What does a player need to establish legal guarding position on the court?

To establish a legal guarding position on the court, a player must have both feet touching the court. This ensures that the defender is in a stable position and actively engaged in guarding an opponent. The requirement for both feet to be on the playing surface confirms that the player is not in violation of boundaries and maintains the integrity of the guarding position.

If a player is merely touching the boundary line or has one foot out of bounds, they would not be considered to have legal guarding position. Similarly, having one hand on the ball is irrelevant in terms of legal guarding position, as it does not influence the ability to effectively guard an opponent. Thus, the necessity of having both feet on the court specifically aligns with the rules governing the proper stance for effective defensive play.