Referees often face challenging situations during games that require them to put their rule knowledge and decision-making skills to the test. Despite their best efforts, they may occasionally make mistakes. Consider a scenario where the game is in full swing, and there's a loose ball scrambling down the court. In a split second, a player dives for the ball, putting their body on the line. The intensity of the moment is palpable, and the pressure is on for referees to make the right call.
If the player manages to clutch the ball, their momentum may send them sliding on their belly, back, or tumbling over a few times before coming to a halt. However, it is important to note that none of these movements would be considered traveling, as long as the player maintains possession of the ball and does not take more than two steps before passing it to a teammate. Referees must be well-versed in the rules of the game to make the appropriate call in such situations.
Here's the lowdown for everyone on the court and those watching: players are free to dive, slide, and roll to their heart's content after snagging a loose ball, as long as all that motion is thanks to their initial dash.
The moment they stop, if they're lying on their back, they can sit up, pass, shoot, or even call for a timeout. Haven't dribbled yet? They're clear to start dribbling right then and there. But try to stand up without dribbling, and that's where we draw the line — unless, of course, they're on their stomach, in which case, flipping over is off the table too.
The gist is, that it's perfectly fine for a player's own steam to send them sliding or rolling after they've got the ball while down on the floor. However, it's exactly at this juncture that the pressure ramps up, with calls for traveling from the crowd. But jumping the gun with a traveling call? That's not in any official's playbook. Why slap a penalty on a player who's just put in a power play to secure the ball?
Let's set the record straight: sliding across the floor, even if it's a good 25 feet, as long as its momentum doing its thing, isn't traveling. It might not look pretty, but it's by the book.
Once a player's momentum fizzles out, and they've stopped sliding or rolling, standing up or rolling over without kicking off a dribble first is a no-go.
But here's a kicker — a player can start dribbling while getting up without it being called traveling. Lying flat? They can sit up and either take a shot or make a pass. Just remember, dropping the ball to stand up quickly and grabbing it again is a textbook traveling call.
In the case where a player grabs the ball with both knees on the ground, they're in the clear to pass, shoot, attempt a goal, or signal for a timeout. They can even start dribbling and get to their feet — all legal moves. But, if they try to lift one knee, place a foot down, and then lift the other in an attempt to stand, that's when the whistle blows for traveling.
In essence, trying to stand up is seen as trying to snag an advantage from a disadvantaged position. If you're down on both knees, you've got a buffet of options: pass, shoot, dribble, or call for a timeout. Need to leverage one foot off the ground for a more powerful pass? Be careful, as that could be interpreted as trying to gain an unfair edge — it's all about maintaining the balance of play without giving anyone an unwarranted advantage.
Below are some examples:
Clarified Basketball Situations and Rulings
Situation A : Player A1 tries to catch a swiftly moving ball, fumbling initially but eventually securing it before it hits the ground. A1 then starts dribbling, taking several steps in the process. Ruling: No violation has occurred as long as A1 releases the ball to start the dribble before lifting the pivot foot.
Situation B : After ending a dribble, A1 attempts a shot that misses the backboard, rim, and other players, then catches the ball before it touches the ground. Ruling: This is not considered traveling. A1 is allowed to dribble, pass, or shoot again since team control was not established with the initial shot attempt.
Situation A : While dribbling, A1 catches the ball with one foot down, then jumps and lands on both feet either side-by-side or one in front of the other. Ruling: The key is landing on both feet simultaneously. Any pivot on one foot after such a landing constitutes a violation.
Situation B : A1 and A2, both airborne, catch a rebound together and land at the same time. They shuffle their feet while deciding possession before realizing they are teammates. A1 lets go, and A2 dribbles away. Ruling: This is legal. There's no violation since their pivot foot did not move while they shared control of the ball.
Situation A : A1 jumps for a shot. B1 jumps and interferes by slapping the ball, touching it without stopping the shot, or causing A1 to land with the ball. Ruling: The play remains active in scenarios (a) and (b). Scenario (c) is a traveling violation, and (d) is a violation for starting a dribble without the pivot foot on the floor.
Situation B: A1 receives the ball mid-air and lands on both feet without designating a pivot foot, then attempts a shot or starts a dribble. Ruling: This is traveling since starting a dribble requires one foot to be considered the pivot, which must remain on the floor.
Situation C : A1 fakes a move with one pivot foot raised. Ruling: No traveling occurs unless A1 starts a dribble or returns the pivot foot to the floor. A1 may pass, shoot, or call a timeout in this position.
Situation D : (a) A1 passes the ball between hands while maintaining pivot foot contact with the floor; (b) A1 throws the ball over an opponent's head, then catches it without it touching anything. Ruling: Scenario (a) is legal, but (b) constitutes a traveling violation since the ball was not dribbled or did not contact anything before being caught.
Situation A : A1 falls holding the ball or after jumping to catch a pass or rebound. Ruling: Both scenarios are considered traveling.
Situation B : A1 dives for a loose ball, gaining control while sliding. Ruling: A1 may pass, shoot, start a dribble, or call a timeout without committing a violation. Any attempt to stand or roll over without dribbling is traveling.
Situation C : While dribbling, A1 drops to one knee on the floor, then either ends the dribble or continues dribbling while standing up again. Ruling: Both actions are legal, but if A1's knee touches the ground while holding the ball, it's considered traveling.
Situation D : A1 secures the ball with one knee on the floor. Ruling: A1 can stand up without committing a traveling violation only if starting a dribble first. Otherwise, attempting to stand up with the ball is a violation, though passing, shooting, or calling a timeout is allowed.
Comentários