3-second violation

[jtarantine]

is that if a player makes a shot attempt (in your estimation), regardless of whether it hits rim or not, then the 3-second count stops, and the player may grab his/her own rebound without violation.

In my short tenure as an official, this seems to be the most common misunderstanding that coaches and fans/parents have. Hundreds of times i have heard them yell "3-seconds" while players are scrambling for a rebound after a shot attempt. whenever i can, i try to let the coach know the rule (and about a minute or 2 later i hear him yell '3-seconds' again... ha ha. as far as the traveling goes, i have heard some complain of traveling after an 'airball', but most seem to understand that part of the rule.

hope that helps. in my youth leagues, the lower levels have a '5-second' count instead of 3-seconds.