The play described below is provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.
A-1 is attempting a throw-in to A-2. A-2 catches the pass with one foot clearly on the floor in frontcourt and the other foot in the air. A-2 then places the other foot down in backcourt.
Handle the situation.
This is a backcourt violation. When A-2 caught the ball, A-2 was in frontcourt since no part of A-2’s body was touching in backcourt. When A-2 placed the other foot down in backcourt, this gave the ball backcourt status. There is no exception to the backcourt rule that permits this.
The three point exception (ball and both feet in frontcourt) to the backcourt rule only applies to a player who is dribbling the ball. The airborne player exception only applies to a player who is airborne when the pass is caught.
(References: Rule 4-4-2, 9-9-1)
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