When it comes to the rules of basketball it can be very confusing, for example, the rules of the NBA are different from the rules of the NCAA and the rules of FIBA. Each has its differences in its rules that can make it confusing. To add to that pickup basketball has its own set rules depending on what court you play. One such rule that has everyone disagreeing on the basketball court is if you are allowed to catch your own air-ball…
Can you rebound your own air-ball in basketball? In the NBA you can not rebound your own airball, this would be considered a travel violation. Though in high school, NCAA, and FIBA ruled leagues you may rebound your own airball as long as it was a shot attempt. This will be the judgment call for the official to make. In pickup basketball most often the rule may or may not allow for a player to rebound their own airball depending on what court you are playing on. This can be the cause of many arguments.
So, this rule will be further examined, and once and for all it will be put to rest. There will be no more second-guessing any longer, the hardest part will be to convince your competition.
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Rebounding your own Air Ball rule myths
This is one of the most misunderstood rules in basketball. Even on the internet where you can find the answers to almost everything, it’s actually wrong. The internet always wins, I guess not with this rule. Many people think that as long as it is a shot attempt or looks like a legitimate shot attempt then your exempt from a violation being called and you and you’re free to grab your own rebound. This is only half true.
Let’s take a look at the most popular leagues and their rule books and see what they have to say.
The NBA plays by their own set of rules, and it basically states in their rule book that no player should attempt to rebound their own shot if it has not touched the backboard, rim, or a player. This would be a violation and a turnover in possession.
Section XIII—Traveling
f. A player who attempts a field goal may not be the first to touch the ball if it fails to touch the backboard, basket ring or another player.
So the NBA does not allow you to rebound your own airball.
I have this wall of text and I apologize but nowhere in the rules says you can’t rebound your own airball. This will allow you to do so, but realistically no one is thinking of missing a shot entirely on purpose in order to gain an advantage on their second shot to make the basket.
Much like high school the rules are the same in fact, you are able to shoot the shot airball it and even it is in the air you can catch it before it hits the ground and it is still considered a shot attempt. This is considered a new shot possession and you means you can dribble or shoot again.
Section 6. Traveling
Art. 1. A player shall not travel with the ball.
Art. 2. Traveling occurs when a player holding the ball moves a foot or both feet
in any direction in excess of prescribed limits described in this section.
Art. 3. A player who catches the ball with both feet on the playing court may
pivot, using either foot. When one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot foot.
Art. 4. A player who catches the ball while moving or ends a dribble may stop
and establish a pivot foot as follows:
a. When both feet are off the playing court and the player lands:
1. Simultaneously on both feet, either may be the pivot foot;
2. On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch shall be the
pivot foot;
3. On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land
on both, in which case neither foot can be the pivot foot.
b. When one foot is on the playing court:
1. That foot shall be the pivot foot when the other foot touches in a step;
2. The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both, in
which case neither foot can then be the pivot foot.
Art. 5. After coming to a stop and establishing the pivot foot:
a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the playing court, before
the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
b. The pivot foot shall not be lifted before the ball is released to start a
dribble.
Art. 6. After coming to a stop when neither foot can be the pivot foot:
a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the playing
court, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal;
b. Neither foot shall be lifted, before the ball is released, to start a dribble.
Art. 7. It is traveling when a player falls to the playing court while holding the
ball without maintaining a pivot foot.
In college basketball, the rule allows you to airball your own missed shot.
These rules are the same as per high school and college basketball and again allow for you to retrieve your own airball before anyone else does.
15.1.2 The act of shooting on a shot:
• Begins when the player starts, in the judgement of a referee, to move the ball
upwards towards the opponents’ basket.
• Ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s), or if an entirely new act of
shooting is made and, in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to
the floor.
15.1.3 The act of shooting in a continuous movement on drives to the basket or other moving
shots:
• Begins when the ball has come to rest in the player’s hand(s), upon completion
of a dribble or a catch in the air and the player starts, in the judgment of the
referee, the shooting motion preceding the release of the ball for a field goal.
• Ends when the ball has left the player’s hand(s), or if an entirely new act of
shooting is made and, in case of an airborne shooter, both feet have returned to
the floor.
FIBA rules also allow you to rebound your own missed shot.
Rebounding your own Airball in pick up basketball
This rule alone is the cause of arguments, fights, and wasted time. It happens often enough that you would think that someone would get it right. But think about it’s like this. Someone shoots an airball recovers their shot and then scores. Now depending on what team you are on you will either say the basket is legal or isn’t legal or side with the person arguing for your team’s benefit.
Players either play one way or another with this ruling but most often than not most have no idea what the actual rule is. Are you playing NBA rules or College rules or a mixture of both? A pickup game is much like an NBA game if you ask me when it comes to non-calls for certain rules. A pickup game would allow for someone to intentionally shoot an airball on purpose in order to win the game.
Can you Rebound your own missed shot off the backboard?
Yes, In high school, FIBA and NCAA. But in the NBA it can not be intentional unless you immediately go back to layup or dunk etc. Check out below.
Is it an airball if it hits the net?
In the NBA it would be an airball if it only hit the net, in all other leagues it would be legal as long as it was a legitimate shot that was taken approved by the referee. This approval is usually a no-call.
Are air balls turnovers?
When they do happen Air balls are in fact turnovers, they are travels in the rule book that is a violation that results in a change of possession to the opposing team.