I could swear that I read in NFHS rule book something about it being illegal (a violation?) to shoot over the top of the backboard, but I could not find it when I looked last night. Did I just imagine this, or is there really such a prohibition? :confused: Please help.

See 7-2-Note: "When a rectangular backboard is used, the ball is out of bounds if it passes over the backboard."

Chuck

Many Thanks, Chuck
 

Chuck, thanks for the citation.

Of course, if a fan-shaped backboard is being used, this prohibition does not apply.

Don't know how things are in your neck of the woods, but our local middle school only replaced their fan-shaped white metal backboards a couple of years ago with the plexiglass! Not likely to see these in HS, but depending on what level you ref, you may see these fan-shaped boards still.

Fans
 

Thank you all for the info about the fan shaped backboards. Our games this year are all in HS gyms with plexiglass, but I have seen them in other gyms.

One additional comment
 

CYO

If the ball contacts any of the hardware (support structure) it is a violation and awarded to the opponent.

Just to verify....

This rule is applied if it passes over the backboard in EITHER direction??

Thanks,

RR

RnR, Since the note I posted above does not specify one specific direction, you are correct in saying that it applies to a ball passing over the backboard in any direction.

Chuck

It IS NOT illegal for a ball to pass over a rectangular backboard. What is illegal is for the ball to go BEHIND the backboard.

Over the backboard
 

heyref,
Chuck's reference is an exact quote from the NFHS rule book. Is your comment that it is not a violation, just out of bounds, or that it is still in play? Also, it clearly can be behind the backboard and still be in play and in bounds.

Re: Fans
 

I haven't seen any in quite a while, however I see a lot of backboard shaped fans!

Re: Over the backboard
 

The ball is not dead and still in play. The ball must pass behind the backboard before it becomes dead.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

The ball may indeed go behind the board without violation. It is only a violation for it be be behind the board if it got there by going over the top (which is the actual violation). If it is there from any other direction, there is no violation (as long as it doesn't touch the supports or back of the board).

Likewise, passing over the top from back to front, albeit very rare, is a violation.

What's the citation for that? The Rule 7-2-Note says "When a rectangular backboard is used, the ball is out of bounds if it passes over the backboard." Is there something else involved in the HS rules that I missed?