8 Rules You Might Not Know

1. . A ball cannot legally travel over the top of a rectangular backboard — but it MAY travel behind it (legally). The top of the backboard is considered inbounds and only becomes a violation if the ball passes over it.
2. A high dribble is always legal provided the dribbler’s hand stays on top of the ball, and the ball does not come to rest in the dribblers’ hand.
3. A ten-second count continues after a defender tips or bats the ball away from the dribbler in the backcourt. Don’t forget to keep counting!
4. All intentional fouls carry a penalty of two free-throws except on an unsuccessful 3-pt try, where three free-throws are awarded. Don’t forget the offended team is also awarded the ball for an ensuing throw-in at the spot nearest to the intentional foul.
5. When an airborne shooter commits a player-control foul their successful try for goal can NEVER be counted — regardless if released before or after the foul occurred. The only exception would be in the case of a “double-foul” (aka blarge) whereas the goal may be scored if successful.
6. Lifting the pivot foot does not constitute a travel unless the ball handler returns the pivot foot to the floor prior to passing or a try for goal. The pivot foot cannot be legally lifted before the dribble is started as this is a traveling violation.
7. The “traveling rule” is NOT in effect during a throw-in. If a player does not maintain one foot over the designated spot area (3 feet in width) the result is a “throw-in violation” and not traveling. But they can move sideways within this prescribed limit and backward as far as they wish.
8. A three-second (lane) violation can occur when the ball is batted away from the team in control or they temporarily lose control on their own. If players remain in the lane area during a loose ball it’s quite possible to rule a violation. The team who was last in control is still considered to be in control, until there is a change of status — such as the defense gains control or the ball becomes dead.

Keep these eight obscure rules in the back of your head during your next scholastic contest and you will be on top of your game.

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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