[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

NFHS Casebook Play R6.S7.A5: A1 is at the free-thorw line for the second of two attempts. After the ball is at A1's disposal, B1 commits a lane violation. The administering official inadvertently sounds his/her whistle: (a) before A1 starts the free-throw motion; or (b) after the ball has been released; or (c) during A1's motion but before the release of the ball. RULING: Whether or not the whistle was sounded inadvertently it has the same result. In (a) and (c), the ball becomes dead immediately. In (b), the whistle does not cause the ball to become dead until the free throw ends. Because B1 violated, in all cases, a substitute throw is awarded if the free-throw attempt by A1 is unseuccessful. (R4-S2-A3)


What this Casebook Play is saying is that the in all three cases B1's violation is not to be ingnored, and in (a) and (c) A1 has yet to attempt the second of two attempts, therefore, when A1 makes is second attempt the officials are to use the delayed deadball signal (B1 has committed a free throw violation) and if the attempt is not successful, A1 is awarded a substitute throw. This logic is the same used in the NCAA A.R. referenced in an earlier posting as well as in a NFHS Casebook Play (which I have seen before but cannot find at the moment) when B1 commits a free throw violation during and instead of the official inadvertently sounding his/her whistle as in (a) or (c), Team A decides to request a timeout, which is granted. The granting of a timeout per Team A's request does not erase B1's free throw violation. After the timeout is over, A1's free throw attempt is administered in the exact same way as in the Casebook Play R6.S7.A5.