rules question

Question
The ball is being thrown in under our own basket.  It is tipped by one of our players and goes into the backcourt.  Is that a backcourt violation?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Jeff,

I"m assuming your team is the one inbounding the ball, so the answer to your questions is no this is not a backcourt violation. In fact, many times players inbounding the ball from the sideline will purposely inbound it to a player standing in the backcourt to get a way from the defense that is set up in the front court. The reason it's not a violation in both cases is because your team hasn't established "Team Control" of the ball until one of your players secures it in the front court. The Same rule would apply in a situation where one of your players shoots the ball at your basket, and while someone is trying to rebound it, it gets batted into the backcourt. Your players may go into the backcourt to retrieve the ball because once the ball is shot, you no longer have team control. I hope that clears it up for you.

Thanks for the question.