Article 30
Ball returned to the backcourt
An airborne player retains the same status relative to the court as where the player has last touched the court before being airborne. When a player jumps from the frontcourt and gains a new team control of the ball while still airborne, the player may then land with the ball anywhere on the court. The player may not pass the ball to a team-mate in the backcourt before landing.
A1 in the backcourt passes the ball to A2 in the frontcourt. B1 jumps from the frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands
This is not a backcourt violation by team B. B1 established a new team B control of the ball while airborne and may land anywhere on the court. In all cases, B1 is legally in the backcourt.
During the opening jump ball between A1 and B1, the ball is legally tapped. A2 jumps from the frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands
This is not a backcourt violation by A2. A2 established the first team A control of the ball while airborne and may land anywhere on the court. In all cases, A2 is legally in the backcourt.
Thrower-in A1 in the frontcourt passes the ball to A2. A2 jumps from the frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands
This is a backcourt violation by team A. Thrower-in A1 established team A control of the ball in the frontcourt before A2 caught the ball while airborne and landed in the backcourt.
Thrower-in A1 in the backcourt passes the ball to A2. B1 jumps from the frontcourt and catches the ball while airborne. Before landing in the backcourt, B1 passes the ball to B2 in the backcourt.
This is a backcourt violation by team B. When B1 jumps from the frontcourt and gains a new team control while airborne B1 may land anywhere on the court. However, B1 may not pass the ball to a team-mate in the backcourt.
During the opening jump ball between A1 and B1, the ball is legally tapped to A2 in the frontcourt. A2 jumps, catches the ball while airborne and before landing passes the ball to A1 in the backcourt.
This is a backcourt violation by team A. While airborne, A2 may land with the ball in the hands in the backcourt but A2 may not pass the ball to a teammate in the backcourt.
A live ball is illegally returned to the backcourt when a team A player who is completely in the frontcourt causes the ball to touch the backcourt, after which a team A player is the first to touch the ball either in the frontcourt or the backcourt. However, it is legal when a team A player in the backcourt causes the ball to touch the frontcourt, after which a team A player is the first to touch the ball, either in the frontcourt or in the backcourt.
A1 and A2 are both standing with both feet in their frontcourt close to the centre line. A1 bounce-passes the ball to A2. During the pass, the ball touches the team A backcourt, after which the ball touches A2 in the frontcourt.
This is a backcourt violation by team A.
A1 standing with both feet in the backcourt close to the centre line bouncepasses the ball to A2 who is also standing with both feet in the backcourt close to the centre line. During the pass, the ball touches the team A frontcourt before A2 touches it.
This is not a backcourt violation by team A as no team A player with the ball was in the frontcourt. However, the 8-second period shall be stopped when the ball touched the team A frontcourt. A new 8-second period shall start as soon as A2 touches the ball in the backcourt.
A1 in the backcourt passes the ball towards the frontcourt. The ball touches a referee standing on the court straddling the centre line. A2 still in the backcourt touches the ball.
This is not a backcourt violation by team A as no team A player had control of the ball in the frontcourt. However, the 8-second period shall be stopped when the ball touched the referee straddling the centre line. A new 8-second period shall start as soon as A2 touches the ball in the backcourt.
Team A is in control of the ball in its frontcourt when the ball is simultaneously touched by A1 and B1. The ball then goes into the team A backcourt where A2 is the first to touch it.
This is a backcourt violation by team A.
A1 dribbles from the backcourt to the frontcourt. A1 with both feet in the frontcourt still dribbles in the backcourt. The ball then touches A1’s leg and bounces into the backcourt where A2 starts a dribble.
This is a legal play by team A. A1 has not yet established control of the ball in the frontcourt.
A1 in the backcourt passes the ball to A2 in the frontcourt. A2 touches but does not control the ball, which returns to A1 still in the backcourt.
This is a legal play by team A. A2 has not yet established control of the ball in the frontcourt.
Thrower-in A1 in the frontcourt passes the ball to A2. A2 jumps from the frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands on the court with the left foot in the frontcourt and with the right foot still in the air. A2 then puts the right foot into the backcourt.
This is a backcourt violation by team A. Thrower-in A1 had already established team A control in the frontcourt.
A1 dribbles in the frontcourt close to the centre line when B1 taps the ball into the team A backcourt. A1 with both feet still in the frontcourt continues to dribble in the backcourt.
This is a legal play by team A. A1 was not the last player touching the ball in the frontcourt. A1 could even continue to dribble completely into the backcourt with a new 8-second period.
A1 in the backcourt passes the ball to A2. A2 jumps from the frontcourt, catches the ball while airborne and lands
In all cases, this is a backcourt violation by team A. A2 established team A control in its frontcourt while airborne.
A1 in the backcourt passes the ball to A2 who is close to the centre line in the frontcourt. A2 catches the ball with 1 foot on the floor in the frontcourt and the other foot in the air. A2 then places the other foot in the backcourt.
This is a legal play by team A. A2 gains control of a live ball in the frontcourt but does not touch the frontcourt with both feet.