This is an example of a hand check foul. A defender cannot use an extended hand on a ball handler to illegally impede their progress, affect their balance and speed or redirect them from their intended route.

In this example, ball handler Black 9 is dribbling across the top of the lane way when defender Purple 24 places his extended right hand on the left shoulder of Black 9. The illegal contact impedes Black 9’s progress, affects his balance and speed and redirects him away from his intended route down the middle of the lane way towards the basket. This is a hand check foul by Purple 24 on Black 9.