quote:
Originally posted by number 26:
another great discussion. i'm justa coach, remember. go easy on me. when defending the inbound, i tell my players to stay 3 feet behind the line and don't break the 3 foot plane. first time we do it - a warning. second - "t".
2 questions.
am i wrong on the 3 foot range?
and, whatever the correct distance, can i instruct my players that's it's ok to reach over the plane to deflect the ball once it is released?
(cause, as a previous poster mentioned, one on my pet plays is the old 2 players behind the inbound line after a made basket to break the press... i sure wouldn't want a scottie pippin to intercept the ball and lay it in for a humiliating basket against us)
1) The "three foot distance" only applies when there is less than three feet OOB for the thrower-in to use. The floor, if properly marked, has a dashed line to be used as a "temporary restraining line" on inbounds plays (but most floors aren't properly marked and the official will point out a volleyball line or similar to be used). If the offense has more than three feet to use out of bounds, then the defender can go right up to the plane of the out of bounds line.
2) I'm not quite sure how to answer this -- that's what the whole discussion is about. If I'm refereeing, you can reach across the line when the ball has been released *on an inbounds pass* without penalty. But, if it's a pass to another player out of bounds (when allowed), then you'd better not reach across and touch the ball. And, yes, I expect the defense to recognize the difference.