Confusing Basketball Rules

There are a few rules that are misinterpreted all the time by players playing in open gyms and playgrounds across the country. I would like to take the time to set some of these straight in hopes of removing a few arguments from the game.

1. Kicked Ball: Just because the basketball touches a players leg does not automatically mean that is a kicked ball. The player must intentionally use his leg to deflect or gain control of the basketball for the other team to gain or retain posession. Throwing the ball of the other players leg is not a kicked ball.

2. Backboard Out of Bounds: If the basketballball touches the top or side of the the backboard it is not out of bounds. Only if the ball touches the back side of the backboard or if it goes up and over the top of the backboard is it out of bounds.

3. Continuation: Unless you are playing with NBA rules, if a player has not yet begun his or her shooting motion then if that player is found they cannot follow through and continue to make a basket. If a player is fouled and it looks like the have begun to shoot the back, only then can a subsequent basket be counted. (In the NBA, they have a continuation rule which does not pertain to most leisure players, unless the are planning on getting drafted soon).

4. Blocked Shot Traveling Call: If a player goes up for a shot and gets blocked and comes back down with both players holding on to the basketball, that is not traveling it is a jump ball (usually played with alternating posessions).