Slapping The Backboard (Again) ...

[BillyMac]

IAABO Refresher Exam study group a few nights ago. The actual question was about awarding a goal due to the slapping of the backboard (absent any parameters of basket interference or goaltending). Easy to answer, one cannot award a goal under such backboard slapping circumstances.

However, the discussion evolved into technical fouls involving such acts. Let’s go to the videotape.

The ancient times rule: 10-3-6 (1996-97): A player shall not: Slap or strike either backboard or cause either ring to vibrate while the ball is in flight during try or tap or is touching the backboard or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket ...

Back in ancient times we had to make a simple decision, did the basket/backboard vibrate due to the slap? Intent didn’t matter. It could have been a legitimate attempt at a blocked shot, or it could have been an intentional or deliberate act to draw attention to himself, or as a means of venting frustration. If the basket/backboard vibrated due to the slap (of any type), it was a technical foul.

Things changed in 2000-01.

Comments On The 2000-01 Rules Revisions
2000-01 NFHS 10-3-6-B: A player shall not: While a try or tap is in flight or is touching the backboard or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket, intentionally slap or strike the backboard or cause the ring to vibrate.

Clarification Of Illegal Contact With The Backboard (10-3-6): Clarified illegal contact on the backboard by stating that a player shall not ... while a try or tap is in flight or is touching the backboard or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket, intentionally slap or strike the backboard or cause the ring to vibrate. The previous rule was difficult to understand and consequently was being called incorrectly and/or inconsistently. Play: A1 tries for a goal and scores. B1 jumps to black the shot but misses the block and touches the backboard after the ball passes his/her hand and into the basket. Ruling: The goal counts. No technical foul is called. The purpose of the rule is to penalize intentional or deliberate contact with the backboard. Contact that occurs incidentally in playing the game is permitted.

Then we had this Point of Emphasis in 2008-09.

2008-09 Points Of Emphasis
Slapping The Backboard. The incidents of players slapping the backboard are increasing throughout the country. The rules specify that “intentionally slapping or striking the backboard” is a technical foul (10-3-5). The spirit and intent of that rule is to penalize a player for drawing attention to him/herself or as a means of venting frustration. A player who strikes the backboard in a legitimate attempt to block a try for goal should not be penalized. Basket interference cannot be ruled in either of the above situations. Basket interference only occurs if the ball is interfered with while in the cylinder above the basket ring or by touching either the ball or any part of the basket while the ball is on or within the basket (4-6).

Here’s the current rule and casebook play.

10-4-4-B: A player shall not: Illegally contact the backboard/ring by: Intentionally slapping or striking the backboard or causing the ring to vibrate while a try or tap for field goal is in flight or is touching the backboard or is in the basket or in the cylinder above the basket.

10.4.4 Situation: A1 tries for a goal, and (a) B1 jumps and attempts to block the shot but instead slaps or strikes the backboard and the ball goes into the basket; or (b) B1 vibrates the ring as a result of pulling on the net and the ball does not enter the basket. Ruling: In (a) legal and the basket counts; and (b) a technical foul is charged to B1 and there is no basket. Comment: The purpose of the rule is to penalize intentional contact with the backboard while a shot or try is involved or placing a hand on the backboard to gain an advantage. A player who strikes either backboard so forcefully it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt to draw attention to the player, or a means of venting frustration may be assessed a technical foul pursuant to Rule 10-3-6.

Some in our study group were confused by the extensive use of the word “or” in the current rule.

My question.

A defender makes a 100% legitimate attempt to block a shot. In attempting to block the shot the defender’s hand contacts the backboard in such a manner that a loud slap is heard by all present, the backboard and basket vibrate as a result of the hard slap and the ball falls off of the basket. Said player is not intentionally or deliberately acting to draw attention to himself, or as a means of venting frustration.

All in my study group agreed that one cannot award the basket.

Some in my study group said to charge a technical foul because the slap caused the basket/backboard to vibrate during the try.

I said to play on.

What says the Forum?

[Valley Man]

Wow that is a lot to read through .. simplified:

A defender makes a 100% legitimate attempt to block a shot. In attempting to block the shot the defender’s hand contacts the backboard causing vibration and the ball falls off of the basket.

I said to play on.

Am I correct?

YES

[todd66]

yes you are correct.

Intentional slap = T

Unintentional slap = Play on

Severity of the slap or what happens to the backboard after the slap are of no relevance in this scenario

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Valley Man

A defender makes a 100% legitimate attempt to block a shot. In attempting to block the shot the defender’s hand contacts the backboard causing vibration and the ball falls off of the basket. I said to play on.

Originally Posted by todd66

Intentional slap = T. Unintentional slap = Play on. Severity of the slap or what happens to the backboard after the slap are of no relevance in this scenario

Got the same response from my local interpreter.

This is a case where the purpose and intent of the rule is a whole lot easier to understand than the actual written rule itself.

To some, the abundance of the word “or” in the written rule made the independent clauses within the rule text very confusing.

Leading to this:

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Some in my study group said to charge a technical foul because the slap caused the basket/backboard to vibrate during the try.