Quote:
Originally posted by totalnewbie
I love this discussion. 
[ducks]
Seriously. As a new official, I love finding things that were totally 100% legal "back in the day" (tm) when I played ball that are now not legal. I make a note of them. I find it very helpful. And I like to hear the discussion about why.
"Back in the day" (tm) we were taught that the Cardinal rule of defense was "dont let your man go baseline." I cant tell you how many times that was drilled into my head. And part of "not letting your man go baseline" was stomping your foot on the endline so he didnt have any wiggle room. Not only was that legal, it was a good idea. Not only was it a good idea, it was preached up and down as "the best way to meet your cardinal obligation of not letting your guy go baseline."
Now as I begin my career as a ref I need to know that not only is it not a good idea it is in fact illegal. According to the NFHS Rules Interpretations it is an automatic block if there is contact (or so it appears to my rookie review of the rules and your experienced views here).
Wierd.
Thinking as a player only, I personally like the idea that it is legal to step on the end line. It is the "sixth defender" idea. I personally dont view the advantage of stepping on the end line as drastic an advantage as an offensive player leaving the inbounds area to go around a pick for instance. YMMV.
It will be interesting to see how my view of play changes as I learn to be an official. I am looking forward to that dynamic.
But for now I chalk this little fact (that stepping on the end line means it is a block) up in the same place with the fact that lifting your foot from the lane is "defeating the rule" and is NOT enough to end a 3-second count, which was as much an offensive staple "back in the day" (tm) as stepping on the end line was a defensive staple.
Did you all have similar experiences when you first started officiating? Things you did that were legal/illegal that when you started reffing were no longer legal/illegal?
Clark
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Well, my first season was the first year a shot could count for 3-points. But I guess that dates me a bit.
I can't believe this topic has dragged on this long, but your post makes it clearer for me why the NFHS has come down so hard on the "foot on the baseline." There should be no reason for a defender to have to gain an unfair advantage in this way -- the player with the ball cannot go out of bounds and neither should the defender. It is possible to seal off the baseline without putting half a body out of bounds, but more difficult. Why give the defender an advantage not intended by the rules?
I live in a state where it was mentioned as a clarification by the NFHS and where there was absolutely no discussion about the change -- coaches and officials said nothing as this change was mentioned. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I called a PC foul in this situation, but then again, I never really had to study the feet until this season
Regarding lifting the foot and the 3-second violation, if you need to split this hair, pass on the call unless it screams out to you and everyone else. You'll find that there is quite a bit of judgment involved in calling this violation -- and quite a few people screaming from the benches and stands that don't understand the rule, either.
--Rich