Back Court Violation ?

[trsandy]

Player A1 is bringing the ball up the floor in A1's backcourt, trailed by A2. As A1 crosses the midcourt line he is pressured by B1 and passes the ball to A2 who is airborne over the halfcourt line. A2 lands in the front-court with one foot down prior to catching the ball. is this a backcourt violation ?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by trsandy

Player A1 is bringing the ball up the floor in A1's backcourt, trailed by A2. As A1 crosses the midcourt line he is pressured by B1 and passes the ball to A2 who is airborne over the halfcourt line. A2 lands in the front-court with one foot down prior to catching the ball. is this a backcourt violation ?

This is the important part of your scenario. Where is A2 when he has one foot in the frontcourt and nothing touching backcourt?

[trsandy]

A2 is entirely in the Front Court when he catches the ball. The visualization of this would be a running motion across half-court, but going airborne across the midcourt line.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by trsandy

A2 is entirely in the Front Court when he catches the ball.

That answers your question.

The key here - as in most of the rules - is to not overly-complicate the situations. The pass was from a frontcourt (or backcourt - it's not entirely clear from your description if A1 had entirely entered the frontcourt before passing) player to another player in the frontcourt. As long as the ball didn't gain backcourt status at some point after gaining frontcourt status, no violation.

[trsandy]

Our team was called for a back-court violation. The Referee who made the call told me that A2 had to have both feet down prior to catching the ball. I am still puzzled by this call, because, like you said, the player never established possession of the ball in backcourt.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by trsandy

Our team was called for a back-court violation. The Referee who made the call told me that A2 had to have both feet down prior to catching the ball. I am still puzzled by this call, because, like you said, the player never established possession of the ball in backcourt.

It seems like he made the right call. Had A2 jumped from the backcourt? Had he landed prior to touching the ball?

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by trsandy

Our team was called for a back-court violation. The Referee who made the call told me that A2 had to have both feet down prior to catching the ball. I am still puzzled by this call, because, like you said, the player never established possession of the ball in backcourt.

If that's what the official told you, the official is mistaken. If any part of a player is touching frontcourt, and no part of the player is touching backcourt, he is in the frontcourt. If any part of a player is touching backcourt, regardless of any part touching frontcourt, the player is in backcourt.

[Adam]

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly.

1. I can't tell where A1 was when he passed the ball. Was he in the FC or the BC? Since you said "as A1 crosses...." I'm having a hard time making that decision.

2. From your description of A2 being airborne over the division line, I have to assume he had jumped from the BC.

Here's how I'm reading this play:
A1 crosses the line, gains FC status, then passes the ball to A2, who is airborne after having jumped from the BC. Where he lands is irrelevant if he catches the ball in the air. This is a violation as soon as A2 touches the ball.

[Indianaref]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly.

1. I can't tell where A1 was when he passed the ball. Was he in the FC or the BC? Since you said "as A1 crosses...." I'm having a hard time making that decision.

2. From your description of A2 being airborne over the division line, I have to assume he had jumped from the BC.

Here's how I'm reading this play:
A1 crosses the line, gains FC status, then passes the ball to A2, who is airborne after having jumped from the BC. Where he lands is irrelevant if he catches the ball in the air. This is a violation as soon as A2 touches the ball.

OP says A2 has one foot down in front court prior to catching the ball. Where is the second foot? Has A1 fully established himself in the frontcourt?