According to the rules, it is possible for a team to be down to 2 players and continue to play, and even down to one player if the referee feels that that one player has a chance of winning. I had a situation like that in my game for intramurals today, and it raised a question: How does the one person inbound the ball? Is the only way to bounce it off of one of the other players and hope to pick up the rebound off of them, or throw it to one of them and continue to play? I can't find anything in the rules to help with this. Also, when you're down to one player, and he fouls and generates foul shots, do you just ignore the violation on the defense for not having 2 people in the first slots under the basket? It is a wierd situation, for sure.

Thanks!

Dave

You can play with just the one player, and they would have to inbound as you said. I saw such an inbound at a WNBA game once. (They had all 5 players still.) The inbound was under the offensive basket. Four offensive players moved way out (beyond 3-point arc) and their defenders followed them. The inbounder faked outside and when the defender guarding her moved out on the fake she bounced the ball off the defender's leg, stepped inbounds, grabed the ball which had caromed into the paint, and made an easy 2.

I think you have a permanent line violation for no defenders, meaning the other team will eventually make all their freethrows.

Obviously a single player can't last long in this situation, but if they're up by 15 points with 20 seconds to go, they can win. (They wait 4 seconds before inbounding the ball then toss it high and deep. Maybe the other team touches it, or it bounces around killing more time. Or if they're guarded, bounce it off the defender once to get another 5 seconds, then maybe more if you can get it to roll inbounds before going out.)

OK, ignoring the fact that in FIBA you have to have 2 players on the court, I have a problem with the last part of your post.

The offense has to inbound the ball within 5 seconds. For it not to be a violation, the inbound must touch a player within this time. So if the ball is rolled the length of the court, and no player touches it, it is still a 5 second violation. Also, waiting 4 seconds before inbounding the ball would have no effect, because tehe clock would be stopped.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Oz Referee

Quote:

The offense has to inbound the ball within 5 seconds. For it not to be a violation, the inbound must touch a player within this time. So if the ball is rolled the length of the court, and no player touches it, it is still a 5 second violation.

That may be the FIBA rule, but in NF (US High School rules) and NCAA, the ball only has to be released within 5 seconds. Once it's released directly onto the playing court, it can bounce for the whole half (or quarter) until the clock runs out. (I'll let somebody else talk about "actionless contests".)

Chuck

Duane...the 5 second count ends when the ball is released from the inbounder's hands. Once it does, you cannot have a 5 sec violation (FIBA 26.4.1)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ChuckElias

Quote:

Originally posted by Oz Referee Quote: The offense has to inbound the ball within 5 seconds. For it not to be a violation, the inbound must touch a player within this time. So if the ball is rolled the length of the court, and no player touches it, it is still a 5 second violation. That may be the FIBA rule, but in NF (US High School rules) and NCAA, the ball only has to be released within 5 seconds. Once it's released directly onto the playing court, it can bounce for the whole half (or quarter) until the clock runs out. (I'll let somebody else talk about "actionless contests".) Chuck

Chuck...please clarify.

If the clock is stopped during a throw-in, the clocks do not start until the ball is touched by a player on the court (NCAA). I don't referee NFHS, but I'm sure it would be the same. Or are you referring to a throw-in after a made basket?

Jeff.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JeffRef

Quote:

Originally posted by ChuckElias Quote: Once it's released directly onto the playing court, it can bounce for the whole half (or quarter) until the clock runs out. Chuck If the clock is stopped during a throw-in, the clocks do not start until the ball is touched by a player on the court (NCAA). I don't referee NFHS, but I'm sure it would be the same. Or are you referring to a throw-in after a made basket?

Correct, Jeff. I should have said, "Assuming the clock is already running, the ball can bounce until the clock runs out".

Chuck