Opening Tip Violation
 

Boys varsity opening tip, jumpers A1 and B1 properly postioned in center circle. As R tosses ball A1 squats and duck walks across center line, past B1 toward B1 side of circle. Jumper B1 taps ball which hits A1 in back before A1 leaves circle. I rule violation on A1, B's ball OOB near midcourt and possession arrow to A. Right???

Is this guy committed to the University of Oregon? ;)

Read 6-3 and find the violation.

What is unclear in rule 6-3 is when the restrictions for a jumper to remain in his/her half of the restraining circle end. Rule 6.3.5 clearly explains restrictions on non-jumpers. rule 6.7b states that the jumper may not leave the center restraining circle until the bal has been touched but does not say when he/she may leave his/her half of the restraining circle.

As for the duck walk, nope this kid won't be going to University of Oregon or any other university for that matter.

So, I guess the question is; is it prohibited for a jumper to leave his half of the circle so long as he stays in the circle itself?

Why do you suppose it doesn't say that?

6-3-1 "For any jump ball, each jumper shall have both feet within that half of the center restraining circle which is farther from his/her basket." Per 6-3-8 this would appear to be a restriction that does not end until the jump ball ends.

THIS guy had a pretty good duck walk...
 

6-3-8 specifically refers only to the restrictions in 6-3-7, but the 6-3-8-NOTE makes it a violation.

6-3-8 does make specific mention of the restrictions in 6-3-7. It also defines when the jump ball itself ends. 6-3-1 does not indicate when its restriction begins or ends, other than "For any jump ball". From that I infer that from the time the official is ready (the earliest moment associated with any jump ball restriction) until the jump ball ends, the restriction on the jumpers in 6-3-1 is in effect. Thus, it is a violation in its own right. However, a similar inference may be drawn, and drawn a little more easily, from the note under 6-3-8.

So if a jumper comes down with his foot over the line before the ball touches a non-jumper, you call a violation?

Agitator! :D

I think the answer to this is to go with the intent of the rule. The intent is obviously not to punish a jumper for where he lands when he makes a legitimate attempt to tap the toss.

OTOH, based on the wording of the note on 6-3-8, it seems their intent is also not to allow one jumper to simply walk to the other side during the toss.

In a way, it seems similar to the intent of the relatively new wording on 9-1-3g (one foot near the FT lane line).