Fan rules

[Mark Padgett]

Since fans, especially parents, think they know the rules, I suggest we officiate by calling the game the way the fans want us to. I call these "fan rules". I've made a list below. Any others you guys want to add?


Three second counts continue while shots are being taken.

Non-contact situations such as “over the back” and “reaching” are fouls.

It is a foul to slap a player’s hand while it is on the ball.

Catching your own missed airball shot is traveling.

Inbounding from the front court into the backcourt is a violation.

There is no backcourt violation if the defense touches the ball at anytime.

After a timeout, a team may inbound the ball at midcourt.

A ten second backcourt count continues where interrupted following a timeout.

Following a score and a timeout, a team has lost the privilege of running the endline.

It is a violation to throw a pass to a teammate who is OOB along the endline following a score by the other team.

After establishing a pivot foot, lifting the pivot foot is a traveling violation even if the ball is released before the pivot foot returns to the court.

When gaining control of a loose ball by diving onto the floor, a player’s momentum of doing so that causes him to roll over or slide is a traveling violation.

Stepping on the OOB line while inbounding is a violation.

It is permissible for players to wear earrings as long as they are taped over with masking tape.

Nothing their kid ever does is a foul.

[BillyMac]

This is a "Bizarro World" version of the Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules.

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Nothing their kid ever does is a foul.

and the corollary, if their kid misses a shot, it's because 'he got fouled.

[zm1283]

You could apply these not just to fans, but to coaches as well, and unfortunately a couple of officials that I've worked with.

Side note: A good number of coaches are really latched on to the "If the defense ever touches the ball there can't be a backcourt" myth. It seems like every time I call "last to touch, first to touch" as a BC violation on the offense, I get that argument from their coach that "The defense touched it!".

[26 Year Gap]

Shouldn't the 3 second count commence after a made basket?

[Nevadaref]

How could you omit "officials shouldn't make a call that decides the game" from the list!

[26 Year Gap]

Okay, I will modify it.

It is 3 seconds when someone in the crowd says it is 3 seconds.