Traveling or Fumbled Ball
 

Player A is driblbling ball in his own half court near the sideline ...he stops his dribble catching the ball in his left hand ...as the defender tries to reach in for the ball ... player A then takes the ball behind his back but catches on his rear cheek ...the ball becomes dislodged from his possession and rolls a couple of feet away there is a scramble for the ball ... but player A wins back possession ...the opposing coach wants a traveling call ...but I think its a fumbled ball ... your opinions please!

Sure sounds like "an accidental loss of player control" (or whatever the specific wording is in the Fumble definition).

What did the player do to make this a travel?

I think the coach is thinking in this play Player A changed his actual physical position on the floor without a dribble or a touch by another player (especially after Player A had ended his dribble) ...I'm thinking the ole myth of a "self-pass play" was his perspective

Nothing about what you described is necessary for a travel to occur.

Depending on this, it may have been a travel......but this sounds like a HTBT situation.

If you think it was fumbled, then go with that.

Without possession of the ball a travel violation is not possible.

The scenario described, may be considered - by some - to be an illegal dribble.

It's not an illegal dribble either. The ball became dislodged after he picked it up with his left hand. He then went and picked the ball up. There was no dribble after the fumble. Did team B ever touch the ball during the scramble?

No way this could be considered an illegal dribble. Those who disagree simply don't understand the idea of fumble.

The player could've taken steps before the ol' ball off the butt move.

However, as described I completely agree.

That's still not an illegal dribble.

If only you had made it to the second line.

Yawn...what else is new. This time of year (if this is an actual recent play) this is rec league or AAU, where we find many clueless coaches.. I'm assuming YOU are wearing a stripe shirt and have a whistle? 'Nuff said

I expect coaches to want travels year around.

True, but the high school coaches don't generally ask for it on a fumble. Not as often as AAU coaches, anyway.

I tune out off-season coaches so it sounds about the same. :)

Not that I get to this year because I have to do PT for 5-8 months. :(

It's a pet peeve of mine. When a player loses control while dribbling and the whole gym wants a travel because it just plain looks ugly. Its NOT travelling.
The thing is that too many officials see it as a travel and call it. When that call is made no one in the building says a word (except me in my head when my partner makes it) and you play on. But the call is incorrect and should it not be called a travel. Maybe an illegal dribble if the ball is touched with two hands and the dribble continues. You'd like to think that at the end of close/big game that the correct call will be made and NO travel called despite the opposing team/fans being incensed and going home thinking that the "refs" (its always both or all three refs they refer to) screwed them.

^^^^^ yes