Four Magic Spots ...

[BillyMac]

I worked an odd autumn intra district middle school game yesterday.

Both my partner and I (mostly my partner) struggled with the last year's new four frontcourt "magic spots" rule.

Between the first and second periods we got together and I told him simply:

"If the ball is going to be inbounded in the frontcourt, it will ALWAYS be inbounded at one of the closest four closest "magic spots" EXCEPT if the stoppage in play was due to the ball going out of bounds, in which case it will be inbounded at the spot closest to where the ball went out of bounds".

Does that simple statement cover everything?

Is there a simpler and better way to word it?

With one, and only one, possible interpretation exception, a time out after the ball goes out of bounds, inbounds at the spot closest to where the ball originally went out of bounds?

Is that (timeout after an out of bounds) the only possible exception?

How about intentional fouls, held balls, etc.?

On Greg Austin's Better Official live You Tube broadcast this morning, he suggested that partners hold up four fingers to remind each other of the four "magic spot" situations.

I'm not a big fan of that, I hold up four fingers to remind my partner that we will be shooting bonus free throws on the next foul of the period.

Last year I was reminding my partners with the words "Magic Spot".

I hate this rule!

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

With one, and only one, possible interpretation exception, a time out after the ball goes out of bounds, inbounds at the spot closest to where the ball originally went out of bounds?

Is that (timeout after an out of bounds) the only possible exception?

That's not an exception. Your earlier statement covesr it (for NFHS).

[BillyMac]

How about a backcourt violation when offender simply steps on but not over the division line?

Closest spot is at the division line, which is technically in the backcourt of the offended team, thus inbound (by new rule) at closest spot.

But wait, there's an exception (by 2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations SITUATION 9) for this situation.

ALL backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

Right?

For other types of backcourt violations when offender violates in some other part of the backcourt (not just the division line), it would by rule will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... possible interpretation exception, a time out after the ball goes out of bounds, inbounds at the spot closest to where the ball originally went out of bounds ...

2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 1: Team A has possession of the ball in its frontcourt when the ball is deflected out of bounds by Team B. The ball exits the court along the end line close to the right sideline. Team A is granted an inbounds at the location where the ball exited the court. While Team A is trying to inbounds the ball, Team A calls a time-out. After the time-out, the inbounds spot returns to the same spot; RULING: Correct procedure; COMMENT: Since the ball was not on the court, the time-out did not create a “stoppage in play” that would move the inbounds spot to one of the four designated spots. Play will continue from the inbounds spot established by the deflection of the ball by Team B.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How about a backcourt violation when offender simply steps on but not over the division line?But wait, there's an exception (by interpretation) for this situation.

2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 9: A1, while dribbling the ball in team A’s frontcourt, steps on but not over the division line. RULING: Backcourt violation. COMMENT: The ball was in team control in the frontcourt and went to the backcourt when A1 contacted the division line. Team B is awarded a possession throw-in in its frontcourt at one of the four designated spots nearest the violation.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

That's not an exception. Your earlier statement covers it ...

Because a timeout during an inbound is not considered an actual "stoppage in play" (by 2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretation SITUATION 1).

Any timeout by the offensive team during a live ball and player control by said team in the frontcourt (not behind a boundary) would always go to one of the four "magic spots" because it's a stoppage in play.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How about a backcourt violation when offender simply steps on but not over the division line?

Closest spot is at the division line, which is technically in the backcourt of the offended team, thus inbound (by new rule) at closest spot.

But wait, there's an exception (by 2023-24 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations SITUATION 9) for this situation.

ALL backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

Right?

For other types of backcourt violations when offender violates in some other part of the backcourt (not just the division line), it would by rule will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

Do a history search. I've talked about having a clear interpretations about T-I spots and various BC violations.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

ALL backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

Right?

.

I don't think so. You mentioned the one where A steps on the line.

But, B can still get possession of the ball in it's BC if A1 throws a pass that hits the division line and is then caught in the FC by A2.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

ALL backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I don't think so ... But, B can still get possession of the ball in it's BC if A1 throws a pass that hits the division line and is then caught in the FC by A2.

Rare, but I agree and so would the late Princess of Monaco.

ALMOST all backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

But, B can still get possession of the ball in it's BC if A1 throws a pass that hits the division line and is then caught in the FC by A2.

OK bob jenkins, so then how do I answer this?

2024-25 IAABO Refresher Exam
22) The throw-in spot for a backcourt violation is the nearest of the four designated frontcourt throw-in spots to where the violation occurred. Yes or no?

Do I answer it as it happens 99.9% of the time, or how it happens in this very rare situation?

[bob jenkins]

I would be sure I knew the rule and not worry about what the test answer was.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

... B can still get possession of the ball in it's BC if A1 throws a pass that hits the division line and is then caught in the FC by A2.

https://plus.refquest.com/videos/vUi...e=sendgrid.com

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

2024-25 IAABO Refresher Exam
22) The throw-in spot for a backcourt violation is the nearest of the four designated frontcourt throw-in spots to where the violation occurred. Yes or no?

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I would be sure I knew the rule and not worry about what the test answer was.

Actually, due to our Forum discussion and my "Tunnel Vision", I made this question harder than I should have.

Answer is "No" because some backcourt violations are inbounded in the backcourt.

While these plays might be considered rare, we all see a few of them during the season.

I'm deleting this (below) from my memory "shortcuts".

Originally Posted by BillyMac

ALMOST all backcourt violations will be inbounded at one of the four "magic spots" in the frontcourt of the offended team.

And I'm sticking with this.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

"If the ball is going to be inbounded in the frontcourt, it will ALWAYS be inbounded at one of the closest four closest "magic spots" EXCEPT if the stoppage in play was due to the ball going out of bounds, in which case it will be inbounded at the spot closest to where the ball went out of bounds".

... realizing that a timeout during a throwin isn't considered a "stoppage in play" and that a backcourt violation by a player simply stepping on the division line will be inbounded in the new frontcourt, both by interpretation.

There are no "shortcuts".

Just have to follow the yellow brick road to the end.

I have to stop thinking about zebras when I hear hoof beats on a Texas cattle ranch.

[Raymond]

We're used to you doing that. We occasionally try to intervene.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I have to stop thinking about zebras when I hear hoof beats on a Texas cattle ranch.