Clarification

[Martin Morgan]

quote:

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I have been told two different answers to this question. A1 is leaps at a loose ball on the floor. A1 recovers the ball while on his back. A1 slides about 2 feet but does not roll over and is able to stay on his back. Does the slide constitute a travel? I have been told the player can slide across the court as long as he does not roll over. True or False?

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I don't have my books, so I can't cite the rule, but in that situation, a player may slide for as far as his/her momentum allows. (Barring a boundary violation, of course.)

During last year's NCAA tournament, an announcer actually said, "What a smart play! After recovering the ball, he managed to get rid of it before he slid too far and picked up the travelling call." I wanted his partner to ask him how much farther could the player have gone, but....

I am still tempted to send rule books to the CBS analysts.


[This message has been edited by Martin Morgan (edited February 17, 2000).]