Basketball Instruction/Violation ???

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Expert: - 7/15/2008


Question
Hi Bret.... Recently I was playing ball at the local YMCA... adults... pick-up... nothing serious.  A situation came up that was confusing, and I was wondering if you could answer it.

A player dribbled down the court... stopped at the top of the key and held the ball in two hands.  He went to pass, but a defender cut off the lane.  The ball slipped from his hands... went a foot or two... bounced on the ground.  He grabbed it.  

Can a player do that?  Can he dribble... stop... then lose the ball and go and regain it again?  No one else touched the ball.  Isn't that a violation?

Thanks... Fred Krough

Answer
Hi Fred,

If I am understanding you propely, it sounds like he went to pass the ball, and realized his pass was probably going to get picked off and "lost the handle" on the ball. Technically, if a player "Loses the Handle" on the ball, they can legally retrieve the ball without a traveling or double dribble violation being called. So in answer to your question, what he did was legal. Now if a player was dribblig the ball, and lets say was about to lose it "Out of Bounds" and passed the ball to himself to save it; that would be a violation, basically passing to yourself. I hope that makes sense and I answered your question.

Good Luck.

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Bret Temple

Expertise

My expertise is in the art of Officiating Basketball and I can answer questions pertaining to basketball rules; youth level through CIF High School, NCAA college and NBA rules as well. I can either help define a specific rule for you, or interpret a specific rule to clarify how other officials and I view and call the game.

Experience

I have been a Basketball Official now for over 19 years, officiating at all levels. I have attended numerous training camps throughout the years in an attempt to constantly become a better official. I have been evaluated by top Officiating organizations and I've had the honor of being selected to officiate at the highest levels including former Division 1 College and NBA players.

Organizations
NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) CBOA (California Basketball Officials Association)

Education/Credentials
El Sorrino Officials Association Accreditation CIF Certified(California Interscholastic Federation) WCPBL(West Coast Professional Baskeball League) The NBA Developmental League training

Past/Present Clients
Los Angeles City Parks and Recreation, Calabasas Basketball League, Calabasas Semi-Pro Men's League, AYBA California Interscholatic Federation, ARC League , (WCPBL)West Coast Professional Basketball League, Gary Grant Youth Basketball Program

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