Possession of Ball to Travel?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Well, according to NFHS 9-4 a player shall not intentionally kick the ball.

According to NFHS 4-29, kicking is intentionally striking the ball with any part of the leg or foot.

If a player attempts to control the ball with his/her leg or foot that would seem to be an intentional act, so...

Travel = no. Kicked ball = yes. That pretty much renders the time out & control portions of the question moot.

Securing the ball and striking it seem, to me, to be opposites.

If the ball went from no control to being between legs, I've still got no control.

If the ball was controlled, and a player put the ball between his legs (and was not being defended) so he could free his hands to call time out, I'm thinking we should not pick nits and give him the time out.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Securing the ball and striking it seem, to me, to be opposites.

If the ball went from no control to being between legs, I've still got no control.

If the ball was controlled, and a player put the ball between his legs (and was not being defended) so he could free his hands to call time out, I'm thinking we should not pick nits and give him the time out.

Then there’s this: one non-basketball definition of “strike” = come into contact forcefully. To hold a ball between his/her legs – especially when standing – a player would have to apply some level of force.

Also, there’s the first line in the NFHS definition of player control (4-12-1): A player is in control of the ball when he/she is holding or dribbling a live ball. Holding implies using one’s hands or arms. You really can’t “hold” something with your legs or feet.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

You really can’t “hold” something with your legs or feet.

Try telling that to a rock climber. Just don't tell him while he's in the middle of a climb.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Then there’s this: one non-basketball definition of “strike” = come into contact forcefully. To hold a ball between his/her legs – especially when standing – a player would have to apply some level of force.

Also, there’s the first line in the NFHS definition of player control (4-12-1): A player is in control of the ball when he/she is holding or dribbling a live ball. Holding implies using one’s hands or arms. You really can’t “hold” something with your legs or feet.

If we're talking generic terms and not basketball terms, I see no reason why you couldn't hold something with legs or feet any more than you could with hands or arms. Elbows and knees are kind of equivalent here.

Not insisting I'm right here at all. Just saying this version of trying to talk me out of it didn't work.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

If we're talking generic terms and not basketball terms, I see no reason why you couldn't hold something with legs or feet any more than you could with hands or arms. Elbows and knees are kind of equivalent here.

Not insisting I'm right here at all. Just saying this version of trying to talk me out of it didn't work.

I agree with you.

The ball is meant to be played with the hands. The deliberate use of the legs/feet to hold, deflect, manipulate, etc. the ball is not consistent with the game. Even if there isn't anything spelled out in the rules about it, I think it is pretty say to say that it is not legal to grip the ball between your feet/legs.