Pivotal Moments

Here’s a simple question.

Can a player (A-1) while holding the ball, lift their pivot foot in the air and stand on one foot while holding the ball without dribbling, passing or shooting?   Hmmm.  Think about that for a moment.

Before you scroll down and we break this play down, what do YOU think?

As strange as this might look — a person pivoting with the ball, then lifts that pivot foot in the air — while standing on the non-pivot foot is perfectly legal.

While this may “look” like a traveling violation let’s take a “60 Second” review of the limitations of the pivot foot.  Here are some key points to remember.

A pivot takes place when a player steps once (or more than once) in any direction with one foot, while the stationary foot (the pivot foot) is kept at it’s place in contact with the floor.

• After ending a dribble or receiving the ball with both feet on the floor – a player can choose EITHER FOOT to be the pivot.  Once they lift a foot, the other becomes the pivot.
• If an airborne player receives the ball and lands on both feet – EITHER FOOT can be the pivot.
• If the airborne player receives the ball and one foot TOUCHES FIRST – that becomes the pivot foot.
• If a player receives the ball on one foot — jumps off that foot – and lands on two feet, NEITHER FOOT can be a pivot.  This is the “jump stop” scenario.
• When pivoting, the player is not permitted to SLIDE that foot.  Maintaining contact is not enough – it must be kept in it’s original place.
• For a dribble to be legal, it MUST be started (leave the dribblers hand) BEFORE the pivot loses contact with the floor.
• A pivot foot may be lifted (legally) PRIOR to the ball being released on a pass or try for goal.  But not a dribble!
• If a player jumps in the air (lifting pivot and non-pivot foot) they must release the ball (try or pass) before coming to the floor.
• A pivot foot can be lifted without penalty provided it’s not RETURNED to the floor while a player is still in control of the ball.   This is the strange one described in our scenario today.

While it’s perfectly legal to pivot using the foot, a player’s knee cannot touch the floor during this process; this would be ruled a traveling violation.  And a player that receives the ball while they are lying on the floor is not permitted to establish a pivot foot and stand up, unless they begin their dribble first.

Hopefully, you will be calm and confident in ruling on these pivotal moments in all future games..

Rule References
NFHS  4-33, 4-44

About the Author

Billy Martin

New Jersey (NJSIAA) State Basketball Rules Interpreter
IAABO South Jersey Board 196 Basketball Rules Interpreter
ACCSOA Soccer Cadet Supervisor
ECSU (NCAA) Softball Umpire Development Staff

Billy has over 40 years officiating / umpiring experience with basketball, soccer and fast-pitch softball in the Southern New Jersey area. As an IAABO member, rules interpreter, cadet instructor and supervisor of officials – has been refereeing basketball for 40 years and recently started officiating scholastic soccer for the Atlantic – Cape – Cumberland County Officials Association (ACCSOA).

Additionally he is an NCAA umpire for the Eastern Collegiate Softball Umpires Association (ECSU) as well as a scholastic umpire for West (NJ) Chapter 5.

In the business world, Billy has more than 30 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently with Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), the industry leader in Customer Relationship Management and marketing tools and now with Medidata / Dassault Systemes (medidata.com)

Billy holds a Master’s Degree in Education (MEd) specializing in Sports Medicine and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management.

He is also the co-author of four Amazon best-selling basketball officiating guides called, “Beyond the Rules” and the “GameTracker Journal.” Billy is also the co-founder of “60 Seconds on Officiating” a destination site for over 100,000 officials in 80 countries worldwide (ref60.com).

Billy resides in Wildwood, NJ and loves boating, fishing, and just about any activity that will leave sand between his toes.

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