Pregame dunking - is it being well enforced?

[bearclause]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Another coach that doesn't know the rules.....

Dropping the ball in is NOT dunking as defined under both NCAA and NFHS rules. To be dunked by definition, the ball must be driven, forced or pushed through the basket. Simply dropping the ball down from above is legal and always has been legal. And that's also the spirit, or purpose and intent of the rule as written.

And no, it ain't offensive basket interference either for having a hand in contact with a ball in the cylinder. There's also a rules exception covering that action.

"Dropping" may not have been the best description. Some of the players were doing all the motions of a dunk and forcing the ball through. The one detail is that they were clearly avoiding hand contact with the rim during the motions.

Here's one (between the legs followed by a dunk), although it looks like it's well before the game has started and the refs are nowhere to be seen. It's not a huge dunk, but it's pretty clear it's being driven through the hoop and his hand contacts the rim.

YouTube - Syracuse Basketball Pre-Game 2010- SICK DUNK!!!

Here's a Michigan player putting on his own little pregame dunk exhibition and even pulling down the collapsible rim a few times:

YouTube - Brent Petway: Air Georgia

I'm just wondering if perhaps there really isn't a consequence to this as long as the officials haven't stepped onto the court. NCAA rules say that the officials' jurisdiction to call infractions starts 30 minutes before the start of the game.

I heard about some HS team that forfeited a playoff game because a player shattered a backboard while dunking during pregame warmups (I believe they weren't required to have a backup). I've also seen that the NCAA Tournament facilities manual requires at least one backup backboard, although there doesn't seem to be any such rule for regular NCAA play. If the kid in the 2nd clip somehow breaks a backboard even without the officials present, it seems a little strange if there aren't consequences for the action.