In each issue, The Coaches’ Clipboard will look at one aspect of the game and how it is officiated.  Our answers will be supplied by Al Haynes, the representative to Basketball BC for the BC Basketball Officials Association (BCBOA), and approved by Bill Denny, the Rules Interpreter for the BCBOA.

Al Haynes

Question: Explain the differences between NCAA rules and FIBA rules concerning in-bounding the ball from the front court and the ball being passed into the backcourt.

Answer: In NCAA rules there is no center line during throw-ins from anywhere on the floor. Not so in FIBA. The center line remains and so a throw-in from anywhere in the front court cannot enter the back court and be touched by the offense. It is a violation.

This restriction does not apply if the ball is in-bounded at center court under special circumstances. These are when starting a new period; or following free throws for technical, unsporting, or disqualifying fouls; AND in the final two minutes of the fourth period and any overtime periods when a team is granted a time-out following a goal scored against them.

Question:  If a player dribbles the ball over the mid-court line and then back into the backcourt, but his/her feet do not enter the front court; is this a violation under FIBA rules? Explain.

Answer:     The player with the ball establishes front court status once the BALL or EITHER foot touches the front court. Now the player must continue into the front court; bringing the ball or the foot back constitutes a violation. NCAA has the “three points” to be in the front court (ball and both feet) whereas FIBA is first point over; all over.