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2009-10 NCAA Women’s Basketball

TRAVELING/SPIN MOVE CLARIFICATION

Prepared by Mary Struckhoff, National Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating

There has been some apparent confusion surrounding the traveling point of emphasis, specifically the spin move. Below are a few reminders regarding officiating this play:

1. All spin moves are NOT traveling violations; illegal spin moves are traveling violations. When the word “automatic” was used at the officiating clinics, it was used analogous to two hands on the ball handler/dribbler. When a player stops her dribble with one foot on the court (pivot foot), she spins on the other foot and then puts the first/pivot foot back to the court – a traveling violation has occurred – it’s an automatic; it’s the rule!
2. As mentioned on the Officiating Instructional DVD, we don’t want to “guess” on an infraction; the benefit of any doubt goes to the player executing the move. However, officials mustn’t use this as an excuse for never calling an illegal move – having “doubt” on every play. Officials must work hard to find the pivot foot and determine what is being done with that pivot foot, in order to properly adjudicate the rule.
3. Coaches and players will make an adjustment (and some already have) in order to execute a legal move, in one of the following ways:
   1. The player will keep her dribble longer;
   2. She will end the dribble with both feet in contact with the court, therefore permitting her to establish either foot as the pivot – then likely performing a step-through move; or
   3. She will NOT put the pivot foot back down and will go up to shoot/pass off of one foot.

I hope this clears up any confusion that might be surrounding this play. Keep working hard at this, and all aspects of the game.