Be the Referee: Backcourt Violation?

January 31, 2019

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains an often misunderstood backcourt/frontcourt basketball scenario. 

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Backcourt Violation? - Listen

Let’s test your knowledge of high school basketball rules with this you make the call:

During a jump ball, a throw-in or while on defense, a player jumps from the forecourt, secures control of the ball with both feet in the air, and returns to the floor with one or both feet in the backcourt. You make the call.

Is this a backcourt violation or does play continue? In this situation, a player may make a normal landing on the floor without regard to where his or her feet come down. It makes no difference whether the first foot down is in the frontcourt or the backcourt. There is no backcourt – or what some would call an over-and-back – violation, and play continues with a fresh 10-second count applied if necessary to advance the ball into the frontcourt.

Past editions

January 24: Required Hockey Equipment - Listen
January 17: You Make the Call: 10-Second Clock - Listen
January 10: Tripping in Hockey - Listen
January 3: Sliding in Basketball - Listen
December 27: Stalling in Wrestling - Listen
December 20: Basketball: You Make the Call - Listen
December 13: Basketball Uniform Safety - Listen
December 6: Coaching Box Expansion - Listen
November 29: Video Review, Part 2 - Listen
November 22: Video Review, Part 1 - Listen
November 15: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
November 8: 7-Person Football Crews - Listen
November 1: Overtime Differences - Listen
October 25: Trickery & Communication - Listen
October 18: Punts & Missed Field Goals - Listen
October 11: What Officials Don't Do - Listen
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen

Be the Referee: Libero

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 17, 2024

Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Below is this week's segment – Libero - Listen

In volleyball, a libero is a defensive player who plays in the back row. It’s a fairly new position, as it was introduced in 1998 – and the libero plays by some unique rules:

► The libero wears a different color jersey from the rest of the team – so they are easily identifiable. Only one libero can be designated for each set of a match.

► The libero can serve, but can't perform an overhead set in front of the attack line, or complete an attack if the ball is above the net.

► The libero is never allowed to rotate to the front line.

► The libero is the first line of defense, often passing to the setter and covering open spaces.

► The libero can be replaced without restriction – but in the event of an injury, can only be replaced by the player the libero originally replaced.

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen

PHOTO Livonia Franklin libero Mckenna Moore (1) defends during her team's match against Livonia Churchill this season. (Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)