Quote:
Originally posted by Mark Padgett
We know that if A1 holds the ball over the court, it is "fair game". What if he bounces downward it so the ball hits the line, but part of the ball technically is over the line? Since the ball is round, this is probable. Can B1 grab the ball legally, since part of it is over the court? What if he does but his hands break the plane in doing so? The ball has not yet been released "toward the court".
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For simplicity, make it such that the ball is still in the hands of the thrower since it is essentially the same.
For NF, the ball is fair game when any part of the ball breaks the plane of the throw-in boundary.
For NCAA, the ball is only fair game when the entire ball is through the plane of the throw-in boundary.
So, for NF, the defense may grab the ball when only part is through. But as you suggested, they may not break the plane until the throw-in is released. It would be a violation if they reach through the plane to get their hands on the ball. If they get the ball without their hands breaking the plane, good steal.
For NCAA, it would be a T to touch the ball since the ball was still partially behind the line.