It’s the ultimate act of self-sacrifice on the basketball court, and it can sideline an opponent’s most explosive slasher with foul trouble.

“I have no idea how old I was when I first took a charge, but it was probably in grade school,” said senior forward Dani Holland, criminal justice graduate student, realizing she did not mind contact at an early age.

Though often playing against bigger, stronger players, Holland can be found flying around the court, often on the right end of a charge call. The Maroon asked her to give us her secrets on taking a successful charge.

And listen to her, or you might break your tailbone.

Step One: Pick A Spot

You need to recognize where the offensive player is going and then choose the spot where you are going to make your stand. “You have to see the path that the player is taking, if you are ever gonna successfully take a charge,” Holland said.

Step Two: Beat Them To That Spot

To actually take the charge, you have to beat your opponent to your chosen spot. You need to beat the offensive player by enough time to establish your position. Plant your feet and commit to a spot. If you move at all you’ll get whistled for a foul.

Step Three: Be Fearless

You will never be able to take a charge if you are afraid of contact. You have to raise your arms, open your body up, square your hips to the opponent and get run over. “If you get scared and flinch, it will cause you to move, which will likely get you that blocking foul. It’s going to hurt no matter what, so you might as well accept the contact,” Holland said.

Step Four: Fall on your butt and slide on the floor.

Make noise, overexaggerate a grunt to make sure the “ref sees it,” Holland said. Don’t put your hands down to break your fall or you might break your wrists.

Daniel Alvarez can be reached at [email protected].

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