Rules test for coaches

[Mark Padgett]

I think I may have posted this a few years ago, but I thought I'd throw this out again. It's a "simple" rules test I give to new coaches in our local kids rec league. We use NF rules with some modifications for grade level, like no backcourt guarding in 3rd and 4th grade, running clock, etc., but in general, it's NFHS rules. I've never had a newbie coach get all 10 questions correct in more than the ten years I've been using it. Feel free to use it in your rec league if you want. BTW - there's a "characteristic" about this test that makes it even more fun to administer.


RULES TEST – ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE TO EACH QUESTION

1) ON AN INBOUND PLAY, IF THE INBOUNDER MOVES MORE THAN THREE FEET BACKWARDS BEFORE INBOUNDING, IT’S A VIOLATION
2) A PLAYER CANNOT BEGIN A LEGAL DRIBBLE BY PUSHING THE BALL TO THE FLOOR WITH BOTH HANDS
3) PLAYERS MAY PLAY WITH EARRINGS AS LONG AS THEY ARE COVERED TIGHTLY WITH MASKING TAPE
4) WHEN INBOUNDING IN THE FRONT COURT, IT IS A VIOLATION TO INBOUND THE BALL TO A PLAYER IN THE BACK COURT
5) IF A PLAYER DIVES FOR A LOOSE BALL, GRABS THE BALL AND CONTINUES SLIDING, IT IS A TRAVELING VIOLATION
6) IF AN INBOUNDER IS HOLDING THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS AND A DEFENDER REACHES ACROSS THE LINE AND PUTS BOTH HANDS ON THE BALL, IT IS RULED A JUMP BALL
7) IF A PLAYER SHOOTS AN AIR BALL, THAT PLAYER CANNOT BE THE FIRST TO TOUCH THE BALL BEFORE IT COMES DOWN AND HITS THE FLOOR
8) IF A PLAYER IS HOLDING THE BALL AND A DEFENDER SLAPS THE BALL HANDLERS HAND CAUSING THE BALL TO BECOME LOOSE, IT IS A PERSONAL FOUL
9) IF A PLAYER REACHES OVER ANOTHER PLAYER’S BACK TO GRAB THE BALL, IT IS A PERSONAL FOUL
10) IF A PLAYER IS DRIBBLING AND BOUNCES THE BALL OFF THEIR FOOT, THEY CANNOT RUN AND RECOVER THE LOOSE BALL

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I think I may have posted this a few years ago, but I thought I'd throw this out again. It's a "simple" rules test I give to new coaches in our local kids rec league. We use NF rules with some modifications for grade level, like no backcourt guarding in 3rd and 4th grade, running clock, etc., but in general, it's NFHS rules. I've never had a newbie coach get all 10 questions correct in more than the ten years I've been using it. Feel free to use it in your rec league if you want. BTW - there's a "characteristic" about this test that makes it even more fun to administer.


RULES TEST – ANSWER TRUE OR FALSE TO EACH QUESTION

1) ON AN INBOUND PLAY, IF THE INBOUNDER MOVES MORE THAN THREE FEET BACKWARDS BEFORE INBOUNDING, IT’S A VIOLATION
2) A PLAYER CANNOT BEGIN A LEGAL DRIBBLE BY PUSHING THE BALL TO THE FLOOR WITH BOTH HANDS
3) PLAYERS MAY PLAY WITH EARRINGS AS LONG AS THEY ARE COVERED TIGHTLY WITH MASKING TAPE
2) WHEN INBOUNDING IN THE FRONT COURT, IT IS A VIOLATION TO INBOUND THE BALL TO A PLAYER IN THE BACK COURT
5) IF A PLAYER DIVES FOR A LOOSE BALL, GRABS THE BALL AND CONTINUES SLIDING, IT IS A TRAVELING VIOLATION
6) IF AN INBOUNDER IS HOLDING THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS AND A DEFENDER REACHES ACROSS THE LINE AND PUTS BOTH HANDS ON THE BALL, IT IS RULED A JUMP BALL
7) IF A PLAYER SHOOTS AN AIR BALL, THAT PLAYER CANNOT BE THE FIRST TO TOUCH THE BALL BEFORE IT COMES DOWN AND HITS THE FLOOR
8) IF A PLAYER IS HOLDING THE BALL AND A DEFENDER SLAPS THE BALL HANDLERS HAND CAUSING THE BALL TO BECOME LOOSE, IT IS A PERSONAL FOUL
9) IF A PLAYER REACHES OVER ANOTHER PLAYER’S BACK TO GRAB THE BALL, IT IS A PERSONAL FOUL
10) IF A PLAYER IS DRIBBLING AND BOUNCES THE BALL OFF THEIR FOOT, THEY CANNOT RUN AND RECOVER THE LOOSE BALL

