Basketball Rules question (backcourt violation) (1 Viewer)

[TLEF316]

So this morning in my basketball league, a sort of strange play happened. The other team was inbounding the ball underneath their offensive basket (I believe one of our players had just blocked one of their shots out of bounds). They throw the ball in bounds (in the front court), but the pass is a little wild and its pretty clear the intended recipient wont catch it cleanly. So he proceeds to purposely tap the ball away from his defender into the back court where one of his teammates recovers possession.

Obviously you are allowed to throw the ball directly into the backcourt on an inbounds play like this. But in this situation, the player purposely tapped ball back over the line in order to retain possession.  Technically, 2nd player never had clear possession of the ball (which is why the ref eventually decided that the play was fine) but it was very obviously an intentional attempt to tap the ball to an open teammate.

I'm thinking the ref (who I've known for basically my entire life and knows his stuff) was probably correct to allow the other team to keep possession but this just seemed really odd. Is it strictly a judgement call on when the 2nd player officially has possession (then making the tap a "pass" and a backcourt violation) or can any obviously intentional play on the ball be enough to trigger the violation?

edit: after the game, the ref compared it to a rebound being tapped into the back court. Even on an intentional tap, that's obviously ok. However, since the ball was being inbounded, my argument was that they had team control (as opposed to a rebound, which is up for grabs) so it isn't the same thing.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Yeah, the key is team control. Once the ball is thrown in, neither team has control of the ball.

Where it might have been a violation is where the player who eventually took control of the ball was standing and moving.  If he was still crossing mid court when grabbing the ball, or still in the middle of the jump that started in the front court, then it's a backcourt violation.  But if he eventual receiver got both feet established in the backcourt before touching the ball, play on, start the backcourt count, and the shot clock.

 

[Short Corner]

Three things need to happen for a back court violation. Theviolating team must (1)be the last team to possess the ball in the front court; (2) be the last team to touch the ball in the front court; and (3) be the first yeah to touch the ball in the back court. A controlled tip cannot establish possession off a rebound, throw in, or loose ball. 

 

[Short Corner]

Yeah, the key is team control. Once the ball is thrown in, neither team has control of the ball.

Where it might have been a violation is where the player who eventually took control of the ball was standing and moving.  If he was still crossing mid court when grabbing the ball, or still in the middle of the jump that started in the front court, then it's a backcourt violation.  But if he eventual receiver got both feet established in the backcourt before touching the ball, play on, start the backcourt count, and the shot clock.

On a throw in you don't have to get your feet established.  He can be in the front court, leave his feet, catch the ball, and then land in the back court.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

On a throw in you don't have to get your feet established.  He can be in the front court, leave his feet, catch the ball, and then land in the back court.

Is there a recent case book PDF or such available online walking through that play? Curious if the answer is dependent on level of play and geography.

 

[Short Corner]

Is there a recent case book PDF or such available online walking through that play? Curious if the answer is dependent on level of play and geography.

On mobile right now I'll look for one later. 

 

[Chemical X]

I believe it has to do with ball control establishment.