It's that time again. Time for fans to be reminded/updated on the REAL rules vs the "fans" rules.

 

I'll break them out into groups .

 

#1 Basket interference/goaltending/backboard

 

A player cannot touch the ball, ring, or net while the ball is on the ring or within the basket. A player cannot touch the ball if it is in the imaginary cylinder above the ring. These are examples of basket interference.

 

It is legal to touch the ring or the net if the ball is above the ring and not touching the ring, even if the ball is in the imaginary cylinder above the ring. It is legal to hang on the ring if a player is avoiding an injury to himself or herself or another player.

 

The backboard has nothing to do with goaltending. Goaltending is when a player touches the ball during a try, or tap, while it is in its downward flight, entirely above the basket ring level, outside the imaginary cylinder above the ring, and has the possibility of entering the basket. On most layups, the ball is going up immediately after it contacts the backboard. It is legal to pin the ball against the backboard if it still on the way up, and is not in the imaginary cylinder above the basket.

 

Slapping the backboard is neither basket interference, nor is it goaltending, and points cannot be awarded. A player who strikes a backboard, during a tap, or a try, so forcefully that it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt to draw attention to the player, or a means of venting frustration, may be assessed a technical foul. When a player simply attempts to block a shot, and accidentally slaps the backboard, it is neither a violation, nor is it a technical foul.

 

The front, top, sides, and bottom of the backboard are all in play. The ball cannot legally pass over a rectangular backboard from either direction. The back of a backboard is out of bounds, as well as the supporting structures.

#2 Traveling

 

The traveling rule is one of the most misunderstood rules in basketball. To start a dribble, the ball must be released before the pivot foot is lifted. On a pass, or a shot, the pivot foot may be lifted, but may not return to the floor before the ball is released.

 

A player may slide on the floor while trying to secure a loose ball until that player’s momentum stops. At that point that player cannot attempt to get up, or rollover. A player securing a ball while on the floor cannot attempt to stand up unless that player starts a dribble. A player in this situation may also pass, shoot, or request a timeout. If the player is flat on his, or her, back, that player may sit up without violating.

 

A player must be holding the ball in order to travel.

 

A player can't travel while dribbling, while tapping the ball, while fumbling it, or while trying to recover a loose ball.

 

During a fumble the player is not in control of the ball, and therefore, cannot be called for a traveling violation. A fumble is the accidental loss of player control when the ball is unintentionally dropped, or slips from a player’s grasp. After a player has ended a dribble and fumbled the ball, that player may recover the ball without violating. Any steps taken during the recovery of a fumble are not traveling, regardless of how far the ball goes, and the amount of advantage that is gained. It is always legal to recover a fumble, even at the end of a dribble, however that player cannot begin a new dribble, which would be an illegal dribble violation. A player who fumbles the ball when receiving a pass may legally start a dribble.

 

The shooter can retrieve his or her own airball, if the referee considers it to be a shot attempt. The release ends team control. It is not a violation for that player to start another dribble at that point. When an airborne player keeps control of an attempted shot that is blocked, is unable to release the ball, and returns to the floor with it, that player has not traveled; it is a held ball. If, in this situation, the shooter loses control of the ball because of the block, then this is simply a blocked shot, and play continues. If, in this situation, the defender simply touches the ball, and the airborne shooter returns to the floor holding the ball, it’s a traveling violation. When an airborne player tries for goal, sees that the try will be blocked, purposely drops the ball, and touches the ball after it hits the floor, that player has traveled by starting a dribble with the pivot foot off the floor.

#3 Dribbling

 

Palming, or carrying, is when the ball comes to rest in the player's hand, and the player either travels with the ball, or dribbles a second time.

 

There is no restriction as to how high a player may bounce the ball, provided the ball does not come to rest in a player’s hand. Steps taken during a dribble are not traveling, including several that are sometimes taken when a high dribble takes place. It is not possible for a player to travel during a dribble.

#4 Throw-in

 

A player inbounding the ball may step on, but not over the line. During a designated spot throwin, the player inbounding the ball must keep one foot on, or over, the three-foot wide designated spot. An inbounding player is allowed to jump, or move one or both feet. A player inbounding the ball may move backward as far as the five-second time limit, or space allows. If player moves outside the three-foot wide designated spot, it is a throw-in violation, not traveling. In gymnasiums with limited space outside the sidelines, and endlines, a defensive player may be asked to step back no more than three feet. A player inbounding the ball may “dribble” the ball on the out-of-bounds area prior to making a throw-in. After a goal, or awarded goal, the team not credited with the score shall make the throw-in from any point outside the end line. A team retains this “run the endline” privilege if a timeout is called during the dead ball period after the goal. Any player of the team may make a direct throw-in, or may pass the ball along the end line to a teammate outside the boundary line.

