Jump on the Jump
 

Is it me or does the College way of handling the following situation sound better. If the ball is tipped on the jump (to start game or OT) and A2 and B2 possess the ball at the same time creating a held ball situation we our to rejump. In highschool A2 and B2 would be the jumpers, in College anyone may jump. I just think having the 2 original jumpers that are used to jumping makes for a better start. In high school you could have a 5'4 kid jumping against a 6'1 kid. Doesn't this put a team at a disadvantage when both kids mad the play of tying up the ball to begin with.
I know it isn't a big deal, but I like to college rule more in this case.
Any thought? Agree or Disagree?

It's better than a coin toss.

*Sarcasm*That same 5'4" kid is at a height disadvantage on rebounding as well. So should we cut everyone down to 5'4"? Another kid on the other team is a heck of a lot more talented than the 5'4" kid as well, lets tie one hand behind his back! */Sarcasm*

The game is to be played with God-given advantages/disadvantages. The rules are not made to make everyone the same entirely but to make the game fair.

-Josh

not the same
 

U are forcing this smaller kid do the jump which he probably never did before, I think they will change this to line up with college next yr. But we will see.

Much ado about nothing.

Instigator......
 

Not according to BillyMac who I'm sure will be along shortly to voice his opnion!

I'll be surrpised if they change it. Why now?

College
 

THey seem to be a yr or so behind college with changes. College just changed this so I could see high school doing the same.

The reason for the rule is historical. From the dawn of time (or even before that, back when Billy started officiating) a held ball resulted in a jump between the two players involved.

Back in the day, the height disparity was more significant because you might have a jump ball at any point in game, and it might occur near either basket. Now that the jump has been relegated to just a way to start the game, it's no big deal. If the 5'4" kids loses the tap, his team still has 32 minutes to make up whatever points were scored off of the play.

It's only happened to me a couple of times, but it's kind of fun to see the look in the 5'4" kid's eyes when you tell him he's jumping. :D

BTW, the dust cover of my copy of "Calling The Shots" shows Earl Strom signaling what looks like a jump ball between two specific players. That's the same mechanic I have used when this has happened in my games.

I like the rule, for two reasons:

1. It's a cool 'tip of the cap' to a traditional rule that has little impact on the outcome of a game; and

2. It's fun as hell.

Bold statement. The NCAA put the shot clock in more than a few years ago, most states still don't use it. College has continued to allow players to go into the lane on the release for FTs -- hasn't been this way in high school for better than a decade or so.

I would guess this happens less than 1 time in 250 to 500 games. Even with 1500 or so varsity basketball teams in Ohio, it probably happens 20 to 50 times per year. Likely not worth worrying about. Besides, just because a player taps the ball, possession is far from guaranteed.

Correct me if I am wrong, from the "dawn of time", I believe there was a jump after every made basket. I'll wait on Billy to confirm.

That is correct.

I agree. I do not think I have ever seen this happen in a game I officiated or I was watching.

Peace

Actually had this happen last week.

Jeff, the reason you haven't seen it was because it happened in a girls' game. ;)

LOL!!! If that is the case, then you likely do not have the height disparity. :D

Peace

Haven't seen many girls' games have you? :D

Actually, it ended up being a 5'8" forward jumping against a 5'2' guard. So, it wasn't close - the forward barely moved, while the guard tried hard.

No and I do not intend to. ;)

Peace

The only time I've ever had this is in a girls middle school game.

For one its not something you see every game...as others have mentioned its never happened to them and I've seen it once in the seven years I've been officiating. Also, more than likely the two best jumpers are already jumping anyway. Combine this with the fact that more than likely players are matched up against similar players at the original jump and any tie up, which we've determined anecdotally happens rarely, would more than likely be between two such similar players and hence a rule change for this purpose would be just for the sake of change.

How Did I Get In The Middle Of This ???
 

No it isn't.

You are a mind reader.

Wrong. I started officiating a few weeks after the dawn of time. Adam and Eve needed a third official in their crew. That's right, the three of us invented three person mechanics. The serpent couldn't pass the floor exam.

Sorry. I don't really go back that far. The post about Adam and Eve was just my juvenile attempt at humor. Now, regarding the jump ball after every basket, Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. will probably be along in a few minutes. He's the guy who can answer your question. He actually helped Dr. Naismith with the first draft of his thirteen rules. It's true. Really.

I have had the jump after every basket confirmed to me by a credible source. I believe also that much earlier days of the game, a jump ball could be tossed anywhere on the floor. But that I have not had confirmed by a credible source.

My dad told me about playing ball in the late '20's, early '30's and they jumped after each basket. When I was playing in the early '60's we jumped each tie ball (wasn't called a held ball then). If you were near the basket, you jumped at the free throw line. Further out, you jumped at center court. Oddest matchup I saw was a 5'8" guard jumping against a 6'5" center. The guard won by a hand!
This is also the time women's games were half court, 3 guards at one end and 3 forwards at the other. No crossing that center line!

Down Memory Lane ...
 

1938: Two-court game with six players per team at all levels. A team is three guards and three forwards. Only forwards can score but all players are part of action

1961: Each team is permitted two players to roam the entire court.

1971: Five-player, full-court game (not Iowa or Oklahoma).

1993: Iowa finally gives up the six-player game.

1995: Oklahoma is last state to switch.

Iowa was playing both in the late 70's, the schools had a choice through the 92-93 season.