NFHS Free Throw Question

Originally Posted by Da Official

Thanks experts....as you have agreed with me.

To the question, I answered TRUE.

"It is a violation if B1 leaves a marked lane space [when the ball leaves the free thrower's hand(s)] and breaks the plane of the free-throw line before restrictions end for the free thrower." (True/False).

The test said I was wrong the answer is FALSE and cited 9-1-3d.

Good luck figuring that out...

This could only be me but from my experience of taking officiating tests there are typically 1 or 2 questions that are designed to trip up the official from scoring a 100%. This one was mine. I've also never had the privilege of seeing the governing authority come back and say the question was bad.

The only reason I'm really discussing this is in our state they use chapter test scores to determine what chapters to give playoff games to.....you know because the best chapters are obviously the best test takers but that's a whole other discussion.

Wow this question is buggered up. I think I get it though. The red part is false in relation to the orange part, while the blue part is true in relation to the orange part, which makes the whole thing false because all of its parts are not true. At least that's what they would say.

They are incorrect because of the modifier "when the ball leaves the free thrower's hands". Here's the logic breakdown:

(((A + B) • C) ≡ (D ⊃ V))

V = Violation
A = "B1 leaves the marked lane space"
B = when the ball leaves the free thrower's hand(s)"
C = "breaks the plane of the free throw line"
D = "before restrictions end for the free thrower"

Very tricky. Hopefully the formula I came up with is correct, maybe someone can correct it. It's been awhile since my college logic class. I'm gonna fire up LogiCola and give this a run through. Either way I'd tell your state that they have a shitty question.