jump ball restrictions

[so cal lurker]

NFHS rules.

Having a very tall center, my son's 8th grade team runs a play on jump balls with a player cutting to get to an open space for a long tip. The player does not line up on the circle, but stays at 5-10' off the circle. They've had a lot of success on this. In a recent game, however, a refere called a violation, ruling that he was not allowed to move until the ball was tipped.

That's wrong, isn't it? Inlooking in the book, I can only find a restriction on movements by the players on the restraining circle, whihc is what I always thought the rule was. (And am I right that "on" the restraining circle means within 3'? I thought that was the rule, but don't see it.) And if it really is a violation, I'd love a reference -- I'm still finding the book a PITA to find stuff in as I get used to it . . .

I'm not too worried about a one-off mis-call (and if we have that ref, we'll just to it his way), but if we're teaching a play that is properly a violation, we should change it.

[Raymond]

The official was run in that case...assuming the player was not lined up within 3' of the circle.

[bob jenkins]

Heck, even if the player is on the circle (and, yes, that means 3'), the player can leave at any time (as long as the player does not move around the circle, or into an occupied space -- the legality of those types of movements depends on the specifics and the timing relative to the toss / touch). If the player leaves too early, it might cause the R to stop the administration and re-set, though.

[Adam]

Not a violation, but as you saw, sometimes officials think everyone has to stay still.

[BigCat]

see rule 6 for restrictions. when referee ready to toss non numbers can't come ONTO circle or change positions around it until tossed. also, non jumpers can't take position in occupied spot on circle until ball tapped--or break plane of the circle. as Bob said, a player can always leave the circle.

[so cal lurker]

Thx all! And I did learn something -- I thought (from back in my playing days) that you couldn't leave the circle either.

[Freddy]

"OK everyone, keep your spots."

Grrrrrrrrrr.

[crosscountry55]

Just about everyone on this post has been correct.

Spelling, on the other hen, leaves a cot to be desired.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

"OK everyone, keep your spots."

Things Officials Should Probably Not Be Saying In A Game

Calvin Coolidge once said, "The things I did not say never hurt me." Of course, he was not talking about basketball, but many officials would be smart to heed his sage advice as they communicate with coaches, and players.

Good communication skills are important tools to have on any official’s tool belt. Good communication with a partner, with a player, or with a coach, can go a long way to maintaining control of the game, having good game management, and having a smooth game. Sometimes this communication takes place in oral form, talking to players, or coaches, in some cases to explain a ruling, or in other cases to prevent a violation, or a foul. However, probably for reasons of tradition, there have been things that officials often, or sometimes, say during a game that do not have any basis in the rules, and should probably not be said in a game. This article will cover some of those “best left unsaid” statements.

"Hold your spots", said by the referee, or tosser, before the jump ball, is only rule based for some of the players. One exception to this rule, and there are others, is that players on the jump ball circle can move off the jump ball circle at any time: before the toss, during the toss, or after the toss.

"You can't stand behind him”, stated by the referee, or the umpire, before a jump ball, to a player who is directly behind an opponent, both whom are ten feet off the jump ball circle, is not rule based. The rule that players can’t stand behind, within three feet, of an opponent, only applies to players on, and within three feet of, the jump ball circle. Players farther back than that can stand wherever they want, as long as they get to that spot first.

Finally, a thought by Will Rogers, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”