Top of Backboard, Illegal Screen, Backcourt

                  A reader writes the following questions:

QUESTION:  The top of the backboard......if the ball hits there after a shot,

pass, or deflection does it still remain in play?  Or, is it considered out of

bounds?

ANSWER:  Under all codes, a ball hitting the top of the backboard (as well as the sides and bottom) is considered as "in play."  However, if the ball goes OVER the top or touches any of the supporting braces above or behind the backboard, it is considered to be out of bounds.

QUESTION:  In pickup basketball it is not uncommon for an offensive player to pick off a player from the free throw line all the way to the basket. This seems to me to be a foul since if it were permissible, there might be no way to guard your man.

ANSWER:  This one sounds like your buddies are coming straight from a pick up football game on to the basketball court!  Here we have one of the fundamental differences between basketball and football.  In football, an offensive player can go "head hunting" and pick off defenders so the ball carrier can advance or the QB can be protected.  They call it "blocking" when it's done legally.  But in basketball, it is entirely different.  An offensive player cannot go "head hunting" like that.  He is permitted to set a screen in which he must be "set" (or, in position) prior to contact with the screened player.  It is illegal for him to extend his arms, legs or torso to "pick off" the defender.  It is also illegal to "move to maintain the screen" (or, "ride") the screened player down the lane (or anywhere else for that matter).  In addition, if approaching from the rear or "blind side," the screener must be set early enough to provide some space (usually one step) for the screened player to avoid the screen. This is where the terms "illegal screen" and "moving screen" come into play.  Hope this helps clarify things for you.

QUESTION:  If defensive player B-1 deflects a pass in the front court and it glances off the leg of offensive player A-1 and then goes into the backcourt, is it a "back court violation?"

ANSWER: It depends on what happens next.  If anyone from team B (defensive team) is the first to touch it in the backcourt, there is no violation.  If anyone from team A (offensive team) is first to touch it in the backcourt, it is a "back court violation" on team A for "being the first to touch a ball in the backcourt after it was caused by team A to go into the backcourt."  Even though the impetus for the ball going into the backcourt was the result of an action by a player (B-1) from the defensive team, the fact that it hit the leg of an offensive player before going into backcourt means it was "caused" (by definition) to go there by team A.

Do you have a question?  Have you seen a play you didn't understand?   Was there

a controversy you'd like clarified?  Send your questions in and I'll do my best to get you an answer.

                                                            Skip Yutzler

                                                         IAABO Board 127

                             36 Years High School and Junior College Official

                            5 Times NY State HS Championships - Glens Falls

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