Does the player need to step over the BC line to be a BC violation?

[craiglaw]

In a game yesterday, the player lost control of the ball, and the ball headed toward the back court. No contact by the defender. P was able to avoid stepping over the back court line, but dribbled the ball once in the BC before bring it back. In other words, only the ball was in the back court.

I've never seen this exact situation before. No call was made. Is that correct?

[rwest]

Originally Posted by craiglaw

In a game yesterday, the player lost control of the ball, and the ball headed toward the back court. No contact by the defender. P was able to avoid stepping over the back court line, but dribbled the ball once in the BC before bring it back. In other words, only the ball was in the back court.

I've never seen this exact situation before. No call was made. Is that correct?

The player does not have to be in the back court for there to be a violation. The rule states that the offense shall not be the last to touch the ball while in the front court and then be the first to touch the ball in the back court. The rule doesn't require that the player be in the back court, just the ball. So when the player dribbled the ball in the back court he violated because he was the the first to touch it while the ball had back court status.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by rwest

The player does not have to be in the back court for there to be a violation. The rule states that the offense shall not be the last to touch the ball while in the front court and then be the first to touch the ball in the back court. The rule doesn't require that the player be in the back court, just the ball. So when the player dribbled the ball in the back court he violated because he was the the first to touch it while the ball had back court status.

Actually, the rule doesn't even require what you claim.
The ball does not have to be in the backcourt or have backcourt status when a player from the team in control becomes the first to touch it AFTER it has been in the backcourt.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by craiglaw

In a game yesterday, the player lost control of the ball, and the ball headed toward the back court. No contact by the defender. P was able to avoid stepping over the back court line, but dribbled the ball once in the BC before bring it back. In other words, only the ball was in the back court.

I've never seen this exact situation before. No call was made. Is that correct?

Team control with A, ball has frontcourt status, A1 last to touch in frontcourt before going to backcourt, ball establishes itself it backcourt, A1 first to touch...Violation.

[Mark Padgett]

Also remember that the division line is somewhat mystical. It's in one team's backcourt and the other team's frontcourt at the same time. That means the ball only has to touch the line, not go over it, to be in backcourt in your situation.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

It's in one team's backcourt and the other team's frontcourt at the same time.

You're gonna need to explain this one further.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

It's in one team's backcourt and the other team's frontcourt at the same time.

Nope, it's in both team's backcourt at the same time. If team A has the ball in team B's frontcourt, at that time the division line is in team A's backcourt and it is also in team B's backcourt.