#34 Double Dribble??
QUESTION: A group of us were having a debate about a double dribble call that occurred during my son's summer league game. The player was dribbling the ball with his right hand and went to perform a cross-over dribble. In the process, the ball hit the player's own lower thigh above the knee while it was on its way to the floor. The player recovered the dribble. At no time did another player touch the ball. The referee called double dribble. Is this a valid call?
Some felt that if the knee were a hand then it would be the same as dribbling with two hands and thus a double dribble. The other line of thought was that it would be treated like an unintentional kick and ignored. What is the correct call. Thanks for the help.
ANSWER: I couldn't telling from the wording, so let's look at some of the likely possibilities. Start with understanding that the ONLY way a referee can call a "double dribble" is if he thought that the original dribble had "ended" and a new dribble had begun.
By your description, "the player recovered the dribble." If you mean that he CAUGHT the ball, then the first dribble ended there and that should have been the end of it......NO double dribble. Only if he then dribbled again (after the catch.....) could it be a double dribble.
If you mean that the ball hit (grazed??) his thigh and continued on to the floor and the player continued his dribble, then the original dribble did not end, in spite of the "grazing" of his leg. That player would be entitled to keep dribbling. NO double dribble.
But there's also the possibility that when the ball "hit the player's own thigh....." the referee determined that the ball came to rest, or was trapped momentarily. If that were the case, the decision could have been "the dribble ended...." in what the official judged to be an attempt to catch the ball which was a "fumble" (perfectly legal....) In that case, there would be NO double dribble if the player then caught the ball. But, as above, it would be a violation if, after the "fumble," the player then began another dribble.
It certainly wouldn't be easy to sort out because it probably occurred in the blink of an eye. But, IF the official had a reasonable view of the play and IF he had a little experience and poise, he would "chew on his whistle" for a fraction of a second to see what happened rather than arbitrarily blowing his whistle because it "looked bad...." He would not allow reactions from the crowd or the opposing coach to influence him. He would try to weigh the play in terms of "advantage/disadvantage" before electing to interrupt the flow of the game for a violation.
Do you have a question? Have you seen a play you didn't understand? Was there a controversy you'd like clarified? Send your questions in and I'll do my best to get you an answer.
Skip Yutzler
IAABO Board 127
35 Years High School and Junior College Official
5 Times NY State HS Championships - Glens Falls
