Doh!

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by joseph2493

How can there be frontcourt status if there is no team control. Doesn't the team that is in control define whether you are standing in frontcourt or backcourt?

No, the lines painted on the floor and rule 4-13 in the book define what is the frontcourt and what is the backcourt.

Which team has control has nothing to do with it.

The ball has a status of its own. That can be live or dead, inbounds or OOB, and in the FC or BC. Players each have their own status. Each can be inbounds, OOB, in the FC or in the BC and we hope that none are dead.

The status of the ball and the players are independent concepts. They only connect when the ball is in contact with a player or more than one player.
It is entirely possible to have all ten players in the backcourt and the ball in the frontcourt with respect to Team A. (Actually, I can think of a situation in which all five players from Team A can legally be OOB, all five players of Team B can be in their backcourt, and the ball can be in the backcourt of Team A!!! )

Please give 4-4 and 4-35 a thorough read.