There are dozens of 72-by-34 foot hardwood basketball courts around Butler County where certain types of physical play are being discouraged.

Drawing a charge?

A nice hustle play.

Getting in a WWE-style wrestling match on the floor to force a jump ball?

Sure.

Putting your hand(s) on a player?

Don’t even think about it.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association has placed a new emphasis on hand-checking and offensive player control fouls this season.

While many area coaches think it will lead to a better product, adjusting to the new rules has provided a sharp learning curve.

It’s also provided some ugly basketball.

During the Mars-Ambridge boys basketball season earlier this season, both teams were whistled for a combined 23 fouls. Many were of the player control/hand-check variety.

Mars boys basketball coach Rob Carmody brought in a referee before the season to talk to his players.

“We still have to get ourselves adjusted to the rules,” Carmody said. “Our guys are doing a better job, but we’re still doing too much bumping and running along instead of sprinting and keeping our hands. It is a significant change.”

Consistency right now is the big issue.

Laurel girls basketball coach Jessica Shevitz said the Spartans have played in three different districts — District 7, 9 and 10 — and found it officiated in different ways.

Even within games there seem to be different interpretations.

Mars guard Christian Schmitt says that requires patience.

“It’s difficult. They call it a ton at the beginning of games, then it gets more lenient,” Schmitt said. “But you can’t have one hand or two hands on anyone. You need to have both hands up and you have to give a guy space.”

Slippery Rock girls basketball coach John Tabisz gave his team a homework assignment.

He recommended they go across the street and watch the Slippery Rock University men’s basketball team play.

“Everyone has their hands up in the air and they aren’t hand checking,” Tabisz said.

Rockets guard Jenna Whitmer took some time in the preseason to adjust. Checking someone quicker on the perimeter is a natural reaction.

“You have to know who you’re guarding, how much space you give them,” Whitmer said. “You just have to have knowledge.”

With everyone — players, officials and coaches — still adjusting, there is still a lot of tinkering and learning left to do.

The referees and players need to work through their frustrations.

With 10 players hustling on a small court, there’s bound to be contact.

Figuring out how much is too much in a split-second is a lot to ask.

“They made refereeing 10 times harder with that rule,” Tabisz said. “It’s hard enough to ref, let alone determine one touch.”

Josh Rizzo is a sports writer for the Butler Eagle