Charging and Blocking Fouls in Youth Basketball

 

Youth Basketball
Image: breakthroughbasketball.com

Michael Wiesemann is an experienced insurance professional who recently spent nearly a decade as president of Fundamental Group in Indianapolis, Indiana. Beyond his work in the insurance industry, Michael Wiesemann enjoys playing basketball and coaching youth sports teams.

Youth basketball coaches are tasked with teaching players the various fundamentals and rules of the sport, including the differences between a charging call and a blocking foul. A blocking foul is assessed to a defender who has illegally impeded the forward motion of an opposing ball handler. However, if a defender is able to set their feet and assume a legal defensive position prior to the offensive player initiating contact, the ball handler will be assessed a charging foul, resulting in a turn over.

Differentiating between a charge and block can often be difficult for referees, particularly when it comes to the restricted area beneath the basket. Defensive players cannot make contact with an offensive player in this area, regardless of their positioning or which player initiated contact. In fact, if any part of a player’s defensive stance crosses the plane of the restricted area, that player will be called for a blocking foul.

Knights of Columbus Provides Food for Families in Need

 

Knights of Columbus
Image: kofc.org

Until recently, Michael Wiesemann served as the president of Fundamental Group, an insurance agency in Indianapolis, Indiana. Micheal Wiesemann also supports the Knights of Columbus (K of C), a Roman Catholic fraternal organization.

The organization participates in charitable activities in a number of areas, such as providing food to families with low-income backgrounds. Donating to food banks, pantries, and soup kitchens, K of C has contributed 21.5 million pounds of food and $10.7 million on a national level since 2012.

As an incentive for these donations by local K of C councils, the Supreme Council offers rebates. For every $500 in cash contributions or every thousand pounds of food, it sends back $100, up to a maximum of $500, in refunds.

Councils that fulfill these requirements, along with at least 100 hours of service, also receive consideration for the Columbian Award, which honors outstanding charitable programs.

Councils taking part in the Food for Families program should secure the permission of the recipient food organizations and publicize the event(s) in parishes.

LeBron James Continues to Equal Career-High Performance on the Court

 

LeBron James
Image: nba.com

Michael Wiesemann is a success-driven Indiana insurance executive who led Fundamental Group operations across multiple states. A longtime youth athletics coach in the Indianapolis, Indiana, community, Michael Wiesemann has a lifelong passion for basketball.

One of most celebrated players still active in NBA basketball is LeBron James, a four-time MVP who is in his 15th season and on track to break the all-time scoring record set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar if he continues playing for another five seasons. Speaking recently with ESPN, James described feeling an overall satisfaction with life, with his play continuing to speak for itself. In the first half of the season he averaged 27.2 points per game, a stat he last equaled in 2009-10, coupled with 8.2 rebounds and a career-high 9.0 assists per game.

At age 33, James has already made it “further than I thought I would go,” with his only present concern the limited time he has to spend with his 13-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. He would particularly enjoy seeing more games played by his son, who also excels on the basketball court. When asked if he would give up competition to have more family time at home, James said “No, I’ve got too many sneakers to sell still.”

Indiana Knights of Columbus Hosts 2018 State Convention in April

 

Knights of Columbus
Image: indianakofc.org

With more than 15 years of experience working in corporate leadership, Michael Wiesemann most recently served as president of the Fundamental Group in Indianapolis, Indiana. Engaged with his community, Michael Wiesemann belongs to the local Knights of Columbus affiliate.

Begun in 1882, the Knights of Columbus is a group of almost 2 million Catholic men focused on charitable giving. In 2016, the group set a record for the 18th straight year in regard to charitable donations. It saw its donations increase from $175 million the previous year to $177.5 million in 2016. In addition, the group saw members volunteer more than 75 million hours of service.

The Knights of Columbus boasts affiliates in many parts of the world, with the Indiana chapter existing since 1921. To keep these members connected, the chapter sponsors an annual state convention, with the 2018 meeting scheduled for April 20 through 22 at the Indianapolis Marriott East. During this three-day event, members participate in elections for supreme convention delegates, state officers, and the Gibault Board of Trustees.

The 2017 state convention, which took place last April, saw the organization gain 887 members with a median jurisdiction age of 59, which is younger than in previous years. The Indiana chapter also recorded 12,241 volunteer hours for 2016.