Bobbled pass
 

I have seen numerous veteran officials call a travel when a player bobbles a pass. I want to confirm that this play is NOT a travel. A player, by definition of the rule, cannot travel without possession of the ball. Yes, it looks funny. But its simply not a travel, correct?

Correct.

And all kinds of things are called travels that are not. Until a player possesses the ball, a travel is not possible.

I once had a coach, after I didn't call a travel in a situation like this where a player bobbled the ball, ask me if a player could go the entire length of the court like that. I said, "Absolutely." He looked at me dumbfounded. I then added, "As long as he isn't purposefully batting the ball to himself." He seemed slightly less confused, but no less miffed.

YEs
 

[QUOTE=drofficial;818115]I have seen numerous veteran officials call a travel when a player bobbles a pass.QUOTE]

+1

Is this because it is sometimes difficult to see both the footwork and the possession at the same time?

Too many from the "if it looks funny it must be illegal" camp.

More likely due to the fact that not all veterans know the rules.

And this is why they say travels aren't called in the League. The best of the best simply do not guess on iffy plays.

NBA:
Do they miss some? Sure.
Do they call travels that didnt occur? Very rarely.

Lower levels:
Do they miss some? Yes.
Do they call travels that didnt occur? Yes.

The feet moving in excess of the prescribed limits isnt the only deciding factor in adjudicating the travel play... gotta know what the status of the ball is as well.

From The Files Of The Mythbusters ...
 

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6230/6...473e048e_m.jpg

During a fumble the player is not in control of the ball, and therefore, cannot be called for a traveling violation. A fumble is the accidental loss of player control when the ball is unintentionally dropped or slips from a player’s grasp.

I'm with you all the way on this. Funny looking moves or crowd reactions "won't put air in their whistles" . They know the rules inside and out. Check out this NBA ref(under basket) on this move by Lebron with the whole Boston bench going crazy. He knows he is right and doesn't get rattled. Love his hand motion at 0:14.

LeBron James' jump stop/"travel" against the Boston Celtics in Game 2, 2010 Playoffs - YouTube

Nice video of a good jump stop.

To a coach, it doesn't look funny both ways, though.

A player can fumble...dribble....fumble,
but cannot dribble...fumble....dribble.

When actually the opposite is true: If it looks funny it is most likely legal.

MTD, Sr.