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.