Even the Rules of the Game Have Fundamentals

The NFHS high school rule book provides 20 basketball rules fundamentals. I've decided to highlight a few rules fundamentals that should help in understanding why some calls do, and do not occur.

1. "While the ball remains live, a loose ball always remains in control of the team whose player last had control, unless it is a try or tap for goal." I highlighted unless it is a try or tap for goal because most players, coaches, and fans scream about three-second violation calls. A three-second violation can only occur when the offensive team is in control of the ball in their front court. Once a player releases a shot for a goal, no player cannot be in violation of the three-second rule because no team is in control of the ball.
2. "'Continuous motion' applies both to tries and taps for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by the defense during the interval which begins when the habitual trying or tapping movement starts and ends when the ball is clearly in flight." Rule 4-10-2 defines how the rule of continuous motion as, "If an opponent fouls after a player has started a try for goal, he is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight." This is often called "continuation" in basketball jargon, and is often thought to be a NBA rule. As you can see, even in high school, players are allowed to complete their shot attempts if they began a shot attempt before being fouled.
3. "A ball which touches the front face or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds, except that when the ball touches the thrower's backboard, it does not constitute a part of a dribble." So long as a ball does not go over the top of the backboard, or touch an apparatus that supports the backboard, the ball remains in play. Many younger players will hesitate when a ball hits the top of the backboard because they believe the ball is out of bounds.

Theses are only three of the 20 fundamentals found in the rules of high school basketball. Yet, I find that I hear many misunderstandings about these rules.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about the rules of the game.