Case 4-15-4
 

NF Case 4-15-4-D-d – While dribbling A1 fumbles the ball so that A1 must run to recover it.

And to rewrite it inserting the definition of a fumble it could read: While dribbling A1 grasps the ball ending the dribble. It then accidentally slips from his grasp and bounces away so that A1 must run to recover it.

Ruling: They have it as legal except that he can't dribble again.

So if correct this isn’t a travel because you can only travel while holding a ball. And he's not holding it when he’s running to to go pick it up.

But he’s obviously picked up both feet and put them back down, possible even more than once, in order to go recover the ball. And one of them could have been established as a pivot foot. So I’m just trying to clarify and make sure I understand why this wouldn’t be a travel. Seems like it should be but I guess it’s not simply because he’s not holding the ball while running after it?

Correct, the traveling rule only applies when a player is holding the ball (with one exception listed in the case book). A fumble is a loss of player control. Therefore, the player may move to a new location without penalty in order to regain control of the ball.

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 his/her hand, when he/she fumbles, or when he/she 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 stands still and bounces the ball. It is not a dribble when a player stands still and holds the ball and touches it to the floor once or more than once.

It is my understanding that fumbles are never penalized... although I hate using that word "never".