BASKETBALL RULE MYTHS

A PLAYER MAY NOT BE IN HER/HER KEY FOR MORE THAN 3 SECONDS

1) The 3-second count does not start until the ball is in the frontcourt.

2) There is no 3-second count between the release of a shot and the control of a rebound, at which time a new count starts.

3 )A 3-second count can not be started until after the throw-in is completed.

4) A 3-second count can not be started nor can a count that is underway continue when the ball is loose and not under the control of a player in their frontcourt.

5) Often times a 3-second violation will not be called unless the offending player or his/her team gained an unfair advantage by the player being in they key for more than 3-seconds. 

THE PLAYER WHO LAST TOUCHED THE BALL BEFORE RUNNING OUT OF BOUNDS MAY NOT BE THE FIRST PLAYER TO TOUCH THE BALL WHEN HE/SHE RETURNS TO THE COURT

A player who saves a ball from going out of bounds (not a dribbler) and who’s momentum carries him/her out of bounds can be the first player to touch the ball when he/she returns to the court.

“OVER THE BACK” IS A FOUL

There is no such foul/violation.There must be contact resulting in advantage/disadvantage, in which case a pushing foul most likely occurred.

“REACHING IN” IS A FOUL

There is no such foul/violation. There must be contact and the player with the ball must have been placed at a disadvantage.

A PLAYER MAY NOT RECOVER HIS/HER OWN FUMBLED BALL

A player can always recover his/her fumbled ball; a fumble is not a dribble, and any steps taken during recovery are not traveling, regardless of progress made and/or advantage gained! (Running while fumbling is not traveling!)

TRAVELING (HIGH DRIBBLE)

There is no limit on how high a dribbled ball may bounce, or how many steps a player can take between bounces, as long as the player’s hand remains on the top of the ball and the ball does not come to rest in the player’s hands. It is not possible for a player to travel while dribbling.

KICKING THE BALL IS A VIOLATION

In order for a violation to be called, the kick must be an intentional act. It does not matter how far the ball went or who recovers it.

A PLAYER MAY NOT REBOUND HIS/HER OWN AIRBALL

It is legal for a player to rebound his/her own air ball, provided the official deemed the shot a legitimate shot.

SLAPPING THE BALL HANDLER’S HAND IS A FOUL

While the ball is in a players hand(s), the hand(s) are part of the ball. A defender striking the ball handler or shooter on his/her hand, while making a play on the ball is not a foul, no matter how loud a sound is made or how much it hurts!

THE TOP OF THE BACKBOARD IS OUT OF BOUNDS

The sides, top, and bottom of a rectangular backboard are IN BOUNDS. However, a ball may not pass over the top a rectangular backboard (from either side).

NEITHER JUMPER MAY GRAB THE BALL UNTIL THE BALL HAS BEEN TOUCHED BY A NON-JUMPER

As soon as a tapped ball has either (1) touched the floor, (2) touched a player other than a jumper, or (3) touched a backboard, the jump ball has ended, and either jumper may recover it.

A “MOVING SCREEN” IS ILLEGAL

There is no such foul/violation. A "moving screen" isn't a violation unless there is contact, in which case it is a block or a push depending of the situation.

CONTACT IS ALWAYS A FOUL and/or BASKETBALL IS A NON-CONTACT SPORT

Basketball is not a “contact sport” when it’s compared to football, but incidental contact does occur and is permitted by the rules.  Contact between players which does not create an advantage/disadvantage may be ignored, even if that contact is severe.

A DEFENSIVE PLAYER MUST BE STATIONARY TO TAKE A CHARGE

A defensive player does not have to be stationary to take a charge within his/her vertical plane; he/she can be moving backward or sideways and may even have one or both feet in the air when the contact occurs. A player can duck or turn to absorb the contact. The player must simply have established a legal guarding position before the contact occurred.

A DEFENDER MUST GIVE THE DRIBBLER A STEP TO AVOID CONTACT:

A defender does not have to “give the dribbler a step” as long as legal guarding position has been established; it is up to the dribbler to avoid contact. The person with the ball should expect to be guarded.  Time and distance are not relevant when establishing a legal guarding position.

WHEN STARTING A DRIBBLE, IT IS OKAY TO LIFT THE PIVOT FOOT AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT TOUCH THE COURT AGAIN BEFORE THE BALL HITS THE FLOOR

It is a traveling violation for a player to lift the pivot foot before starting a dribble. However, when passing, or shooting the ball, lifting the pivot foot does not constitute a travel unless the player returns the pivot foot to the court while still holding the ball.

WHEN INBOUNING THE BALL, A PLAYER MUST REMAIN STATIONARY

(1) When inbounding a ball after a made basket, a player is allowed to move along the entire length of the baseline and may throw the ball in from any spot along the baseline that he/she desires.

(2) During a designated spot throw-in (any throw-in other than after a made basket), the inbounding player may move side-to-side and may throw the ball is as long as one foot remains touching or over a 3-foot wide box that is centered where the player is standing when they receive the ball from the official. The player may move forward to the very edge of the court.The player may move back as far as space permits.