backcourt violations

Question
MR. PELOWSKI,

IF TEAM A HAS A THROW IN ON THE BASELINE UNDER THEIR BASKET IN THE FRONTCOURT AND WHILE THE BALL IS BEING PASSED IN TO A2 BY THE HALFCOURT DIVISION LINE IN THE FRONTCOURT, A2 TIPPS/TOUCHES THE BALL OFF HIS HAND IN THE FRONTCOURT AND THE BALL GOES INTO THE BACKCOURT AND A2 GOES INTO THE BACKCOURT AND IS THE FIRST PLAYER TO TOUCH THE BALL IN THE BACKCOURT, IS THIS A BACKCOURT VIOLATION ON TEAM A?.

THANKS,
DEE

Answer
This is similar to a rules interpretation example from the National Federation for High Schools:

SITUATION 5: A1 has the ball for an end-line throw-in in his/her frontcourt. A1抯 pass to A2, who is in the frontcourt standing near the division line, is high and deflects off A2抯 hand and goes into Team A抯 backcourt. A2 is then the first to control the ball in Team A抯 backcourt. RULING: Legal. There is no backcourt violation since player and team control had not yet been established in Team A抯 frontcourt before the ball went into Team A抯 backcourt. The throw-in ends when A2 legally touches the ball, but the backcourt count does not start until A2 gains control in his/her backcourt. (4-12-2d; 9-9)

The key is that team control must be established in th front court first, so your example is also legal.
This rule was changed several years ago and your example would have bee a violation then.

http://www.nfhs.org/content.aspx?id=6112  is my source for the current rule.