thinking

Traveling is a fundamental part of the game of basketball. But somehow the NBA ended up with a travel rule that is not enforced.

Executives who oversee referees say they are open to re-writing the rule, but have long had trouble with the perfect wording.

Imagine if we could rewrite the rule together -- what would it look like? On this site, you can collaborate with other TrueHoop readers to craft the perfect travel regulation.

Once everyone comes up with a better rule together, we at TrueHoop and ESPN will make sure it is heard.

Here's the part of the rule that causes the most trouble:

"A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.

The first count occurs:
(1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he receives it.
(2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor simultane- ously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when he receives it.

The second occurs:
(1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously."

When moving in posession of the ball without dribbling, a player may not take more than two continuous steps.

A player may not drag or change his pivot foot, established as [1] the foot left unlifted once he receives the ball at a standstill or jumpstop, or [2] the penultimate foot to touch the floor if he receives the ball in motion.

When at a standstill in possesion of the ball, a player may only lift his pivot foot [1] after dribbling, or [2] to jump off the other foot to pass or shoot.

If a player jumps in possession of the ball, he must release it before either foot returns to the floor.
I know it when I see it.
A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stopand 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; 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; neither foot can then be the pivot foot.
A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may use a two-count rhythm in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball.

The first count occurs:
(1) As he receives the ball, if either foot is touching the floor at the time he receives it.
(2) As the foot touches the floor, or as both feet touch the floor simultaneously after he receives the ball, if both feet are off the floor when he receives it.

The second occurs:
(1) After the count of one when either foot touches the floor, or both feet touch the floor simultaneously.

1.A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble establishes a pivot foot as follows:

a.When both feet are off the playing court and the player lands:

i.Simultaneously on both feet, the pivot foot is established when the player takes one of their feet off the court, the foot remaining on the ground is the pivot foot.

ii.Simultaneously on both feet and then proceeds to simultaneously take both feet off the court (jumping off both feet), both feet shall be considered the pivot foot.

iii.On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch is the pivot foot.

b.When one foot is on the playing court, that foot shall be the pivot foot.

c.When both feet are on the playing court, the pivot foot is established:

i.When the player takes one of their feet off the ground, the foot remaining on the ground is the pivot foot.

ii.When the player takes both feet off the ground simultaneously (jumping off both feet), both feet shall be considered the pivot foot.

2.Traveling occurs, when the established pivot foot:

a.Is lifted off the court and replaced on the court before the player:

i.Passes,

ii.Shoots,

iii.Dribbles,

iv.Or losses control the ball.

b.Is lifted off the court and the non-pivot foot touches the court twice before the player:

i.Passes,

ii.Shoots,

iii.Dribbles,

iv.Or losses control the ball.

c.Slides on the court while the player is still holding the ball.