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Originally posted by rwest
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I'm sorry to belabor the point. Its just no one, until now, has every told me the dribbler had to be the first to touch it after it hits the floor to be considered a double dribble. [/B][/QUOTE]If I gave you the impression that I was annoyed, I apologize. It's more like frustration at not getting my point across, which I shouldn't let bother me either because that could be my fault.
Maybe this will help. Think of the act. The player dribbled, stopped, and then dropped, pushed, tapped, or threw the ball. That player could be passing, shooting, starting another dribble or just walking away and forgetting about the ball- dependant on where the ball was directed. This act doesn't fit any definition that's in the rule book until we wait and see what happens next. If you think that the player threw it towards the basket, then you could call the act a "try", and the player could legally go get the ball if it was missed. If the player directed the ball at a teammate, you could call it a pass- and the player legally could not go and get the ball(unless you alternatively somehow rules it a fumble instead). If the player just drops or throws the ball down on the floor close to wher he's standing, and then touches the ball again or continues dribbling- you call this an illegal second dribble. However, it is not an illegal second dribble however until the player actually performs a dribble- which is when he touches the ball a second time after dropping, directing or throwing the ball on the floor and letting it bounce. Iow, the play is NOTHING until the player performs the act that is defined in the rule book, and you can then rule on the legality of that act.
I don't know if that makes any more sense, but I hope so.