[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

The much debated travel happens in which the potential jumpshooter starts a dribble after being airborne. The official chooses to call the violation before he touches the ball again as there is no other player nearby.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Could be the start of a very legal, but very ugly, very bad bounce pass.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

This is not a violation, or was clarified as not a violation anymore. The player must touch the ball first.

International Association Of Approved Basketball Officials
2025-26 NFHS Rules Changes, Editorial Revisions and Other Changes

4.15 Comment Dribble –Legal And Illegal Movement
4.15 COMMENT: It is not possible for a player to travel during a dribble. A player is not dribbling while slapping the ball during a jump, when a pass rebounds from a player's hand, when a player fumbles, or when a player bats a rebound or pass away from other players who are attempting to get it. The player is not in control under these conditions. It is a dribble when a player is in control of the ball, bats, throws, or pushes the ball to the floor, and is the first to touch the ball after it returns from the floor. It is not dribble when a player stands still and holds the ball and touches it to the floor once or more than once.

Rationale: The current rules do not provide a clear, singular definition of what constitutes a dribble, leading to inconsistent enforcement of traveling violations. By rule, a traveling violation at the start of a dribble does not occur until a dribble is completed by touching the ball after it returns from the floor. Officials have sometimes incorrectly ruled a traveling violation as soon as the ball is released to begin a dribble while the pivot foot is off the floor. Including this clarification in the casebook will improve officials’ understanding and promote consistent application of the traveling rule