Over and Back

[TJones]

Saw this in a game tonight. The ball was inbounded, a player jumped from the forecourt and caught the ball cleanly while in the air. He then landed in the backcourt, is this a backcourt violation?

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by TJones

Saw this in a game tonight. The ball was inbounded, a player jumped from the forecourt and caught the ball cleanly while in the air. He then landed in the backcourt, is this a backcourt violation?

Not if what he caught was the throw-in pass.

[BillyMac]

TJones: Welcome to the jungle ... I mean to the Forum.

During a throwin, even under a team’s own basket, if the throwin is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; or after a missed field goal attempt or a missed foul shot attempt, if the ball is deflected, tipped, or batted by an offensive player in the frontcourt to an offensive player in the backcourt; these are not a backcourt violations. In both cases team control, a player holding or dribbling the ball, has not yet been established.

During a throwin, or jump ball, any player; or a defensive player, in making a steal; may legally jump from his or 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 the backcourt. These three situations are not backcourt violations.