Starting a dribble/traveling questions
 

1. It is legal for a player to start a dribble by using both hands to push or bat the ball to the floor, and then continuing the dribble, correct?

For example, A1 catches a pass, pushes the ball to the floor with both hands, and then continues to dribble using just one hand.



2. B1 has recovered the ball with one knee on the floor. Without dribbling, is it legal for B1 to place a 2nd knee to the floor? What if B1 recovers the ball with both knees on the floor, and without dribbling, picks up one knee off of the floor?

1. If he catches the pass, that's control and a double dribble. No control, nothing.

2. Not sure but I think one knee on the floor already, legal to put other knee on floor. Both knees on floor, pick one up it is a travel.

Question #1 with example is a legal play.

Jordan:

1) You are wrong in your ruling. How that illegal? Go back to Rule 4 (NFHS or NCAA) and read the definitions regarding dribbling and traveling.

MTD, Sr.

If he recovers it on the floor, without going into specifics, anything which is judged to be an attempt to stand up is traveling.

1. Legal.

2. JAR has given you the correct general principle: if the covering official judges that the player holding the ball is trying to get up, the correct call is travel. That said:
(a) If that's all B1 does, it's legal.

(b) That certainly sounds like a violation.

How is example 1 legal. Don't have my rule book handy. If he catches pass, isn't that control? Wouldn't his next act be a dribble with 2 hands instead of pushing ball to floor with 2 hands? 2 handed dribble is double dribble, correct? Maybe I'm wrong though.

You are allowed to start your dribble by pushing the ball with both hands and then continue dribbling with only one hand at a time. Read NFHS R4-S15 (or the analogous NCAA Rule). There is no prohibition to starting the dribble by pushing the ball to the floor with two hands.

MTD, Sr.

If you use rule-book terms instead of announcer/playground speak, you'll have your answer.

(I don't mean that to sound as harsh as it probably does.)

Maybe it's just Friday, but this post really made me laugh.:D

No rule dictates how a player must (or must not) begin a dribble. If a dribbler subsequently touches the ball with both hands, that ENDS the dribble. Perhaps that's what you're thinking of.

4-15-4(c)...
 

...(The dribble ends when:) The dribbler simultaneously touches the ball with both hands.

4-15-3 states how a dribble may be started, but doesn't specifically preclude a two-handed start. If a dribble can't start with two hands, then the so-called "power dribble" must be illegal.

What's the correct interpretation on this?

The "power dribble" is legal. There is no prohibition about how a dribble is started, as long as the ball is released before the pivot is picked up. One hand, two hands, behind the back, long toss...doesn't matter.

A dribble can't end until after it starts.

As you seem to be wanting to interpret it, almost any pass that is caught (which will be with two hands) would end a dribble and preclude any further dribble.