Backcourt violation or not?
 

A1 dribbles the ball in the backcourt. A1 passes the ball to A2 who receives the ball in the air and lands with one foot in the backcourt and one in the frontcourt. A2 passes the ball to A3 who is in the backcourt. Is this a backcourt violation? Why or why not?

There's not enough information given to know whether there's a violation or not.

A1 has BC status.
A2 has BC status when he lands.
A3 has BC status.

To determine whether we have a violation, we would need to know whether A2 jumped from the front court or the back court. That is the only possibility of a violation occurring.

Which Foot Where and When?
 

If your situation said "one foot in the backcourt THEN one foot in the frontcourt", then NO. Because . . .

If it said "one foot in the frontcourt THEN one foot in the backcourt," then YES. Because . . .

If it said "one foot in the backcourt and one in the frontcourt SIMULTANEOUSLY," then NO. Because . . .

(This all assumes the pass recipient was in the frontcourt before jumping and landing on his feet, which is, I think, where you're coming from. If not, then it's a whole different kettle of fish. If fish are really ever found in kettles.)

. . . of Rule 9-9 and 4-4-1,2 and related Casebook citations. Check those out and see if you'd agree.

Backcourt violation
 

Ok. What if ...

A2 was in the backcourt and landed straddling the midcourt line?
A2 was straddling the midcourt line, jumped to receive ball and landed straddling the midcourt line?
A2 was in the frontcourt and landed straddling the midcourt line?

Are there different answers for each of these situations where A2 receives the pass from A1 who is in the backcourt and subsequently passes to A3 who is in the backcourt?

None of that matters. The only thing that matters is whether A2 jumped from the FC or BC.

Errata
 

Correct. But my edited post didn't go through until your response, as quick and as correct as it was. Then again, I'm up way past my bedtime, so I hereby hold myself not responsible for the accuracy of this post.

Criteria for backcourt violation

1. Team control (and initial player control when coming from a throw-in)
2. Ball gains frontcourt status
3. Team in control is the last to touch the ball before the ball gains a backcourt status.
4. Team in control is the first to touch the ball after the ball gains a backcourt status.

Team control is establish by holding or dribbling a live ball (including a throw-in). Team control continues while a team is passing the ball and only ends when there's a try, the ball becomes dead or the other team gains possession of the ball.

The other important part, which seems to be the part you're confused about is player and ball location. The ball has the same status as the player when it touches or is control by a player. The ball is considered in the frontcourt when it touches anything in the frontcourt (player, floor, or official). The ball is considered in the frontcourt when a dribbler has both feet and the ball in the front court (3 points rule is only for a dribbler).

A player is considered in the backcourt when any part of his person is touching the backcourt including the division line. An airborne player maintains the same status/location as he/she had when he/she left the court until the player lands again. So a player jumping from the frontcourt to the backcourt is still considered in the frontcourt until the player lands.

A2 was in the backcourt and landed straddling the midcourt line?
If he jumps from the BC, catches the ball and lands with his FC foot first and then with the BC, violation. BC first, then FC, no violation because he never has FC status.

A2 was straddling the midcourt line, jumped to receive ball and landed straddling the midcourt line?
This play is no different than the first one. Whether straddling the line or standing in the BC, the player has BC status. You need to understand that to rule on these plays.

A2 was in the frontcourt and landed straddling the midcourt line?
BC violation.

Are there different answers for each of these situations where A2 receives the pass from A1 who is in the backcourt and subsequently passes to A3 who is in the backcourt?
No. That's only an issue if A2 passes the ball while airborne from the FC.

A1 has basketball in backcourt. Passes the ball in the direction of A2, who jumps off of both feet from the frontcourt.

While in the air he/she (a) lets the ball bounce off his chest or (b) muffs the pass. Neither time did A2 control the basketball.

Do you have a over-and-back violation?

You have a back court violation in both situations if the ball ends up in the back court (or touches any team A player). The ball gains front court status when it touches A2 who still has FC status while airborne. A2 does not have to have player control for this to be a violation. You do not actually have a BC violation until a team A player touches it before any team B player.

It depends on what happens next. If the ball is then next touched by A after regaining backcourt status, then yes, it's a backcourt violation. But the ball going to the backcourt again is not in itself a violation.

Isn't it about time for somebody to post a backcourt quiz???

I thought we'd been having one. It's just in slow motion.

A2's (PLAYER) control of the basketball in the FC is ONLY an issue if the action is a direct result of a throw-in.

In all "normal play" situations, TEAM CONTROL and the ball reaching the FC is all that's needed (well, that and the ball going to the BC and last-to-touch first-to-touch requirements).

Thanks. I thought control might be the issue here, but its actually just the touching.

Backcourt violation as soon as the ball makes contact with A2 once he lands in the backcourt after leaping into the air and last touching the court with both feet in frontcourt.