Proposal 67: Clarification of 15B.5.7 Ball on Floor [ Revision 3 ]
Committee: 15. BasketballSubmitted on 2025-07-10
Status: Passed on August 13, 2025
Background
Some parts of the Section were ambiguous.
Proposal
Old rule
15B.5.7 Ball on Floor
Any player may pick up a ball that is rolling or stopped on the ground. This can be dangerous, so care must be taken not to foul a player that is bent over to pick up the ball. If several players simultaneously try to pick up the ball and make contact, the usual rules about fouls apply. However, if a player not currently trying to pick up the ball is not leaving enough space to a bent player in the referee's judgement, a violation against the disrespectful player may be called. If the referee judges that no teams are able to pick up the ball, a jump ball situation occurs. A player may stop a rolling ball with their hand but shall not intentionally make the ball roll on the ground.
New rule
15B.5.7 Ball on Floor
A player may try to stop with their hand a ball that is rolling on the floor. If such an attempt makes the ball roll in another direction and/or makes the ball roll faster, intentionally or not, a violation shall be called. Furthermore, any contact by something other than the hands with a ball on the floor (rolling or stationary) is a violation if the ball changes velocity (stops, starts, or changes speed or direction).
A player may try to pick up a ball that is rolling or lying on the floor. If the ball is not lifted off during such an attempt, the action is judged as an attempt to stop the ball. If the referee judges that no teams are able to pick up the ball in a reasonable time, a jump ball situation may be called.
Picking up a ball can be dangerous for the player, so care must be taken not to foul a player that is bent over to pick up the ball. If several players simultaneously try to pick up the ball and make contact, the usual rules about fouls apply. When a player is attempting to pick up the ball, no other player shall enter the space occupied by the bent player. A violation may be called if such entry is deemed by the referee to compromise the bent player's safety, regardless of whether physical contact occurs. Additionally, a violation may be called if a player positions themselves or remains so close to the ball for an extended period of time that it obstructs or prevents all players from safely picking it up.
Body
No strong changes but many clarifications.
References
Discussion
View DiscussionChange Log:
- Revision 3 changed by David Ilcinkas (01 Aug 02:17)
Change proposed by Joshua Ehrlich in the discussion:
Additionally, a violation may be called if a player
who is not actively attempting to pick up the ballpositions themselves or remains so close to the ball for an extended period of time that it obstructs or prevents all players from safely picking it up.- Revision 2 changed by David Ilcinkas (31 Jul 14:52)
Following the discussion, the changes are:
- New sentence explicitly forbidding contacts between a ball on the foor and anything different from a hand.
- Small clarifications about the no-pick-up situations.
- Substantial changes around the violation for a player preventing other players to safely pick up the ball.
- Revision 1 changed by David Ilcinkas (10 Jul 10:28)
Votes on this proposal:
7 out of 9 voting members have voted.
Agree: 7, Disagree: 0, Abstain: 0.