Backcourt or no?
 

Team A is throwing the ball in in their frontcourt. Player A4 inbounds the ball to A3 who muffs the ball into the backcourt. A2 goes to retrieve the ball in the backcourt.

Is this a violation?

4 Requirements:

1) Team Control
2) Ball in FC
3) Team A last to touch before ball goes to BC
4) Team A first to touch after ball goes to BC

In your play, requirement 1 was not met, so there's no violation.

TS - and a slightly different sitch that I had this weekend in an 8th grade boys game. Team A post player, in his frontcourt, passes ball back out top to his point guard but B1 defender deflects the ball slightly. Grazes A1's hand as it head into backcourt. A1 beats B1 to the ball and grabs it.

Partner's call: Tweet! BC violation; see Bob's definition. Do you agree?

Another question about this play: once the ball obtains backcourt status, should the trail official start a 10-second count?

Yes, the play situation as amended would result in a backcourt violation.

Yes, once the ball is in the backcourt, the 10-second count should start.