Late in a close game. Team A awarded 2 free throws. A then calls Time Out.

A ignores first horn, second (offical) horn and beckoning from Referee. Team B all lined up neatly in the free throw lane .... waiting. A still huddling.

I'm administering Free throw. Whats the proper mechanic here?

I placed the ball on the floor at the free throw line and started my 10 count required for shooter to shoot. A trots on floor and shooter picks up ball while his team-mates are still filling in. Ooop's that a problem.

I reach 10 - I whistle and cancel the first free throw. Violation.

Re-set and he makes the second.

How bad did I blow this?

AS soon as the offense violated -- the earlier of A1 entering the circle, or any A crossing the 3-point line -- call the violation. The rest was correct.

The only way Team A can save the two free throws at this point is to request a time out. Once you put the ball at the disposal of the free throw shooter (place the ball at the spot), if they enter the circle or cross the 3 point line, it's a violation, without needing the ten second count.

....if they enter, before the 10 second count has expired.

Frank ....
So really there is nothing they can do. The shot is lost. Right?

Once I placed the ball at the FT line, they obviously have to enter the circle to get it, its effectivly lost.

So the mechanic is that. There is no requirement or precident to counting? Once the ball is placed after a beckoning and fair patience from referee - unless there is an additional TO called - its a mute point.

Correct?

The shot is NOT lost if they call a Timeout.

And it would be a moot point, not mute.

Once you place the ball at the free throw line, and you start the ten second count, if they (team A, because at that point, they are the only team that may request a time out) request a time out before the ten seconds expire,or, before they enter the circle, you may grant them a time out, and that would save the 2 free throws.

I wish more coaches were mute.

OK, But if you place the ball on the ground at the FT line, and start the count, can they really call timeout? After all, there doesn't appear to be any team control OR player control here, but the ball is live.

Yes, the rules say that they can call a TO.

Rule 6-1-2(c)--"The ball becomes live when, on a free throw, it is at the disposal of the free thrower".

Rule 5-8-3(a)--"Time out occurs....when an official grants a players/head coaches oral or visual request for a time-out, such request being granted when the ball is in control <b>or at the disposal</b> of a player of his/her team".

Thanks, I love you man.

Ahhh...the holiday season.

Can you feel the love?...

Hell, I'll even love him when it's NOT Hannukah.

I realize that the way it's written, it's a violation. But IF the FED really intended for it to be a free-throw violation for the shooter to enter the circle once the ball is set on the floor, why do they have us go through this charade of counting to 10? Why not just call it an immediate free-throw violation for delay and be done with it? If the point is to give the offending team time to call another time out, then why not say that?

Although it's technically a violation, something just seems out of whack with calling it that way.

Mechanically speaking, if you were going to do this, would the Lead official put the ball on the line and the Trail official count 10 seconds? Or the Center in 3-person mechanics?