After dunk board tap
 

I saw this last night during a local high school game on TV.

Two handed dunk. Player (in a clearly intentional act) taps the backboard with both hands on the way down.

So, whack or no whack?

The way i'm picturing this, the player would have to pull himself up on the rim in order to slap the backboard on his way down. Probably a HTBT. If it's a big show, T em up.

I would give a T without hesitation at the high school level, unless he was in some ways protecting himself.

Peace

Tap, Contact, Slap, Strike, Force ???
 

NFHS 10-3-4: A player shall not: Illegally contact the backboard/ring by:
a. Placing a hand on the backboard or ring to gain an advantage.
b. Intentionally slapping or striking the backboard or causing the ring to
vibrate while a try or tap is in flight or is touching the backboard or is in the
basket or in the cylinder above the basket.

In order to penalize on 10-3-4-A, "The Ralph Sampson Rule", the player would have had to had gained an advantage. In my opinion, there is no advantage gained by doing this, so we can assume that 10-3-4-A does not apply.

Now we're left with 10-3-4-B. To me the words "Slap", and "Strike", seem to imply that the act is done with some type of "Force", in some cases, but not all cases, causing the backboard, or ring, to vibrate. Did this "Tap" have any "Force" behind it? If so, then go ahead and penalize under 10-3-4-B. If not, then play basketball.

10.3.4 does not exactly address a "Tap", but it might shed some light on this situation:

10.3.4 SITUATION: A1 tries for a goal, and (a) B1 jumps and attempts to block
the shot but instead slaps or strikes the backboard and the ball goes into the basket;
or (b) B1 vibrates the ring as a result of pulling on the net and the ball does
not enter the basket. RULING: In (a) legal and the basket counts; and (b) a technical
foul is charged to B1 and there is no basket. COMMENT: The purpose of the
rule is to penalize intentional contact with the backboard while a shot or try is
involved or placing a hand on the backboard to gain an advantage. A player who
strikes either backboard so forcefully it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt
to draw attention to the player, or a means of venting frustration may be assessed
a technical foul pursuant to Rule 10-3-6.

What was the intent?

The intent is that he had a purpose or aim to do so(smack backboard).

Now if you want to know his motivation, that's a different story.

It appeared to be one of those "too cool for school" things that kids do. He dunked and on the way past tapped the board with two hands. You know, the way kids do on a layup while warming up.

And he did *not* pull himself up.

The intent is the goal or objective at which the action aimed. Merely stating that an action had an objective does not specify the intent.

The motive is the desire or feeling that brought about the action.

Intention is part of the rational explanation of an action, motive part of the causal explanation.

I'm not sure that answers my question, but it sounds borderline to me. I don't think I'd whack unless it was obvious showboating or taunting.

Like I mentioned elsewhere, I saw an NCAA D1 guy and my HS partner (he was the lead, 2-person) whack the same thing earlier this year. Just thought it would be interesting to throw out there.

What did the officials in this game do?

Nothing.

Then they missed it. :(

"A player who strikes either backboard so forcefully it cannot be ignored because it is an attempt
to draw attention to the player...may be assessed
a technical foul pursuant to Rule 10-3-6."

Since there is ZERO basketball purpose to dunking and then striking, and obviously it did draw attention, this looks like a no-brainer to me.

However, the fact that this happened this late in the season leads me to assume that it likely had taken place all season without penalty. A regional or state championship level game is probably not the best venue to make the point. Here in NC a significant number of our points of emphasis come from the observations of what takes place at the regional and state level tournaments. Something like this would likely find mentioning in the pre-season clinics, which is probably best case.

key word...it's left to the judgment of the official. if it was "shall" then i'd throw down the hammer with no impunity...