Backcourt or not?

[btaylor64]

Originally Posted by slow whistle

I think I remember reading about this situation in the past on this board, but actually had it happen last night. I am trail, A1 bringing the ball up from BC and for whatever reason decides to start going East/West at the point where he is straddling the HC line, ball being dribbled in the FC. B1 reaches in and bats the ball just a foot or so away from A1. A1 then touches the ball with his back foot still in the backcourt. I have a violation since I have 1) team control and 2) a ball in the frontcourt once the ball was batted away 3) A1 first to touch the ball while in the BC - correct? I believe I was, but this is really a bang-bang type of play. It is beyond me why players play with fire along the HC line makes it a difficult situation to officiate. Any tips on what to focus on here to make this play "slow down"? You're watching for contact on the dribbler, ensuring that he maintains his dribble, watching to see when FC status is established...just a lot going on here..

A good rule of thumb is when you are in doubt on a violation, no call it. It's good that you used your play recall to take yourself through the play, but if you have doubt leave it alone cause if you are wrong and you are wrong 50% of the time (bad percentages as a ref) when guessing, you are better off not calling cause you are not incorrectly taking the ball away from the team.