 

The defender may not break the boundary plane during a throw-in until the ball has been released on a throw-in pass. If the defender breaks the boundary plane during a throw-in before the ball has been released on a throw-in pass, the defender’s team will receive a team delay warning, or if the team has already been warned for one of the four delay situations, this action would result in a team technical foul.

 

If the defender contacts the ball after breaking the boundary plane, it is a player technical foul and a team delay warning will be recorded.

 

If the defender breaks the boundary plane, and fouls the inbounding player, it is an intentional personal foul, and a team delay warning will be recorded. It is an intentional personal foul if the defender fouls the inbounding player, even without breaking the boundary plane, however, in this specific case, there is no delay of game warning because the defender did not break the boundary plane.

#5 Legal Guarding Position

 

A defensive player does not have to remain stationary to take a charge. A defender may turn away, or duck, to absorb contact, provided he, or she, has already established legal guarding position, which is both feet on the playing court, and facing the opponent.

 

The defender can always move backwards, or sideways, to maintain a legal guarding position, and may even have one or both feet off the floor when contact occurs. That player may legally rise vertically. If the defender is moving forward, then the contact is caused by the defender, which is a blocking foul.

#6 Backcourt (over and back) Violation

 

3 requirements for this:

 

1. Ball must have front court status

2. Offense must have team control

3. Offense has to be last to touch in frontcourt and first to touch in backcourt.

 

 

#1 FC status: A dribbler (KEY) does not have front court status until "3 points" are not in the backcourt - ball and both feet. SO... a dribbler can have both feet over but the ball still be dribbling in the backcourt and legally return to the backcourt. The ball can be in FC but one or both feet still in backcourt and can legally return the ball to the backcourt.

 

Player A1 is in the backcourt. Passes the ball. Player A2 jumps from the front court, catches the ball while in the air, and then lands in the backcourt. Violation. Player A2 went from the frontcourt to the backcourt with the ball.

 

Note true on a throw-in or jump ball.

 

Non-dribbler - Once no part of the body is touching the backcourt the ball has FC status. So a player holding the ball with one foot in FC and one foot in BC is still BC UNTIL that back foot gets lifted. If it then comes back down in BC it's a violation.

 

#2 Team control: A loose ball is still in team control of the team that last had control.

 

A SHOT ends team control.

 

#3 If you just remember "last to touch and then first" you'll get it. The #1 BY FAR scream officials hear is when the ball is deflected by the defense but it hits the offense in front court and then goes to backcourt where the offense is first to touch. BY RULE that's a violation. No need to scream "it was tipped." Irrelevant.

I love/hate when fans yell "over the back!!"

I love/hate when fans yell "over the back!!"

 

Another one that's a bit misunderstood. No foul unless the rebounder moves the other player forward before securing the ball.

Another one that's a bit misunderstood. No foul unless the rebounder moves the other player forward before securing the ball.

 

Because there is no actual foul called "Over The Back." It is a "Push," therefore meaning the actual action is pushing or displacing, not reaching over top someone. Drives me crazy.

The NCAA eliminated the five-second (closely guarded) rule. Did high school?

The NCAA eliminated the five-second (closely guarded) rule. Did high school?

 

No.

"THREE SECONDS, RAY-UF!

Because there is no actual foul called "Over The Back." It is a "Push," therefore meaning the actual action is pushing or displacing, not reaching over top someone. Drives me crazy.

 

Same here. There is no over the back. It is not a foul if you jump higher than the person in front of you. It is a foul if you push them in order to jump higher than them. I'm with you!!!!!

 

At the same time sometimes refs call it a foul when someone was clearly jumping up higher than the person in front of them. It can be tricky.

Same here. There is no over the back. It is not a foul if you jump higher than the person in front of you. It is a foul if you push them in order to jump higher than them. I'm with you!!!!! At the same time sometimes refs call it a foul when someone was clearly jumping up higher than the person in front of them. It can be tricky.

 

Sometimes refs make calls that are easy "sells."

Sometimes refs make calls that are easy "sells."

 

True. Like calling fouls on defenders when guards dribbling act like they have been shot when there has been minimal or no contact.