[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

These plays have to be divided, by how the NFHS and NCAA Men's and Women's rules define them. No matter, the two plays that you described, physically are not the same.


Play 1a: A1 is inbounds and has control of the ball (player control). A1 goes airborne and while still holding the ball makes contact with B1, who had obtained/established a legal guarding position before A1 became an airborne player. RULING: Under all three codes, this is a player control foul (common foul) by A1.


Play 1b: A1 is inbounds and has control of the ball (player control). A1 goes airborne, releases the ball for a field goal attempt, and before the ball becomes dead, makes contact with B1, who had obtained/established a legal guarding position before A1 became an airborne player. RULING: Under all three codes, A1 is an airborne shooter at the time of the contact. But the NFHS and NCAA Women's codes define this contact as a common foul, which is player control foul by A1. Under the NCAA Men’s code, the foul is a common foul by A1, which is not a player control foul.


Play 1c: A1 is inbounds and has control of the ball (player control). A1 goes airborne, releases the ball for a field goal attempt, and after the ball becomes dead, makes contact with B1, who had obtained/established a legal guarding position before A1 became an airborne player. RULING: Under all three codes, A1 is an airborne shooter at the time of the contact. But the NFHS and NCAA Women's codes define this contact as a common foul, which is player control foul by A1. Under the NCAA Men’s code, the contact by A1 is to be ignored, unless the official believes that the contact was intentional or flagrant. If, in the official’s judgment the contact by A1 is either intentional or flagrant, the foul will be a technical (intentional or flagrant) foul by A1.


Play 2b: A1 is inbounds and has control of the ball (player control). A1 goes airborne, releases the ball for a field goal attempt, and before the ball becomes dead, returns to the court and makes contact with B1, who had obtained/established a legal guarding position before A1 became an airborne player. RULING: Under all three codes, A1 has committed a common foul that is not a player control foul.


Play 2c: A1 is inbounds and has control of the ball (player control). A1 goes airborne, releases the ball for a field goal attempt, and after the ball becomes dead, returns to the court and makes contact with B1, who had obtained/established a legal guarding position before A1 became an airborne player. RULING: Under all three codes, the contact by A1 is to be ignored, unless the official believes that the contact was intentional or flagrant. If, in the official’s judgment the contact by A1 is either intentional or flagrant, the foul will be a technical (intentional or flagrant) foul by A1.


I know that a historical overview was requested by one of the posters, but I have too many irons in the fire at the moment to give one right now, but I will try to get to it within a week.