The Most Misunderstood Basketball Rules ...

[RefBob]

In Part II you indicate that the free throw shooter and players behind the 3 point arc must wait until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard before entering the lane or penetrating the arc. Similarly, you state that a defender cannot enter the free throw semicircle until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard. However, NFHS Rules 9-1-3e,f,h all refer only to the ball contacting the rim. Perhaps the rule has changed?

Thanks.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by RefBob

In Part II you indicate that the free throw shooter and players behind the 3 point arc must wait until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard before entering the lane or penetrating the arc. Similarly, you state that a defender cannot enter the free throw semicircle until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard. However, NFHS Rules 9-1-3e,f,h all refer only to the ball contacting the rim. Perhaps the rule has changed?

Thanks.

The wording did change a few years ago. IIRC, it wan't announced announced as a rule change...the words just changed. Can't say why it changed. There was no good reason. The difference between hitting the board (a bank shot?) and hitting the rim will be a very small fraction of a second and I'm not likely to be able to split that hair even if I wanted to.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by RefBob

In Part II you indicate that the free throw shooter and players behind the 3 point arc must wait until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard before entering the lane or penetrating the arc. Similarly, you state that a defender cannot enter the free throw semicircle until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard. However, NFHS Rules 9-1-3e,f,h all refer only to the ball contacting the rim. Perhaps the rule has changed?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

The wording did change a few years ago. IIRC, it wan't announced announced as a rule change...the words just changed.

I have a 14-15 Rule Book at work with me. The rule reads "ring or backboard" in that book. I also have a 17-18 Rule book. The rule reads "ring" in that book. Must have changed 16-17 or 17-18.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RefBob

In Part II you indicate that the free throw shooter and players behind the 3 point arc must wait until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard before entering the lane or penetrating the arc. Similarly, you state that a defender cannot enter the free throw semicircle until the ball contacts the rim or the backboard. However, NFHS Rules 9-1-3e,f,h all refer only to the ball contacting the rim. Perhaps the rule has changed?

Thanks RefBob. I can't believe that somebody actually reads some of my long posts, and that some have a keen power of observation to notice minute errors.

It was changed, unannounced, in 2017-18.

How's this (below)?

Players in marked lane spaces must not move into the lane until the ball is released by the free throw shooter. The shooter, and the players behind the three point arc, must wait until the ball hits the ring, before entering the lane, or penetrating the three point arc. On release of the ball by the free thrower, the defender boxing out the free thrower shall not cross the free throw line until the ball contacts the ring. In addition, the free throw shooter must cause the ball to enter the basket, or touch the ring, before the free throw ends. During a free throw, no opponent, including bench personnel, may distract the free thrower.