“That's Over the back!”

If you have ever been to a game, you’ve heard it. Two players jump for a rebound and the player from behind gets the ball. “Over the back!” You’ve heard it from coaches. You’ll hear from other fans. We all hear it when we watch a game on TV. But the truth is, it doesn’t exist. There’s no such thing as “Over the back.”

RULE 4 - SECTION 45 VERTICALITY

Verticality applies to a legal position. Following are the basic components of the principle of verticality: ART. 1 . . . Legal guarding position must be obtained initially and movement thereafter must be legal. ART. 2 . . . From this position, the defender may rise or jump vertically and occupy the space within his/her vertical plane. ART. 3 . . . The hands and arms of the defender may be raised within his/her vertical plane while on the floor or in the air. ART. 4 . . . The defender should not be penalized for leaving the floor – vertically or having his/her hands and arms extended within his/her vertical plane. ART. 5 . . . The offensive player whether on the floor or airborne, may not “clear out” or cause contact within the defender’s vertical plane, which is a foul. ART. 6 . . . . The defender may not “belly up” or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact outside his/her vertical plane, which is a foul. ART. 7 . . . The player with the ball is to be given no more protection or consideration than the defender in judging which player has violated the rules.

“Over the back” is what officials refer to as “announcerspeak.” It has its origin with the talking heads that grace our airwaves from November to March. Years ago, someone like Dick Vitale or Billy Packer uttered the words, “Over the back!” We don’t really know who said it.

We don’t know when it happened. But we know that more rules myths and fallacies have been created by television’s talking heads than any other source known to man. This particular myth is so widespread that even some officials mistakenly use the term. Unfortunately, this simply further perpetuates the myth.

The common misconception is that anytime the player who has inside position doesn’t get the rebound, then it has to be “Over the back!” It doesn’t matter if there was contact or not.

That’s the myth. It’s as though verticality doesn’t exist.

Rebounding is governed by the principle of verticality, just like other phases of the game that allow a player to legally occupy a space on the floor. Every player is entitled to a spot on the floor provided the player obtains the spot without illegally contacting an opponent. He is allowed to jump vertically within his established space and have his hands and arms extended within his vertical plane. He is allowed this opportunity without regard to where his opponent is positioned.

When a shot goes up, many players go to great lengths to maneuver for position. When the ball rebounds off the board or rim, contact can occur between two opponents going for the ball. But just because contact occurs, it does not mean a foul has occurred. If both players are jumping within their vertical plane, then any contact that occurs is incidental. It is not a foul on the player who is rebounding from behind his opponent just because he is behind him. The player who has a position between his opponent and the basket is given no more protection or consideration than his opponent. As long as both players stay within their vertical plane, a foul shouldn’t be called.

We also hear many fans yell, “Over the back!” when a taller player reaches over a shorter opponent from behind and snags a rebound, even if he doesn’t touch his shorter opponent. Is this a foul? Of course not. First, there has to be contact for a foul to occur. Second, that contact has to be illegal. Finally, why should a player be penalized simply because he’s able to reach above an opponent and rebound the ball without contacting him?

You’re probably thinking, “If there’s no such thing as ‘Over the back,’ when does a foul occur?” A foul occurs when actual illegal contact occurs. A foul occurs when either player displaces their opponent. Without regard to who has better position, a player who pushes and displaces the opponent has fouled.

When the player from behind violates the opposing player’s vertical plane and displaces him, it’s a foul. By the same token, the player in front can jump backwards and foul. Having the inside position does not guarantee the player a rebound or a foul. Many times, you’ll see the inside player jump into the player from behind, who simply went up within his vertical plane. “That’s over the back ref!” No, I’m afraid it’s not. That’s a foul on the inside player.

Along those same lines, players can legally box out an opponent. Boxing out is simply a form of screening. But players who are attempting to box out can also foul. We refer to this as “backing out” versus “boxing out.” A player who is boxing out is not allowed to displace his opponent by backing him out, anymore than a player is allowed to push an opponent in front of him. That’s a foul. Whether a player is using his hands or his body, it’s still a foul to push and displace an opponent.

We also see players who will back under a player who has leaped vertically for a rebound. We once again hear cries of “Over the back!” But it’s the player who is backing out that has violated the rebounder’s verticality.

I’m certain that we’ll continue to hear cries of “Over the back!” We’ll continue to hear from fans, coaches, players, and yes, unfortunately, a few officials. But you’ll know better. There is no such thing as “Over the back.”