Interrupted Dribble

jdmara

I was just working my way through the run book and came upon this gem. I can't wrap my mind around its purpose/meaning/intent/etc.

NFHS 4-15-5-D wrote
ART. 6 . . . During an interrupted dribble:
...
d. Out-of-bounds violation does not apply on the player involved in the
interrupted dribble.

It's been a long Tuesday already and this rule is confusing the heck out of me. What is it saying?! Thanks ladies and gentleman

-Josh

grunewar

Could it be referring to this Note? 9-3-1

SECTION 3 OUT OF BOUNDS ART. 1 . . . A player shall not cause the ball to go out of bounds.

NOTE: The dribbler has committed a violation if he/she steps on or outside a boundary, even though he/she is not touching the ball while he/she is out of bounds.

Back In The Saddle

I have long contended that 4-15-5-D needs to be more clearly worded. But grunewar is correct, I believe. My understanding is that 4-15-5-D refers specifically to the violation in 9-3-1 Note. As Camron Rust pointed out in another thread, the "dribbler" stepping OOB is not a violation if it occurs during an interrupted dribble.

bob jenkins

grunewar wrote
Could it be referring to this Note? 9-3-1

SECTION 3 OUT OF BOUNDS ART. 1 . . . A player shall not cause the ball to go out of bounds.

NOTE: The dribbler has committed a violation if he/she steps on or outside a boundary, even though he/she is not touching the ball while he/she is out of bounds.

That's it. The rule was added about 10-12 years ago, when it was pointed out that lots of things "stopped" during an interrupted dribble, but that the "OOB while dribbling" rule didn't. Someone didn't think this was fair, so the exception was added.

jdmara

wow...I never would have put those together at all. Perhaps they should make it a case play to better illustrate that idea. (A case play noted as 9.15.5.d not 9.3.1.note 😉)

-Josh