Jump Ball - Movement Prior to Touch
 

Can I please get a 'rule' reference, whereby the during the jump-ball scenario, any non-jumper may not 'move' ( i.e. mantain their spot) until 'after' the ball has been touched by either/both jumpers?

I know that you cannot come into the center circle prior to the ball being touched, yet I had not found this reference about the movement prior to the ball being touched.

Assistance is appreciated.

You won't find such a rule reference.

Yet Another Reason To Completely Do Away With Jump Balls ...
 

Agree. Because it's not a rule.

I hate it when the referee states, "Don't move", or, "Hold your spots", before tossing the ball.

Any nonjumper can move off the circle at any time; before, during, or after, the referee is ready to toss; before, during, or after, the toss; before, during, or after, the tip. Anytime. All day long. All night long. No violation. No penalty. Never. Ever.

Why would a referee want to state, "Don't move", or, "Hold your spots", before tossing the ball? Stupid referee.

6-3 Jump Ball Adminstration ...
 

ART. 1 For any jump ball, each jumper shall have both feet within that half
of the center restraining circle which is farther from his/her basket.

ART. 2 When the official is ready and until the ball is tossed, nonjumpers
shall not:
a. Move onto the center restraining circle.
b. Change position around the center restraining circle.

ART. 3 Teammates may not occupy adjacent positions around the center
restraining circle if an opponent indicates a desire for one of these positions
before the referee is ready to toss the ball.

ART. 4 The ball shall be tossed upward between the jumpers in a plane at
right angles to the sidelines. The toss shall be to a height greater than either of
them can jump so that it will drop between them.

ART. 5 Until the tossed ball is touched by one or both jumpers, nonjumpers
shall not:
a. Have either foot break the plane of the center restraining circle cylinder.
b. Take a position in any occupied space.

ART. 6 The tossed ball must be touched by one or both of the jumpers after
it reaches its highest point. If the ball contacts the floor without being touched by
at least one of the jumpers, the referee shall toss it again.

ART. 7 Neither jumper shall:
a. Touch the tossed ball before it reaches its highest point.
b. Leave the center restraining circle until the ball has been touched.
c. Catch the jump ball.
d. Touch the ball more than twice.

ART. 8 The jump ball and the restrictions in 6-3-7 end when the touched
ball contacts one of the eight nonjumpers, an official, the floor, a basket or
backboard.

NOTE: During a jump ball, a jumper is not required to face his/her own basket, provided
he/she is in the proper half of the center restraining circle. The jumper is also not required
to jump and attempt to touch the tossed ball. However, if neither jumper touches the ball
it should be tossed again with both jumpers being ordered to jump and try to touch the
ball.

Thanks for the replies. To be clear, prior to and during the 'jump ball' toss (referee tossing and jumper(s) touch) any and all of the non-jumpers can also move around at will w/o penalty?

Also, is the 3 feet behind a player OR a players must be side-to-side also a non-rule ?

Just checking on these 'tried and true' statements?

No Ocupado ...
 

Legal only into a non-occupied space.

The Longest Yard ...
 

This is an actual rule, similar to the three foot area behind a free throw lane space.

Help ...
 

I can't find the rule? What happened to it?

And only once the ball has been tossed.

Found It ...
 

6.3.2 SITUATION: The referee is ready to toss the ball to start the game. (a) A1
who was on the center restraining circle backs off; (b) B1 moves onto the
restraining circle into an unoccupied spot; (c) B2 moves off the circle and goes
behind A2 and is within 3 feet of the circle; or (d) B3 moves off the circle about
5 feet and moves around behind A3 and A4 who are occupying spaces on the
circle. RULING: Legal in (a) and (d), but a violation in both (b) and (c). Moving
off the restraining circle in (a), and around the circle when more than 3 feet away
as in (d), is permissible. It is a violation to move onto the circle as in (b), until the
ball leaves the official’s hand, or into an occupied space as in (c), until the ball is
touched. The violation by B results in a throw-in for Team A. (4-3)

Fire Up The Flux Capacitor ...
 

How Many Of Us Know All These Rules Like The Back Of Our Hands ???
 

Excellent point.

No. No one can move to a new spot on the circle (defined to be within 3 feet of the circle). If they are away from the circle, they can't come up to it. If they are on the circle, they can move off the circle but they can't move to a new spot on the circle.
A player can't be within 3 feet of the circle and be behind another player on the circle.

Because if the players don't move then the official doesn't need to worry about whether they moved on or off or around and whether it was before the ball was tossed or touched.

Our rules interpreter when I was trained recommended stating "Hold your spots around the circle" prior to the toss for a couple of reasons:

It allows for the officials to address ART. 3 if necessary
"Teammates may not occupy adjacent positions around the center restraining circle if an opponent indicates a desire for one of these positions before the referee is ready to toss the ball."

It serves as an indication to the players that the official is ready and therefore:
"until the ball is tossed, nonjumpers shall not:
a. Move onto the center restraining circle.
b. Change position around the center restraining circle."
and
"until the tossed ball is touched by one or both jumpers, nonjumpers
shall not:
a. Have either foot break the plane of the center restraining circle cylinder.
b. Take a position in any occupied space."

If a player moves legally, for example, backing directly out from the circle without entering an occupied space, the official would carry on as no violation has occured. The official is also not saying for how long the player must hold their spot. It is up to the player to know the rule if they desire to move. A player located off of the center circle could "hold their spot" for a half second as an indication that they do not desire to move onto the center circle, and the continue to move legally.

As for stating "Don't move" ... I can't defend that one. But I do like "Hold your spots around the circle" as a simple game administration technique. It is also the standard practice in my association.