Ball Watching ...

[BillyMac]

2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 5: B1 is defending A1 in Team A’s frontcourt. B1 runs out of bounds across the end line to avoid a screen set by A2. Upon returning to the court, B1 (a) intercepts a pass from A3 to A1; (b) touches the ball as it is passed from A3 to A1 before A1 retains possession for Team A. In both (a) and (b), B1 is the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing court. RULING: (a) Out-of-bounds violation; (b) no violation. COMMENT: B1 left the court under the player’s own volition and became the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing court. In (a), a violation is called due to the advantage gained by B1’s actions that resulted in Team B gaining possession. In (b), Team A retained possession after the touch by B1 – play continues with Team A in possession. (9-3-3)

Wow! A lot going on here, especially if everything else except B1 running out of bounds to avoid a screen occurs outside one's primary coverage area.

Also, up until now I usually thought of a situation of a player voluntarily running out of bounds to gain an advantage as being an offensive player.

The good news is that I only saw the old rule, with an offensive player, called once in forty-four years (by my partner). Never called it myself.

Hopefully it will be another forty-four years until the next time that I see it.