violations

Question
what is a blocking foul and charging foul? Is there a violation related to "screening"?

Answer
Hi Ash,

Charging and blocking
Charging and blocking are the most controversial foul calls in basketball. Charging is defined as illegal contact by pushing or moving into another player's torso. Blocking is illegal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to see which player in a charging/blocking situation is at fault. In "charging/blocking situations" the offensive player is charging and the defensive player is blocking (but that is not to say charging is only committed by offensive players and so on.) It is generally accepted that if the defense was still, or moving sideways or backwards but not forwards, when contact occurred
took a legal guarding position before the contact, that is, one with both feet on the floor
was hit on the torso (as opposed to the arm or leg)
respected the elements of time and distance if it did not involve a dribbling player
then the offensive player was at fault and should be charged with a charging foul.

Charging/blocking situations almost always occur with a player who is dribbling the ball (and the player who is guarding him).

A screen is an attempt by an offensive player to stop a defensive player from guarding an offensive player. It can be worked very effectively; John Stockton and Karl Malone were well known for their screen and roll plays. The screener stands in the path of the defensive player in the hope that he will inadvertently crash into him, thus leaving the screener's team-mate free to run. However if the screener is moving when contact occurs, or he did not respect the elements of time and distance, or he initiated contact, he is charged with illegal screening, which is a type of blocking foul.

I hope this helps....Good luck!