Back Court Violation?
 

For sake of discussion...

A dribbler may not go out of bounds, return inbounds, and be the first to touch the ball in bounds, although a non-dribbler may. May a dribbler in front court, who loses their balance, fall into back court, re-establish themselves in front court and be the first to touch without violating? How about a non-dribbler?

It sounds as though the ball never had BC status, so the answers are both 'yes'.

This is legal whether it's on the division line or an out of bounds line. It's an interrupted dribble.

Can someone please post the rule?

Thanks.

SECTION 9 BACKCOURT

ART. 1 . . . A player shall not be the first to touch a ball after it has been in team control in the frontcourt, if he/she or a teammate last touched or was touched by the ball in the frontcourt before it went to the backcourt.

ART. 2 . . . While in team control in its backcourt, a player shall not cause the ball to go from backcourt to frontcourt and return to backcourt, without the ball touching a player in the frontcourt, such that he/she or a teammate is the first to touch it in the backcourt.

ART. 3 . . . A player from the team not in control (defensive player or during a jump ball or throw-in) may legally jump from his/her frontcourt, secure control of the ball with both feet off the floor and return to the floor with one or both feet in the backcourt. The player may make a normal landing and it makes no difference whether the first foot down is in the frontcourt or backcourt.

PENALTY: (Section 9) The ball is dead when the violation occurs and is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in from the designated out-of-bounds spot nearest the violation

If a dribbler, in control, steps out of bounds, it is a violation then, not when he returns.

As jar noted, the violation happens as soon as the player steps out of bounds, if he's a dribbler. If there's any delay, then consider the dribble interrupted. In the case of an interrupted dribble, he may be the first to touch the ball. There is no "first to touch" provision in the NFHS rules.

The question is about out of bounds, not backcourt. :)

Yeah, sorry I wasn't trying to hijack the thread but now since it seems like the OP's question has been answered...

So in an interrupted dribble the player can dribble, lose control & go out of bounds unintentionally (you see it a lot with younger kids who are out of control) and be the first to touch the ball once they are back inbounds? Sorry for the run on sentence. I understand that if they leave the court to run around a defender it is a violation for leaving the court for an unauthorized reason.

Thanks.

Two things here might be illegal.

1. A dribbler stepping OOB. An interrupted dribble does not qualify, so that can't be called.

2. Going OOB for an unauthorized reason. We never call this when momentum or a loss of balance cause it, so that can't be called.

Without either of those, it's legal. The short answer to your question is, "yes." As long as they have established position in bounds prior to touching the ball.