What was (is) the purpose of the division line?

I would have to look it up, but I believe 6-on-6 basketball actually started before the division line rule in 1933, which means it's original intent was for 6-on-6. Also, I believe Iowa was the first state to use it, then others adopted it but made modifications. Iowa's was 3 offense and 3 defense, because I remember the defense having to pass the ball to their offensive players across the division line. I'll look up the date on 6-on-6's creation to make sure, but then again, I could be wrong.

Just looked it up (I'm an academian so the temptation hit me as soon as I posted a few minutes ago). Iowa started playing 6-on-6 girls basketball in 1919-20. It was the only game in the state for the girls until 1984-85, when they added a 5-player class. The 1992-93 season was the last for 6-on-6. The following season (93-94), they split into 4 classes for 5-player ball.

That would be pretty good evidence that the original purpose for the division line was for 6-on-6 basketball, because it predates the 1933 rule change creating the division line for the purpose of the 10-second count.

[SamIAm]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Just looked it up (I'm an academian so the temptation hit me as soon as I posted a few minutes ago). Iowa started playing 6-on-6 girls basketball in 1919-20. It was the only game in the state for the girls until 1984-85, when they added a 5-player class. The 1992-93 season was the last for 6-on-6. The following season (93-94), they split into 4 classes for 5-player ball.

That would be pretty good evidence that the original purpose for the division line was for 6-on-6 basketball, because it predates the 1933 rule change creating the division line for the purpose of the 10-second count.

Semantics, but, I think you guys are comparing Granny Smith's with Washington Reds. If the boys games never played 6v6, the introduction of the division line had no effect on them regardless of it purpose for the girls game. (It was just another volleyball line in the court). Once the boys decided they needed to limit the space that the offense could work in, they decided that a line that was already marked on the court would work fine.

The line has two original purposes, one for boys and another for girls.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

That would be pretty good evidence that the original purpose for the division line was for 6-on-6 basketball, because it predates the 1933 rule change creating the division line for the purpose of the 10-second count.

Does anyone know when the prohibition against returning to the backcourt was put in?

It's possible that that rule predates the 10-second limit, and thus could have been the original reason for the introduction of the division line on the boys side.

If that's true, then in order to Ref Ump Welsch's argument to hold up the backcourt restriction would have to have entered the game post 1920. It's possible that he using the wrong rule from the boys' side for comparison.

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

I would have to look it up, but I believe 6-on-6 basketball actually started before the division line rule in 1933, which means it's original intent was for 6-on-6. Also, I believe Iowa was the first state to use it, then others adopted it but made modifications. Iowa's was 3 offense and 3 defense, because I remember the defense having to pass the ball to their offensive players across the division line. I'll look up the date on 6-on-6's creation to make sure, but then again, I could be wrong.

Yes, Ref Ump, you are indeed correct. You will see another thread concerning the "second" intent of the division line.