Dribble?

[Toxic Czar]

A1 is holding the ball and pivoting. A1 loses his balance and, in order to prevent himself from falling, touches the ball on the floor while still holding it with two hands. Can A1 legally dribble after regaining his balance?

[Kelvin green]

Yes. touching the ball to the floor does not constitute a dribble.

[Nevadaref]

Last year there were three notes in the rules book under 4-15-4 that disappeared this season. The third one contained the information that Kelvin posted. The NFHS removed them from the rules book without notice. Their words were combined into one paragraph and moved to the Case Book as a new play ruling. It is numbered 4.15 COMMENT.


Here it is:

4.15 COMMENT: It is not possible for a player to travel during a dribble. A player is not dribbling while slapping the ball during a jump, when a pass rebounds from his/her hand, when he/she fumbles, or when he/she bats a rebound or pass away from other players who are attempting to get it. The player is not in control under these conditions. It is a dribble when a player stands still and bounces the ball. It is not a dribble when a player stands still and holds the ball and touches it to the floor once or more than once.