So, do all 3 points (both feet and ball) have to cross half-court at the same time to constitute being in the front court? Like, if a player puts one foot across half-court, and then brings it back-court, is that a violation. Of course, this player has the ball.

Under NF rules, if a dribbler is bringing the ball up the court, he must have both feet in the frontcourt and have the ball touch in the frontcourt before there can be a backcourt violation.

The general rule that governs a backcourt violation call (over and back) is that there must be four elements satisfied for the call. The four elements are:

1) there must be team control
2) the ball must have achieved frontcourt status
3) the team in control must be the last to touch the ball in the frontcourt
4) that same team must be the first to touch the ball after it has been in the backcourt

There are a few "exceptions" which may actually not be real exceptions, but they are outlined in the rule book. Since there is no team control during a throwin, there can be no over and back during a throwin. Same with a jump ball to start the game or any overtimes. There is a specific exception for a defensive player who intercepts a pass and was in what was his backcourt and who lands in what is now his frontcourt.

And just think - all officials are expected to be experts in this and all the other rules the first time they ever step onto a court.

That's why we get the big bucks. :p

Then, actually a player can run back and forth across the half-court line while dribbling, and as long as the ball never goes across it is not back-court?

Yup.

Or, in mick-speak, yU.P. :D

Wow! That's a heck of a good explanation. I guess increasing the Prozac dosage really worked. Who are you and where is the real Mark Padgett? :D

Seriously, nice explanation.

However, if the player with the ball is straddling the division line and picks up his dribble, then proceeds to pivot with the foot in the frontcourt, he can no longer return the foot he lifted from the back court into the backcourt. This becomes a backcourt violation.

He probably cut and pasted from one of the thousands of topics that have already discussed this rule. :)

Seriously, I'd like to get a macro/auto-response going for this board. If someone asks about catching their airball, someone presses Ctrl-1, and a prefab post comes up. Backcourt violation questions could be Ctrl-2, and so on.

Jennifer,
...Not to forget the 10 second count if it applies.
mick

Just to make sure we're clear on this, the "3 points" only applies during a dribble. A player does not have to touch the FC with both feet and the ball to have FC status. This is a common misconception. That's why Hoosier was correctly discussing a player who was pivoting while straddling the division line.

So, it wouldn't be a backcourt violation if a dribbler has her left foot in the front court, ball in the front court, right foot in the back court then passes into the back court to A2?

that's correct, secondyear

secondyear,
You are correct.
If the dribbler is not in the front court, then, yes, they are still in the back court.
We just have to make sure that they are in fact still dribbling.
If a player with the ball stops dribbling with the a foot in the front court, and then lifts the foot in the back court, where is the player now? ;)
mick


[Edited by mick on Apr 29th, 2002 at 03:24 PM]