started a dribble?
 

I'll describe this thing as well as I can. Its something I see a few times during the year, but rarely see it called. Usually I see it in a varsity boys or JV boys game with very good players with quick hands.

A1 is holding the ball in a crowd but has it stripped, creating a loose ball. A1 tries to regain possession, but B1 swats the ball two quick times in his attempt to gain possession, each time with the ball bouncing on the floor. B1 then grasps the ball with both hands and begins to dribble toward his basket. I may be way off, but it seems our more seasoned officials will give B1 a pass for action during the scrum, not deeming the two swats as dribbles. How can this be justified?

ART. 1

A dribble is ball movement caused by a player in control who bats (intentionally strikes the ball with the hand(s)) or pushes the ball to the floor once or several times. It is not a part of a dribble when the ball touches a player's own backboard.

There is (or was; I forget whether it's still in there) some clause the the effect that "it is not a dribble when a player is batting the ball away from opponents"

The statement is found in the NFHS Case Book 4.15 COMMENT . . . "A player is not dribbling while slapping the ball during a jump, when a pass rebounds from his/her hand, when he/she fumbles, or when he/she bats a rebound or pass away from other players who are attempting to get it. The player is not in control under these conditions. . ."

It pays to watch the seasoned officials. They aren't always right, of course, but here they are.

Rob1968 already provided the rule reference.

The key in the rules is control; I'm not gonna consider the player to be in control until he grasps the ball with both hands and then begins a dribble.

What if there is a pass a player can't reach with both hands so the purposefully slap the ball down then catch it after a bounce. I have been considering thus a dribble. Would this not be because the haven't controlled the ball. I am not talking about a fumble.

A good test for what is control, which has often been mentioned here, is if, during this random batting of the ball, the coach asked for timeout, would you give it to him?

This is judgment, and it's not always black and white. If it's just a quick slap of the ball down and he catches it immediately, it's not likely a dribble in my game. You could judge it different, though.

Usually (93.5%) this is NOT a dribble -- despite all the players / coaches / fans who immediately scream "dead, dead, dead ..."

Please, remember that it is possible, to hold/control the ball with one hand. And 4-12-1 makes no rule stipulation that holding a live ball must be with both hands.

(I often catch the ball and hold it with one hand when a player passes it to me, to administer a throw-in, or free throw.)

I was referencing the OP where as described were two non-controlled slaps at the ball followed by gathering with two hands and starting a dribble. Obviously you can have control and dribble in other situations with just one hand.