I am always getting into arguments with people in pickup games regarding the rule of catching your own shot attempt. We're not playing NBA rules, but high-school rules. (I live in Illinois, so our park-district leagues use IHSA rules). Maybe it's the same in other states as well. Not sure about college.

If a player attempts a shot and that shot is not blocked nor does it hit the rim or backboard (i.e., air ball), the same player IS ALLOWED to rebound the ball. Everybody always says that this is travelling, but it's not. As long as in the opinion of the official, it's a shot attempt, then it's not travelling.

I am looking for hard documentation on this specific case. Does anybody know where I can find such documentation? Also, does anybody know if this is a national high school rule, and if this rule applies in college basketball as well?

Get yourself a ncaa rule book (available to download on the web) and/or a NFHS rule book (you can order it on the web). In rule 4 Definitions look up Travel. You'll see that of all the things listed that a player can/can't do under travel catching your own airball is NOT one of them. If that aint enough go to rule 9 Violations. Again, you will not see catching your own airball listed as a violation.

It is an HS rule and I believe it works this way in NCAA -as afar as I know, self pass is an NBA rule only. In HS rules, once a shot is attempted, anybody, including the shooter, can rebound it regardless of whether or not it touches anything. The key is whether or not the official judges it to be an attempt.

Of course, in pick-up, you have no official, so you get a split ballot on this issue of shot or self-pass. We always played in pick-up that you had to hit something because it saved arguments, not because it was a HS rule. It works better that way. And it evens out, unless you happen to do this more than most players, in which case I advise you to work on your shot, and not this rules interpretation :)

I don't. ;)

If you can find a high school (NFHS) casebook, the exact play is is covered under casebook play 4.43SitB. No travel. The ruling for NCAA games is the same, but I don't have that ruleset handy to look it up..

[Edited by Jurassic Referee on Oct 27th, 2003 at 10:45 AM]

Self pass.
 

A couple of years ago in an 8th grade boys game I actually had this happen and it won the game. Kid shoots the ball, it comes up short he grabs it and lays it in, game over. Coaches actually weren't upset about it, I was sort of surprised by this.

Thanks for all the responses. I have looked for the NFHS casebook on the web but so far I can't find it (unless of course, I buy it). If any of you know of a link, please post it here. Thanks again. I'm glad I found this place.

Casebook is not available electronically, nor is the rule book. The NFHS site allows you to order the case book.

Again, I am not sure that this is the rule that I would want ot enforce to the letter of NFHS. The traditional pickup rule is always hit something or you are done, since you don't have officials. Always worked for me. You will fight this battle every game for no reason.

NF 4.43 SITUATION B:
A1 attempts a try after ending the dribble. The try does not touch the backboard, the rim or any other player. A1 runs and is able to catch the ball before it strikes the floor. Is this traveling?

RULING:
No. When A1 recovered his/her own try, A1 could either dribble, pass or try again. There was no team control after the ball was released on a try. (4-12; 4-40)

For pickup games, if I'm playing with mostly people I don't know, I let it go. But in my weekly game with friends, it's already come up so now I just wanted documentation. Thanks again for all those who helped!