Basketball Rules Question

perryj74

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I was broadcasting some high school basketball this weekend and had a play happen that I have never seen happen before. A player had the ball directly under the basket and "shot" it back up through the hoop and it came straight back down and in. The officials said no basket and at first I agreed with them. Now I'm wondering why that isn't a legal basket?
 
That was my initial thought as well but after thinking about it I wonder why. It isn't like any part of the rim is out of bounds and the ball clearly went entirely up through the hoop, clearing it by at least a full ball, before falling back through.
 
I would think that would be illegal.

You're right, it is. The rules states that the ball has to enter the basket from above the rim. What PerryJ described is a violation and the ball is awarded out of bounds to the opposing team.

Here's a better explanation:

The NCAA and FIBA see it as a violation.

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This is addressed for the FIBA in its rule book under "THE GAME": Rule 1, Article 16, 2.4


RULE ONE – THE GAME

Art. 16 Goal: When made and its value

16.2.4 If a player causes the entire ball to pass through the basket from below, it is a violation.

The FIBA's definition and handling of violations.


RULE FIVE - VIOLATIONS

Art. 22 Violations

22.1 Definition - A violation is an infraction of the rules.

22.2 Penalty - The ball shall be awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at the place nearest to the infraction

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This is addressed for the NCAA in its rule book under "VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES": Rule 9, Section 6


RULE 9 - VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

Section 6. Travel, Kick, Fist, Through Basket from Below

A player shall not travel or run with the ball, intentionally kick it, strike it with the fist or cause it to pass through the basket and enter the cylinder from below.

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This is addressed for the NBA in its rule book under "PUTTING BALL IN PLAY - LIVE/DEAD BALL": Rule 6, Section I, e(2).
 
Thanks Ada. Good to see the officials got it right.

It's an interesting question, PerryJ. I knew the answer, but went online to find something I could post with my comments.

If you'll Google the topic, you'll see that there is a great deal of confusion about the legality of a shot that passes through the goal from below the rim first. One thought was that if it hits the backboard and then comes back through, it's legal.

Even if it was not clearly stated in the rules, common sense would dictate that when a try for goal enters from below the rim first, it cannot be legal. Not that common sense always rules in basketball. Everyone who is a student of the game knows that's not true. :ez-laugh:
 
I"ve got one for you guys. ESPN showed a HS girls game where a girl attempted a 3/4 court shot at the end of a quarter. The ball bounced once inside the 3pt line before passing through the hoop. Is that considered a 3pt basket or a 2pt basket?
 
Now the question is was that what the player was trying to do or was it an accident? :ez-laugh:
 
I"ve got one for you guys. ESPN showed a HS girls game where a girl attempted a 3/4 court shot at the end of a quarter. The ball bounced once inside the 3pt line before passing through the hoop. Is that considered a 3pt basket or a 2pt basket?
I would say a 3pt because the player was behind the 3pt line when she released the ball. I saw that too by the way, that was crazy I have never seen anything like that.
 
I"ve got one for you guys. ESPN showed a HS girls game where a girl attempted a 3/4 court shot at the end of a quarter. The ball bounced once inside the 3pt line before passing through the hoop. Is that considered a 3pt basket or a 2pt basket?
I saw that on HLN the other day & they said the refs gave her 3, but on further update (see link in link) it should've only been a 2. Here's the vid:

http://www.usatodayhss.com/news/article/high-school-girls-basketball-player-makes-full-court-bounce-shot-video
 
Wow! I never even heard of a shot like that.

Counting it as a two does make sense. It was shot (actually passed) from three point range, but became a try for two when it touched the floor inside the arc. That is definitely one for the rules experts.
 
If the clock hits zero after the player shoots it but before it bounces on the floor, does the basket count?
 
If the clock hits zero after the player shoots it but before it bounces on the floor, does the basket count?

No, the play would be dead once the ball hits the ground.
 
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