Understanding FIBA backcourt rules are not easily done.

And certainly not within one message thread.

I guess the person doing the quoting is unable to see what he is quoting has nothing to do with the question that was asked.

Is lifting the pivot foot a violation? No, it is not.

Well, I'll have to admit this is kind of an interesting discussion, in that I've never heard the question asked that way.

So 4-44-3(c) says: "After...establishing a pivot foot...the pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble."

So, yes, in this case lifting the pivot foot is a violation...if it preceeds the start of a dribble.

We know that lifting the pivot foot is allowed if the player passes or shoots. So there is no direct yes or no answer to the original question; the correct answer is "it depends on what happens immediately after".

I've already had this same debate, with Nevada, I think. I'm on your side. :)

And sometimes it can take even longer. Say I lift my pivot, then pass the ball but my teammate moves from the spot. If I go get the ball it then becomes a dribble and that pivot foot thing that occurred 15 feet away is the root of the violation.