January_February_2024_Sportorials

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January/February 2024

Frontcourt/Backcourt Status When you read the word “status” in the headline, it’s not about the type of suit you wear, car you drive, position you hold at your business or home you own. We are talking about frontcourt/backcourt status, and some of the tricky situations you might encounter that fluster you while officiating basketball. One happened to me in a varsity girls’ game recently. The offensive team advanced the ball quickly. The ball-handler had the ball and both feet in the frontcourt. She stopped. A teammate jumped from the backcourt and received a pass while in midair from the player in the frontcourt. Quick, what’s your ruling? Reading through that, you probably correctly got the answer and ruled an “over and back” violation. That’s what I did in the game, and the coach of the offensive team decided I was wrong. He quickly chewed on me. I quickly responded while getting ready to put the ball in play, “Frontcourt possession was established by your girl having both feet and the ball in the frontcourt. Your other player left the floor from the backcourt and she received the pass, so her last established position was in the backcourt. Over and back.” That’s the gist of it, anyway. The coach flapped a bit more, wanting to challenge the ruling, while I put the ball in play and moved on. Bang, bang plays like this are tough. You must know the rule. You must understand frontcourt and backcourt status. And, you must make an instantaneous decision correctly. Rule 9, Article 1 states, “A player shall not be the first to touch the ball after it has been in team control in the frontcourt, if the player or a teammate last touched or was touched by the ball in the frontcourt before it went to the backcourt.” Though that’s a bit wordy, in essence it is telling you that a teammate in the backcourt cannot be the first to touch a ball after their team had control of the ball and was the last to touch the ball in the frontcourt. This clearly applied to our example above. Let’s take another situation that occurred in the same game. The offensive team has a throw-in along the endline in the frontcourt. The throw-in pass is launched towards the backcourt and one of their players leaps from the frontcourt, touches the ball, then scrambles to the backcourt to recover it. Violation or not? This is a simple play if you know the rule. No violation. There has been no frontcourt status established. The ball would have to have been caught in the frontcourt by an offensive player with one or both feet on the floor, then muffed into the backcourt, where the offensive team was the first to touch the ball for it to be a backcourt violation. Let’s take one more example to complicate things. Pay close attention. The offensive team is dribbling and 1) crosses the division line and touches the frontcourt with the ball and both feet, 2) crosses the division line and touches the frontcourt with the ball and one foot, while one foot remains on the floor in the backcourt. In each situation the player with the ball throws a flip behind the back pass Pete Maravich-style to their teammate in the backcourt. What do you have? In (1) it is a backcourt violation as frontcourt status was achieved before the ball was returned to a teammate in the backcourt. In (2), it is a legal play because frontcourt status was not obtained (one foot remained on the floor in the backcourt). Remember: status. What’s the status? Has frontcourt status been established? If so, and the ball is sent by the offensive team into the backcourt where a teammate is the first to touch it, then you have a backcourt violation.

Hall High School Girls’ Basketball Team Assists in Fight against Cancer

“Love this Book” – IAABO Rules Guide I read the preface to the “Rules Guide” section of the book and understand that the NFHS publications are the definitive source on the rules. I found the rules presentation with supporting case plays in the handbook very useful. These make for easier reading and quick rules refresher augmenting NFHS publications. The handbook is invaluable as a source for quick review in game preparation. Over the years the IAABO book presented a reprint of the NFHS rules and case book. I find this handbook a significant upgrade of that approach and applaud all who participated in its preparation and publication. I have been officiating high school basketball since 1984. Love this book. Thank you. Ron Brann Member board 255, Cardinal Basketball Officials Association The Hall High School Girls’ Basketball Team from West Hartford, CT, donated $1,500 to the annual Officials’ vs. Cancer campaign. Their donation demonstrates their commitment to making a positive impact beyond the basketball. IAABO Board No. 6, Central Connecticut, presented representatives from the school with an award from the Officials vs. Cancer campaign. This was a meaningful gesture that highlights the importance of community involvement and collaboration in the fight against cancer. It’s inspiring to see athletes and officials come together to support such a worthy cause. Their efforts not only raise awareness about cancer prevention and research but also foster a sense of unity and compassion within the basketball community. Left to right:: Wil Nunez (FR Coach), Moira Honyotski (JV Coach), Rick Bush (Varsity Assistant), Head Coach Ernestine Faienza (with plaque), Central Connecticut Board #6 President Ryan Nowobilski, Central Connecticut Board #6 Officials Versus Cancer Committee Chair Bill McKernan. Good Afternoon, I wanted to comment on the handbook, great!

Dave Simon has been an IAABO member since 1984. He currently resides in Merton, WI, and just finished his fourth year of observing high school officials in southeast Wisconsin.