Traveling (basketball) - Clarifications

Clarifications

• It is impossible to travel while dribbling. The height of the dribble or number of steps taken per dribble is irrelevant.
• It is impossible to travel during a throw-in. While there are space restrictions for a throw-in, the thrower is not required to maintain a pivot foot or observe any of the other restrictions of the traveling rule. A referee who signals traveling on a throw-in violation is in error.
• A player must have control of the ball to travel. For instance, a player who bobbles a pass may well take several steps legally—the traveling rule is not in effect until he has secured control of the ball.
• A player who dives and catches a loose ball on the floor may legally slide as far as his momentum carries him. This is not a travel. However, once he stops he may not roll over or attempt to stand.
• Lifting the pivot foot alone does not constitute a travel; a player may pass, shoot, or request a timeout in that position. It is a travel once the foot is returned to the floor, or if a dribble is started.
• In the NBA, 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. However, according to High School (NFHS) and College (NCAA) rules, there is no traveling violation as long as the official judges it to be an attempted shot.