as “wait, wait, GO”.