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Old Sat Feb 13, 2021, 02:31pm
BillyMac BillyMac is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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IAABO International Play Commentary ...

Disclaimer: For IAABO eyes only. Below is not a NFHS interpretation, it's only an IAABO International interpretation which obviously doesn't mean a hill of beans to most members of this Forum.

https://storage.googleapis.com/refqu...u20QhLYuYe.mp4

IAABO International Play Commentary: Correct Answer: The traveling violation occurred in the free throw semi-circle.

The question posed on this play was, “Is this correctly ruled a traveling violation?” In this play, Red #34 establishes his left foot as the pivot foot. He quickly slides the pivot foot forward before releasing the ball to start the dribble. This is a traveling violation and should have been ruled. (4-44-3c) The new Trail official on this play had just retreated toward the division line after a rotation by the Lead official. After this position adjustment, he appears to have an open view of the dribbler when the violation occurred.

It is tough to be sure where the pivot foot was when the dribble ends at the end of the play. The dribbler has his right foot in contact with the floor before jumping into the air. But because a teammate of the dribbler (Red #21) obstructs our view of the right foot around the time the ball handler is attempting to end the dribble, it is difficult to see if the player is still in contact with the floor when the dribble ended.

If the right foot were in contact with the floor when the dribble ended, the subsequent landing (left foot, followed by the right foot) by the ball handler, would be considered illegal. If a player ends a dribble with one foot in contact with the floor, the only legal way to return to the floor with the ball is to land simultaneously on both feet. (4-44-2.b2) If the ball handler were airborne when the dribble ended, when he landed on the left foot, followed by the right foot, this would be a legal play, establishing the first foot to touch, the left foot, as the pivot foot. (4-44-2.a2)

In our view of the play, we were uncertain if the player ended the dribble with the pivot foot on the floor or not, so we tended to rule the landing to be a legal play. We were certain a travel occurred at the start of the dribble, so that is the official answer on the play.

In fairness to those who see a travel at the end of the play. The Lead official has a great angle and an open view of the ball handler as the dribbler ends the dribble and returns to the floor with the ball. In his assessment of the play, he ruled this to be a traveling violation, which very well could be an accurate ruling.

The most important aspect of these plays is to understand the rules that apply. The travel rule continues to be one of, if not the toughest rules to apply in our game. Officials should be a rules expert when it comes to understanding the prescribed limits of the pivot foot. (4-44) A clear understanding of the rule and commitment to identifying the pivot foot of ball handlers within your PCA will go a long way in improving the accuracy of this ruling. As we have stated on all the traveling plays, we have posted throughout the season. Officials should be 100% certain a violation has occurred before making the ruling. If you needed to watch this play multiple times and/or needed to slow the clip down and go frame by frame to see the travel, were you 100% sure a violation occurred?


Here is the breakdown of the IAABO members that commented on the video: Believe the player traveled twice on this play (once at the start of the dribble and once again at the end of the dribble) 55% (including me); Believe the travel occurred only at the start of the dribble 27%; Believe the player traveled only after the dribble ended 15%; Did not see a travel on this play 3%.
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Last edited by BillyMac; Sat Feb 13, 2021 at 02:34pm.
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