Mark:

You are a devious SOB giving the coaches such a difficult test, .

MTD, Sr.

[Nevadaref]

I'm sure that the coaches have the most difficulty with question #4.

[grunewar]

and even I had trouble with #4. A real head-scratcher that one!

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by grunewar

and even I had trouble with #4. A real head-scratcher that one!

Yeah, but you have to take a second look at #2

[NoFussRef]

#3 is True, only if the masking tape is of matching team colors, and/or all payers wearing masking taped ears are wearing the same color.

Furthermore, any tape, band-aids, or other adhesive material worn to conceal jewelry MUST be the same color as the player's compression sleeve(s).

Violations are penalized by assessing one T-foul for each ear.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I'm sure that the coaches have the most difficulty with question #4.

Ya' got me.

[ontheway]

i just read that while inbounding the alotted space is 3 feet wide theres no restriction as to how far back an inbounding player may go.

Am I missing something?

[APG]

Originally Posted by ontheway

i just read that while inbounding the alotted space is 3 feet wide theres no restriction as to how far back an inbounding player may go.

Am I missing something?

This is correct.

[BillyMac]

A player inbounding the ball may step on, but not over the line. During a designated spot throwin, the player inbounding the ball must keep one foot on or over the three-foot wide designated spot. An inbounding player is allowed to jump or move one or both feet. A player inbounding the ball may move backward as far as the five-second time limit or space allows. If player moves outside the three-foot wide designated spot it is a throwin violation, not traveling. In gymnasiums with limited space outside the sidelines and endlines, a defensive player may be asked to step back no more than three feet. A player inbounding the ball may “dribble” the ball on the out-of-bounds area prior to making a throwin. After a goal, or awarded goal, the team not credited with the score shall make the throw-in from any point outside the end line. A team retains this “run the endline” privilege if a timeout is called during the dead ball period after the goal. Any player of the team may make a direct throw-in, or may pass the ball along the end line to a teammate outside the boundary line.

The inbounding player does not have a plane restriction, but has five seconds to release the ball and it must come directly onto the court. The ball can always be passed into the backcourt during a throwin. This situation is not a backcourt violation.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by ontheway

i just read that while inbounding the alotted space is 3 feet wide theres no restriction as to how far back an inbounding player may go.

Am I missing something?

What do you think you are missing?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by ontheway

i just read that while inbounding the alotted space is 3 feet wide theres no restriction as to how far back an inbounding player may go.

Am I missing something?

It seems that you're now missing a misconception that you used to have. That's good.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by ontheway

i just read that while inbounding the alotted space is 3 feet wide theres no restriction as to how far back an inbounding player may go.

Am I missing something?

Actually, he can't go back further than the wall.

[ontheway]

you guys are hilarious. yes im learning alot from this forum i love it!

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Actually, he can't go back farther than the wall.

Fixed it for you.

Now, what if the inbounds spot is directly in front of a doorway or other opening in the wall? Can the inbounder go through the opening out into the hallway?