This almost happened

[Mark Padgett]

NF rules. A1 in back court throws ball toward front court. It hits an official who is standing in front court and rebounds back to A1 who grabs it while still in the back court. Is this a violation?

Remember the four elements needed for a back court violation:
1. There must be team control
2. The ball must have achieved front court status
3. The team in team control must be the last to touch the ball after it has achieved front court status
4. That same team must be first to touch the ball after it has reentered the back court

No doubt about 1 and 2. But does a single touch by A1 when he catches the rebounded ball in the back court satisfy both 3 and 4 at the same time? That is, can a single touch count for two elements simultaneously?

This almost happened in a game this weekend, but the ball caromed off the official into the back court and went OOB with A1 leaping for it.