Slapping Backboard on block shot attempt?

[Camron Rust]

Originally posted by tjchamp

By changing the wording, you change the meaning. Rule 10.3.5b actually states: "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." You have to intentionally slap or strike. When I go up for the block, my intention is to block the shot, not strike the backboard to cause it to vibrate.

By leaving the wording exactly as it is, there are two competely valid ways to read the sentence. I've attempted to illistrate the two possible breakdowns of the sentence.

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.
  
  
  
  

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.

As you can see, the adverb "intentionally" may be attached to one or both of the parts of the compound verb. I do beleive the accepted application is to apply it to both parts.

In an older version of the rule:

• A player shall not
  
  
  • Slap or strike either backboard
  
  
  • or cause either ring to vibrate
  
  
  
  


• While
  
  
  • the ball is in flight during a try or tap
  
  
  • or is touching the backboard
  
  
  • or is on or in the basket
  
  
  • or in the cylinder above the basket.