Odd Throw-in
 

This play happened to me in my last game of the season. I'll try to describe as best as I can.

Team B scored a basket. Team B coach called timeout (they were behind). Team A retains the right to run the endline on the throw-in. As we resume play, two Team A players were standing OOB: A1 next to me and A2 on the other side of the lane. At first, I did not know what was going on so I asked A2 standing OOB (the one farther from me) that he can't stay OOB and should go on the court. He reluctantly did so.

I blew my whistle, handed the ball to A1 for the throw-in. As soon as I handed the ball, A2 went OOB again. After about 2 secs on my count, A1 passed the ball to A2 and then A2 proceeded to throw-in the ball with no other issues. I let the play continue.

There was some defensive pressure on the back court, so after this whole episode happened, it finally occurred to me what Team A was doing. Sort of like a trick play to let the defense initially pressure A1 who ended up being a decoy. Not necessary for this play (imo) since there was no real man-to-man pressure on A1. Obviously something the coach drew up and wanted executed.

Is there a violation on this?

My initial thought was no (hence I didn't call anything) since this would be no different than had the timeout not been called - A1 picking up the ball after the basket, goes OOB then A2 asking for the ball to do the throw-in instead. I reasoned that since Team A retained "run the endline", this play was fine as well.

Of course there's no question that this is not legal if it were a spot throw-in, once the ball is at A1's disposal.

No violation, relatively common play.

A can run the endline or pass the ball behind the endline to another player.

Always listen to bob
 

NFHS Rules 7-5-7 a.

What about the first part of the OP scenario? What is the authority for having A2 step back onto the court before the throw-in gets underway? Is A2 considered to have left the court for an unauthorized reason, under NFHS 9-3-3? Intuitively, I think actuary77 handled it properly (and "preventively"), but I cannot find anything specific to this situation.

My only thing to add on this is I've seen teams try to execute this play when they had a spot throw in, which is a violation. If you aren't paying attention (which I wasn' the first time it happened) you will miss that. I didnt miss it the second time the did it.

You also have to watch for the defender breakng the plane and knocking the pass away. That would be a technical foul.

A2 (and A3 A4 and A5) are all allowed to be off the court (on the endline) during and before this type of throw-in.

Sadly I saw this play in my first Middle School game and called a violation. Consulted my partner but he agreed with me. Thankfully didn't have to whack the coach.

My questions (since there appear to be no case plays): is there a limit on the number of times the players can pass between each other? Can both players run the end line simultaneously?

As a general statement -- they can do anything they want, for 5 seconds.

All 5 players could do a Rockette chorus line. For 5 seconds, anyway.

Rule 7-5-7(a): "Any player...may pass the ball along the end line to a teammate(s) outside the boundary." The plural implies more than one teammate OOB and more than one pass. I missed this earlier.

Ok when a team starts doing the weave OOB I'll make sure not to call anything.....until their 5 seconds is up.

Actually, he was wrong. The rule requiring no teammate of the thrower to be out of bounds during the throw-in only applies to a designated-spot throw-in. There is a specific rule stating that a team may have more than one player OOB for an end line throw-in. He should have allowed Team A to set up as they desired.

Yes, I know now; bob jenkins and Rich pointed out earlier, and Rob1968 cited the rule, Rule 7-5-7(a), which I had missed before.