Is a muff the same as a fumble in BB?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Scrapper1

"Muff" is not defined in basketball. So it's unclear if a muff occurs when there's player control, team control, no control. Using the word "muff" in a basketball conversation doesn't really tell you anything.

On the other hand, "fumble" is clearly defined as a loss of player control when the ball drops or slips from a player's grasp. So that tells us that there WAS player control, there is no longer player control, but there is still team control.

A muff, at least in a very loose "layman's" sense, simply means that a player was unable to secure control of the ball.

I would not use the two terms interchangeably. In fact, I would not use the term "muff" at all.

Scrapper, you have provided the proper information for a fumble, however, the NFHS uses the term "muff" to indicate that the player touched the ball, but did not establish player control.

4.44 SITUATION A: A1 attempts to catch the ball while running rapidly. A1
muffs the ball, but succeeds in securing it before it strikes the floor. A1 then
begins a dribble, taking several steps between the time the ball was first touched
until it was caught. RULING: There has been no violation provided A1, after catching
the ball, released the ball to start the dribble before the pivot foot was lifted
from the floor. (4-15)