Punching the ball
 

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I'd like to hear other takes. I called a punched ball violation for the first time tonight. Boys V tournament. Player A1 sees a team mate flashing ahead for a fast break. Player A1 punches a loose ball ahead to him. I'm at C in transition....TWEET! Violation. Whole gym is wondering out loud what the call was. Offending coach tells me later..."That's a great call. We've been doing it all season and nobody has called it." Is there a reason no one is calling it? Is this one that usually gets ignored? Am I being nit-picky here?

I just don't see it done. It's kind of an obscure call since it rarely happens, and maybe a lot of refs don't know about the rule. Not sure why it's not getting called. Good call.

RULE 9, SECTION 4 TRAVEL, KICK, FIST
A player shall not travel with the ball, as in 4-44, intentionally kick it, as in 4-29, strike it with the fist or cause it to enter and pass through the basket from below.

Good call. :)

Sadly, I believe that many officials simply don't know that this action is illegal.:(

I called this about 2 weeks ago for the first time ever. You just don't see it happen. The offending coach said "I coach my kids to do that and I've never seen it called in 20+ years."
Once he realized that I was sure it was a violation, he dropped it and we played on.

???
 

What advantage is gained by striking it? Distance? I would think that it's not a very accurate means of moving the ball.

Offending coach says he has been doing that all season???

Whatever, in 16 years of calling games - I have had it twice!

Advantage vs Disadvantage. Hitting is quicker then having to "push" the ball up court with your hand. You can get more power with a fist which means you can get the ball down the court quicker.

Great call!

I've had it explained that a closed fist punch allows the ball to be dislodged from an opponent's grasp easier than other methods and that along with the associated danger of throwing punches (even if directed at the ball) are the primary reasons the action became a violation. I could be wrong in saying that was the original reason for the rule, but it makes sense for me.

I called it once, during my first year of varsity basketball. I've never called....ur, I mean, seen it again. :)

That very reason was listed in a POE many, many moons ago as the reason the rule was implemented.

I've called it a few times when the swing ended up just too close to an opponent. It's the same concept as the (now) "elbow" violation.

I've also called it in football on defenders trying to punch the ball out, but getting the ball carrier instead. As you know, they use the same excuse too--"I was just going for the ball".