Pass Goes Behind the Backboard, Through the Supports

[MajorCord]

Player A is falling out of bounds under his own basket. He throws the ball behind his back in an effort to save the ball. In doing so, the ball goes from one side of the lane to the other, passing directly behind the backboard, and somehow comes down on the other side of the lane without hitting any supports where it is caught by a teammate. Officials had a "no call". A D-1 official observing said that the play should have been whistled. He says that the ball cannot pass directly behind the backboard. What say you guys and gals?

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by MajorCord

the ball goes from one side of the lane to the other, passing directly behind the backboard, and somehow comes down on the other side of the lane without hitting any supports where it is caught by a teammate. Officials had a "no call".

Correct.

A D-1 official observing said that the play should have been whistled. He says that the ball cannot pass directly behind the backboard. What say you guys and gals?

I believe that might be the NBA rule. In HS and NCAA, however, it's only a violation for the ball to pass OVER the (rectangular) backboard.

Being on top of his rules is one of the reasons he is a D1 official.

NOTE: If the backboard is fan shaped the ball may pass over the backboard without violation.

[CoachP]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

Being on top of his rules is one of the reasons he is a D1 official.

What "rule" was violated?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by CoachP

What "rule" was violated?

Pretty sure Ch1 was being facetious.
Nothing illegal here, nothing to see, folks. Play on.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

NOTE: If the backboard is fan shaped the ball may pass over the backboard without violation.

I was always curious about this one - why is it different for a fan shape as opposed to a rectangular shape? Anyone know?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I was always curious about this one - why is it different for a fan shape as opposed to a rectangular shape? Anyone know?

Because with the fan shape, it's hard to tell if it goes "over" or "beside".

[Kingsman1288]

I actually had this happen to me during a game. I no called it, and then some official who was in the stands cornered me after the game and blasted me for no calling it. I asked him what rule he was specifically referring to, and he was really vague about it. Just kept on repeating it was in the rule book and I needed to go look.

Next time I saw him was at a DII college game getting his a** chewed out by his supervisor for blowing some calls.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Because with the fan shape, it's hard to tell if it goes "over" or "beside".

It is no harder than for a rectangular backboard. The fan boards still have vertical edges on the sides....if the ball is inside of that, it is over the top.

My opinion...

Its a matter of likelihood in combination with the original reason for the rule. The rule came about when Wilt Chamberlain's team would lob a baseline throw-in over the board for him to slam in. If I'm not mistaken, the NBA and most, if not all of D1, had converted to rectangular backboards by his time. It was a completely indefensible play...so they made it illegal for the ball to cross over the top of the board. There is rarely a "normal" play where the ball also goes over a rectangular board. As for fan shaped boards...they're much smaller and it is much more likely for a ball to go over the top in the course of normal play. Not wanting to stop the game unnecessarily and knowing that fan boards were used in places not likley to be affected by Chamberlain-like players, there was no need to illegalize it for fan shaped boards.

[Back In The Saddle]

Thanks, Camron. That is the first reasonable explanation of this I've ever heard.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by JS 20

I went and re-read the rule and then asked myself why it was in place. The best thing I can come up with is that it puts the defense at a disadvantage to steal, tip, etc. the pass when you're behind the board and pass it over the top to someone on the other side. That said, the defense has the exact same opportunity to block the shot in the corner that they have anywhere else on the floor so it shouldn't matter in that instance. Just my $0.02

Camron has told us the origin of the rule:

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Its a matter of likelihood in combination with the original reason for the rule. The rule came about when Wilt Chamberlain's team would lob a baseline throw-in over the board for him to slam in. If I'm not mistaken, the NBA and most, if not all of D1, had converted to rectangular backboards by his time. It was a completely indefensible play...so they made it illegal for the ball to cross over the top of the board. There is rarely a "normal" play where the ball also goes over a rectangular board. As for fan shaped boards...they're much smaller and it is much more likely for a ball to go over the top in the course of normal play. Not wanting to stop the game unnecessarily and knowing that fan boards were used in places not likley to be affected by Chamberlain-like players, there was no need to illegalize it for fan shaped boards.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I was always curious about this one - why is it different for a fan shape as opposed to a rectangular shape? Anyone know?

Lobbyist. Help keep the fan shape manufacturers going. I think they are going to need a bail out.

[btaylor64]

so... in college is it legal or illegal? Like someone said earlier, this is illegal in the pro game, so I don't want to blow it in a college game, so what is correct?

[JS 20]

There is a rule regarding passing the ball over the supports or over the backboard. However, I believe (without looking this up) that this only applies to a throw-in pass. So if you're on the baseline and you pass it over the backboard/supports to the other side of the court, then you have a violation........I think

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by btaylor64

so... in college is it legal or illegal? Like someone said earlier, this is illegal in the pro game, so I don't want to blow it in a college game, so what is correct?

The NCAA rule and the FED rule are the same on this issue.