Legally leaving the court....

[blindzebra]

Originally posted by ronny mulkey

Camron,

I don't think that you will find 90 degrees but, you have read that the player must return immediately. And, you have read that "a tremendous advantage is gained by allowing a team or player more space than allowed". That really is the crux of this discussion. The way you described the play, the player returned immediately? Could you ever imagine or visualize a player's momentum carrying him 15 ft.? How about 10 ft.? Several principles expect a player without the ball to adjust a path in "no more than 2 strides".

Mulk

Imagine that this play happens between the bench and the table and the player's momentum took them behind the bench.

Is the intent of this rule that this player must now plow through the chairs?

Back track to the gap?

Or is it okay if they keep going and come back on the other end of the bench?

I don't see any as being more reasonable, and you can usually tell if the player is just trying to get back to the court or attempting to gain an advantage.

[Camron Rust]

Originally posted by ronny mulkey

Camron,

I don't think that you will find 90 degrees but, you have read that the player must return immediately. And, you have read that "a tremendous advantage is gained by allowing a team or player more space than allowed". That really is the crux of this discussion. The way you described the play, the player returned immediately? Could you ever imagine or visualize a player's momentum carrying him 15 ft.? How about 10 ft.? Several principles expect a player without the ball to adjust a path in "no more than 2 strides".

Mulk

Yes...two strides is certainly over 10 feet when at a full sprint. If a sprinting player takes 2 steps after crossing the sideline at a very small angle and player diverts back to the court at a reasonable angle, they'll have easily covered 15 feet.