After watching numerous games so far this season, I have been once again reminded of certain rules I would love to see the NCAA get rid of… forever. These aren’t rules we need, or change the game, these are simply rules allowed to be in the game and make me shake my head.

The first rule I want seen done away with… the “flying-out-of-bounds-timeout.”

I actually saw it TWICE in one game just last week. The player grabbed the ball while hurdling out of bounds. He didn’t have control of his body and barely held onto the ball. But, he was able to call timeout… to save his team (certainly, not himself).

Timeouts aren’t allowed inbounds unless you are in control of yourself AND the ball, why do we allow timeouts in mid-air when the player doesn’t even have control his own body?!

According to the official rulebook, which actually has a section dedicated to what they call an “Airborne Player/Timeout”, the player needs to only be in control of the ball. In Appendix III, Section 5, it reads:
“Before a timeout is granted by an official, the official shall be certain that the player making the request is in possession of the ball.”

That’s it?! Nothing about whether the player is wearing a safety helmet for the certain crash at the end? Nothing about whether or not he filed a flight plan with the FAA? Name me any other time in a game, where a player out of control is granted a timeout? Or a situation that is simply chaotic, where a timeout is allowed?

A player can’t have one hand on a loose ball and call time out. Why not?! He is actually inbounds. The only difference between this and flying out of bounds is whether the player has possession of the ball.

So, if the ball is hurdling out of bounds with a player along for the ride and that player is quick enough to yell or signal timeout, then it’s granted?! Seriously… does this sound as dumb to you as it does to me?

Unless a player is in control of the ball and himself, with part of his body actually physically in bounds, and able to call and signal a timeout, then forget granting one. In no other situation on the court is a player not all of those things. Why does taking to the air and looking for a landing zone change everything?

Just because the player has some gymnastics background shouldn’t be a good enough reason to save the player from a turnover (though the Russian judge might give him a 10 if he sticks the landing).

Speaking of airborne, I am tired of watching offensive players getting defenders into the air… then jumping into that defender in an effort to get a foul called. Talk about cheating. To physically jump into the defender as one shoots, just to get the foul call, is ridiculous. The worst part, officials call it a defensive foul!

We all know players are entitled to their own space. We also know that rules are slanted against defenders. If a defender is standing straight up and not moving his body or arms (even if they are in the air) then any contact is not his fault – at least in theory. So, why when a defender bites on a pump fake, goes straight up in the air, and would never touch the offensive player otherwise, do officials feel the need to call a defensive foul when offensive player jumps into the defender… initiating the contact?

I am reminded of former NBA star Reggie Miller. When he took a jumper with a defender near him, he would throw his leg out to get hit and draw the foul call. It took years before officials stopped falling for it and stopped calling it.

An offensive player should not be bailed out of a situation because he makes contact with the defender… period. If ever an offensive player initiates contact with the defender, it either shouldn’t be called or be an offensive foul.