Debunking the "over the back" myth

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by just another ref

Please excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is this myth?

"Over the back." Coaches do not yell when their player has been out jumped facing each other, but for some reason when a player is behind them, they think there is a foul. Contact can only cause a foul and it can occur on any side of any player. There is nothing special about contact with a player's back.

And at least the term "walk" falls in line with "travel." You are correct it is not "rulebook" language, but at least suggesting a player walks, does not go totally against the wording of the rulebook. The terms "running with the ball" are used to describe traveling.

The bottom line is "over the back" is the term they use. We do not have them say, "he was over the front." So it is clearly based on a myth, not the reality of verticality which the rulebook uses.

Peace