This is a question that I believe has been discussed before, but I'm unable to remember the outcome.

If a player wearing kneepads gains control of the ball while on their knees and slides due to momentum, is this a travel? And if so, how is this different if a player gains control while on their stomach and with momentum they slide several feet on the floor?

Thanks for the input.

In both situations you mentioned, there is no violation.<br>Now if they attempt to get up or roll over, different story. :)

If they gain possesson and the same motion causes them to slide, you let it go, unless they roll or get up.

If they have posession then hang ten, ring 'em up.

Just to be clear, rolling over is OK as long as you
judge it to be due to momentum, just like sliding.
If it's not due to momentum then you have a travel.
And as Brian says the player must have possession of the
ball before there can be any travel.

What's the deal with kneepads? I think the question has shown up twice in the past couple of weeks.

Sliding on the knees is absolutely no different than sliding on the stomach or back.

I think it goes like this:

Player slides across floor with kneepad, ref is thinking
"Oh sh*t, that looks awful. That must be a travel."

Player slides across floor without kneepad, ref is thinking
"Oh sh*t, that looks awful. That must hurt."

Officials should know better!
 

How about...

Player slides across floor with kneepad, <b>coach</b> is thinking
"Oh sh*t, that looks awful. That must be a travel."

Player slides across floor without kneepad, ref is thinking
"Oh sh*t, that looks awful. That must hurt."

There had been a scramble for the ball, the player who gained control of the ball was sliding from what I thought was momentum (although I was trail going to new lead), the opposing coach was screaming travel while the other coach wanted a foul called. It could have been that the player did gain control while stopped then might have been pushed (but the distance she traveled would have required a mighty shove!) One partner called a travel and when I asked about it later the explanation was that it was a travel since she was wearing kneepads. This just didn't make sense to me! The other answer is much more reasonable. Thanks for the input!

In general, kneepads are not considered equipment that gives a player an advantage, so if a player slides with them on, it's no different than if they didn't have them on. If you think you can get away with ruling they do give an advantage, you'd better address that at the beginning of the game.

Good grief! The next time you see this parnter, ask him to show you the rule that says a player with knee pads can't slide on the floor.

Bet he can't do it. ;)