Pregame running under the basket...

[eyezen]

question from an referee colleague. .."Where is the rule concerning running under the opponents basket before the game" Is this a fed rule or could I be thinking of a state guideline...I'm thinking somewhere I remember reading about direct path to your side of court which could be interpreted as the above...I'm digging in the book right now but if anyone knows please point me in the right direction

[Adam]

Not in the book, I don't think. Check state listings.

[eyezen]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Not in the book, I don't think. Check state listings.

OK, I'm not seeing it either. Thanks. Any MO officials know?

[eyezen]

Sorry for answering my own question...

Found it in our basketball manual that governs state play:

9. Assignment of each team’s bench and pre-game warm-up basket is to be predetermined by the tournament
manager/committee and all teams notified in advance. The recommended procedure is to let the “home” team
for each game sit on the bench which the host school utilizes during the regular season and conduct their pregame
warm-up at the basket at the opposite end of the floor. Teams are to conduct pre-game and half-time
warm-up on their half of the floor only. If jogging or running is part of their warm-up drills, then it is to be confined
to their half of the court. Teams are to refrain from circling the entire floor when they enter the court to warm-up.
Teams leaving their locker rooms and entering the court are to proceed to their warm-up end of the court by the
most direct route and at no time are they to pass underneath their opponent’s basket. Officials are to enforce
this once their jurisdiction begins by rule by assessing the head coach a technical foul. Tournament managers
are to notify schools of this in advance and enforce it.
10. Participating teams are not permitted to warm-up at half-time of any games except the ones in which they are
playing.

[Adam]

Looks like tournament rules only?

[representing]

I believe it is a State thing. In PA, no full court circle running is allowed. You are only allowed to run a circle around your own half of the court during warmup and halftime shooting. The other thing is during introductions, you are not allowed to gather around the center circle after introductions are done for your team. Fights have been known to break out during the race to the center circle. Most teams (as I've seen) now gather around the circle at the foul line.