fed rules...it doesn't matter...

player takes pass on backcourt to beat pressure, takes ball to midcourt area...

picks up dribble, and straddles midcourt line, and passes to backcourt teammate...

i as the c covering official, of course, have nothing...but the whole opposing bench and the side of the stands (according to my trail) jumped up like there should have been a violation...

a timeout was called very soon after that, and i heard from them that a missed the call, blah...

just thought i would share...

No one ever said that coaches/players/fans are smart. Plus, most of them have never seen a rule book, let alone read one.

Things to consider:

coaches/players think referees/media are clueless.
media people think coaches/players and sometimes referees are clueless.
referees think coaches/players and sometimes media people are clueless.

Rules mis-interpritations are such a part of todays game.

Don't be afraid to explain it during a logical break.

I'm trying to make it a habilt during a real quick Captains meeting at the lower levels to mention a few of the common misunderstandings. It helps the younger players.

Over and Back (your issue)
Reaching OOB during throw in
Verticality (no such thing as "over the back")
Tucking shirt tails in (state rule)
No logos showing

Do it quick - builds credibility and teach's

refdaddy:

i agree, in the lower levels, that teaching is part of the game...BUT this was a varsity game...

Just to clarify for for the record:
1) Tucking shirt tails in is a national rule-right out of the rule book.
2) Logos are legal, but restricted in size, on everything except the shirt or undershirt. They're OK on pants, compression shorts,headbands,socks....

Did you nicely and quickly explain the rule to the coach?

never was brought up after that...i didn't go tableside for a little while after, and to be honest, i forgot about the call (it was a non-issue for me, it was the right no-call)...if the coach would have reminded me soon after, i would have explained it...

JR:
Question about the Logo's. Rule book says MAUFACTURERS LOGO.

I'm seeing NBA logos on sweatbands and headbands. These are generally within the 2 1/4 inch rule.

I've asked the kids to "turn them over" to little protest.

Am I amking rule to literal?

We intepret the rule as you do, RefDaddy. NBA logos get flipped or taken off.

We've had that little argument around here too, and got conflicting opinions. Is the NBA a manufacturer, which would make them legal? Or is the NBA logo considered a "trademark" under the rule too, which would also make them legal? Is Nike the same?

How does everyone else handle this in their area?

NBA gets flipped. Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Etc... those may stay for my area.

Fans have got better on the 5-second closely guarded count. However they still don't understand the 3 second count...well most of them anyways.

Is there a rationale? The NBA one is a logo and/or a trademark too, isn't it? That's the discussion we had here- that the NBA isn't really any different than Nike.

Are you sure? I thought that Nike bought the headbands with their logo sewed on them from Asian manufacturers? Couldn't the NBA use the same suppliers or manufacture their own too?

Yes, we have that backcourt situation happen at least twice a week here. We've educated the coaches about it, and as such, they don't complain. The fans on the other hand, do.

Another thing we have problem with is three seconds. Players will be in the lane rebounding, laying up, rebounding, going up and down for hours. And you'll hear fans (and the occasional coach) going "Three seconds! Three seconds! C'mon! Three seconds! Can you count?! Are you blind?" at which point I turn and say "No, but you're dumb!"

Someday...when I'm elected king, I'm going to have fans take a simple, 3 question test to be able to stay and watch the ballgame.

1. What is the three second rule?
2. What is the over-and-back violation?
3. What is the over-the-back rule?

Even if they only get one answer correct, they get to stay. If they don't get any correct, they still don't get their admission back. (That way the schools don't lose out on their "gate".)

Of course, sometimes all we can do is shake our heads and smile.

GV game on Tue night, team B rarely blocked out for rebounds so needless to say, team A kept shooting til they made it. On one occasion, a fan started counting at 6 and at about 11, A1 finally made the basket, B inbounded and raced up the court. Mr. Idiot was still counting 14, 15, 16. I could hardly hold my laughter in.