Confusion on Backcourt

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Upward ref

Even though B "poked" the ball away ?

It doesn't matter who poked the ball away. All that matters is who was the last player to touch the ball in the front court. If A touches the ball, even after it's been poked away by B, before the ball goes into the backcourt, then A was the last to touch it in the frontcourt.

If B deflects the ball of A's leg, and A runs into the backcourt and retrieves the ball, it is a violation. If the ball is batted away by B without touching A, then A may legally retrieve the ball.