Kick Ball on AP Throw-in

[SHellmueller]

Maybe I am oversimplifying things here, but I look at a kick by the defensive team the same as a tip in which the defensive player has no chance to catch the ball.

In the sitch wth 1 second left, defense up by one, the defender SHOULD do anything he can to touch the ball. This could be a kick, a slap, or a tip, or even an all-out dive to knock the ball OOB. That's good defense, because the clock will likely run out. Yes, it's a violation, and the penalty is that the offensive team gets the ball, possibly with some time elapsed. If the offense does not want to be "disadvantaged" by having to make another throw-in, they should simply make an excellent throw-in that cannot be touched by the defense.

Julie, I always look at any defensive violation (besides BI/GT) this way: The defense tried to improve it's situation (by getting the ball!), but failed to do so legally. So we put things back just as the were before the violation. Offense gets the ball back, no one gains or loses.

In contrast, being the offensive team carries with it the RIGHT to score (duh) and the RESPONSIBILITY to avoid violations.

Does that make any sense?