What is the backcourt in basketball
The backcourt consists of one particular half of the basketball court that could contain one or more members of a current defensive team, who would primarily protect their basket to prevent the opposing team from scoring points.
However, if the previous defensive team becomes the current offensive team, then the backcourt for that same offensive team would also be the opposite half of the basketball court that is not presently occupied by the current defensive team.
What is an example of the general backcourt process
To provide an example of the general backcourt process, let’s say that there are two teams, indicated as Team A and Team B respectively, who are currently involved in a 5-on-5 full court basketball game.
From that point, let’s say that Team A is initially implementing a basketball offense strategy such as the 4 out 1 in motion offense and at the same time, Team B is currently executing basketball defense such as the man to man system while also occupying their own backcourt.
Next, Team A takes a jump shot which results in a made basket. Following that, Team B would then be able to gain possession of the ball, which would also convert them into the new offensive team.
Furthermore, since Team B received the ball while being on the same side that they were previously defending, they would still be in their backcourt but as an offensive team instead of a defensive one.
Moreover, as that occurs, Team A, who just scored points on Team B, has converted into a defensive team and would more than likely permit at least one or more of their own team members to run to the other side of the court, which would be Team A’s backcourt, mainly to protect the basket.
From there, Team B would be able to advance the basketball from their offensive backcourt into Team A’s defensive backcourt, primarily by dribbling or passing it.
It should also be stated that any time an offensive team moves into the backcourt of a defensive team, that side of the court would be known as the offensive team’s frontcourt as well.
So, in reference to this example, when Team B gains possession of the ball, if they are able to advance it into Team A’s backcourt, that same area would also be Team B’s frontcourt.
Moreover, as a side note, it should be mentioned that Team B could have gained possession of the basketball adjacent to their own backcourt, in several possible ways as opposed to Team A exclusively scoring points.
So, for the first possibility, if Team A misses the jump shot or misses another type of field goal attempt, then Team B could receive the ball in their backcourt, primarily by way of a defensive rebound.
For the second possibility, if Team B throws the ball out of bounds near their frontcourt baseline or frontcourt sideline, then this would result in a turnover for Team B and subsequent offensive possession for Team A.
Following that, Team A could execute an inbound pass near their own backcourt’s baseline or sideline.
For the third possibility, if Team A steals the ball from Team B (which would also result in a live-ball turnover from Team B), then Team A would become the new offensive team but they would still be initially in their own backcourt.
From there, Team A could advance the ball into their offensive frontcourt, which would also be Team B’s defensive backcourt.
As a fourth possibility, if Team B receives a violation such as a charging foul in their frontcourt, then it would result in a turnover and offensive possession for Team A.
Once that occurs, Team A could inbound the basketball near their backcourt and then advance it into their own frontcourt, which again, would also be Team B’s defensive backcourt.
Additionally, as a side note, for this example, when Team B converts to the new offensive team, especially during live play, this is generally known as transition offense.
Similarly, when Team A no longer has possession of the basketball after scoring points or otherwise during live play, this is commonly referred to as transition defense.
Which basketball positions are also known as the backcourt
In terms of basketball positions, the point guard and shooting guard are also known as the backcourt.
Offensively, those particular players would typically advance the ball by dribbling it or passing it from their own backcourt area to their frontcourt area, which would also be the defensive team’s backcourt area as well.
Defensively, the point guard and shooting guard are usually the fastest players on the court and would generally be the first players to run towards their defensive backcourt to protect the basket during transition defense.
What is the standard backcourt violation in basketball
The backcourt violation, sometimes called an over and back violation, occurs when a certain player of an offensive team gains control of the basketball in the frontcourt, which also creates frontcourt status for the ball, but then that same player or another offensive player makes contact with the backcourt while the ball still has frontcourt status.
It should be noted as well that frontcourt status typically occurs when both feet of an offensive player are in the frontcourt while also in possession of the basketball.
When that happens, that same player as well as that player’s teammates cannot make contact with their backcourt while in possession of the basketball as that would be a backcourt violation.
Related: 4 Basketball RULES You ALWAYS Get WRONG – Backcourt – YouTube
For example, if an offensive player jumps in the air in their team’s frontcourt, receives the ball mid-air while it is initially in the backcourt, and lands in their own backcourt, then that would be a violation.
Basically, when a player jumps into the air, they will retain their same frontcourt or backcourt condition prior to making contact with the ground.
So, for this case, when the offensive player jumps into the air while in the frontcourt and receives the ball mid-air, this means that the ball has now achieved frontcourt status because that was the last condition for the offensive player that would be receiving the ball.
From there, once that player makes contact with the ground, particularly the backcourt, this would result in a violation because the ball itself has frontcourt status.
Related: How do you know when it’s a backcourt violation or not? – Airborne Player – YouTube
Furthermore, in reference to NBA rules, if an offensive player attempts a shot at the basket but then that offensive player’s teammate taps the ball into the backcourt, it is still possible for any particular offensive player to run into their backcourt to retrieve the ball.
This is legal action, at least in the NBA, because no player or team gained full control of the basketball after the initial shot attempt.
In other words, after a certain offensive player shoots the ball and it happens to get tapped into the backcourt, particularly by another offensive player, frontcourt status has not been achieved because none of the offensive players gained full possession of the basketball.
Therefore, an offensive player has the opportunity to run from their frontcourt into their backcourt to retrieve the ball before the defensive team receives it.
Related: Legal play, ball is legally tapped into backcourt – NBA Video Rulebook