If A has the ball in his backcourt, and passes forward to A2, who is coming from the frontcourt, when does A2 establish backcourt position, as soon as he touches the line or does he have to have both feet in the backcourt?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Geneva">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tom Cook on 02-13-2000 12:37 AM
when does A2 establish backcourt position, as soon as he touches the line or does he have to have both feet in the backcourt?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A2 establishes backcourt position as soon as any part of him is in the backcourt (which does include the division line). Frontcourt position is established when nothing is in the backcourt. The pertinent rule is 4.4 articles 1 and 2.

In the play that Tom referenced, if A2 touches the division line before he receives the pass from A1, then there is no violation. However, if A2 receives the ball before he touches the division line (while still holding the ball), then A2 had caused the ball to go from frontcourt status to a backcourt status while it was in team control; thus, a backcourt violation.

Remember this simple unwritten principle regarding out of bounds and frontcourt/backcourt status.

You are where you were until you get to where you are going.

Thanks, BK, I like that one. It's amazing how many of those little things you don't think of until you see it in a game and then wonder about it.