Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules

[BillyMac]

From JoeTheRef: "Backcourt violation could possibly be on this list, especially when the entire gym sees little Johnny or Sally bringing the ball up the court and never completely comes into the frontcourt (1 foot and ball in frontcourt, other foot on the division line) and returns completely into the backcourt. THAT'S A BACKCOURT.. I KNOW YOU SAW THAT MR. REF!! My response is usually I saw what you saw, but one of us knows the rules and the other doesn't".

From "List": "19) A ten-second count continues when the defense deflects or bats the ball in the backcourt. When a dribbler is advancing the ball into the frontcourt, the ball maintains backcourt status until both feet and the ball touch entirely in the frontcourt."; 20) During a throwin, even under a team’s own basket, if the throwin is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; or after a missed field goal attempt or a missed foul shot attempt, if the ball is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; these are not a backcourt violations. In both cases team control, a player holding or dribbling the ball, has not yet been established.; 21) During a throwin or jump ball, any player; or a defensive player, in making a steal; may legally jump from his or her frontcourt, secure control of the ball with both feet off the floor, and return to the floor with one or both feet in the backcourt. The player may make a normal landing and it makes no difference whether the first foot down is in the frontcourt or the backcourt. These three situations are not backcourt violations.

JoeTheRef: What do I need to do to make these more clear? Thanks for your input.

[BillyMac]

From rainmaker: "Moving screens?"

From "List": "13) If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed and distance of the defender."

rainmaker: What would you like me to do to make this item more clear? thanks for your inut.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

From rainmaker: "Moving screens?"

From "List": "13) If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed and distance of the defender."

rainmaker: What would you like me to do to make this item more clear? thanks for your inut.

I'm not Juulie, but I'd re-word this to be a bit less referee-speak. I'd probably start by saying that a moving screen is not in and of itself a foul. Then explain that contact must occur for a foul to be called and briefly describe what makes a legal/illegal screen.

[BillyMac]

13) If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed and distance of the defender. A moving screen is not in and of itself a foul, contact must occur for a foul to be called.

Thanks to Mark Dexter and rainmaker.

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by Mark Dexter

I'm not Juulie, but I'd re-word this to be a bit less referee-speak. I'd probably start by saying that a moving screen is not in and of itself a foul. Then explain that contact must occur for a foul to be called and briefly describe what makes a legal/illegal screen.

Billy, your change is a good improvement, but I'd go even further, or farther, depending on which English teacher you studied under. As Dexter said, I'd start right off with the sentence "The moving screen is not in and of itself a foul, blah, blah, blah..." Or even give that item a sort-of title "13. Moving Screens. A screen can move sideways or even forward without being illegal..." and so on. This will attract the attention of the reader much more effectively than starting with a jargon-ish "blind screen".

[BillyMac]

13) A moving screen is not in and of itself a foul, contact must occur for a foul to be called. If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed and distance of the defender.

Thanks again rainmaker.

[lrpalmer3]

The Golden Rule states:

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Not:

"Do unto others as they do unto you."

This rule is one of the most misunderstood.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by lrpalmer3

The Golden Rule states:

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Not:

"Do unto others as they do unto you."

This rule is one of the most misunderstood.

In my old neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, it was "Do unto others before they had a chance to do unto you."

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

13) A moving screen is not in and of itself a foul, contact must occur for a foul to be called. If a blind screen is set on a stationary defender, the defender must be given one normal step to change direction and attempt to avoid contact. If a screen is set on a moving defender, the defender gets a minimum of one step and a maximum of two steps, depending on the speed and distance of the defender.

Thanks again rainmaker.

Billy, this is good. I think it helps to start off with fan-speak, and it gets the attention of the reader. I like it.

[bigdogrunnin]

7) The shooter can retrieve his or her own airball, if the referee considers it to be a shot attempt. The release ends team control. It is not a violation for that player to start another dribble at that point. When an airborne player keeps control of an attempted shot that is blocked and is unable to release the ball and returns to the floor with it, that player has not traveled; it is a jump ball. If, in this situation, the shooter releases the ball, then this is simply a blocked shot and play continues.

Question . . .

My understanding of the rule ("highlighted above") is that if the defender and the offensive player are BOTH still in contact with the ball we would have a jump ball; however, if the defender is no longer in contact with the ball and the offensive player comes back to the floor still holding the ball, then we would have a traveling violation on the offensive player. What is the correct interpretation?? Thanks.

[Damian]

Make sure that they are aware that after the ball is released, a defender may break the plane to defend the throw in. However, an offensive player may not break the plane to catch the throw in. It must cross the plane into the court area to be a legal throw in.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Damian

Make sure that they are aware that after the ball is released, a defender may break the plane to defend the throw in. However, an offensive player may not break the plane to catch the throw in. It must cross the plane into the court area to be a legal throw in.

Good point but I believe that the "List" is already too long. Anybody else in Forum-Land see the need to add this to the "List"?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

JoeTheRef: What do I need to do to make these more clear?

To make these more clear for the average fan, put them all into one syllable words.

BTW - off topic but something I saw today on ESPN reminded me of a coach's comment a few years ago. On ESPN, they were showing a clip from an Arena Football game in which a coach asked a ref to apologize. About four or five years ago, I was working a game with The Immortal Dave. A coach insisted Dave blew a call and asked him not only to correct it (of course, Dave's call was correct) but to apologize. Dave said to the coach, "Are you gonna apologize for that haircut?"