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

There is a line that goes across the court that we call the "division line." As we have discovered in another thread, this line is not used to determine where players must stand for free throws as a result of technical fouls.

What was the original intent of this line?

I am trying to establish a "base line" (not to be confused with the "end line") for a discussion.

It used to be use for 6-on-6 basketball where certain players could not cross over the division line. I'm too young to have ever seen this played though

-Josh

the division line is the determination of of front court (offense) and back court (defence) as well as refered to as time line in FED and NCAAM NBA where you have a specific amount of time where you may have the ball in the back court during any possession. 10 sec (8 sec NBA)

The division line once posssesion is established beyond this point determines where certain offensive rules come into play such as closely guarded, FED and NCAAM, as well as back court violations in all.

I didn't know you were that young, Josh. Anyone over the age of 22 is old enough to remember seeing this played, as the last 6 on 6 tourney in Iowa was in 1993 (at the old Veterans Memorial Auditorium.) By that time, it was only small schools who were playing by those rules.

Correct. That was the original purpose.

Red Rover, Red Rover
 

Don't hear the term "rover" much anymore, do we? (Iowa folks might be the only ones who remember that).

I grew up watching this sport, but don't remember the term. Care to enlighten me?

I dare Freddy over . . .

This article states that the division line was introduced in 1933 along with a 10 second rule. Comments?

Ciao

6-on-6 -> 2 defenders, 2 forwards, 2 rovers. = 4-on-4 each side. :)

Not how they played when I was in school.

3 on 3 on each side. No rovers. 3 forwards, 3 guards, none of which could cross the division line.

I've been wrong before.

Maybe they did it different in Oklahoma (the last state to do it aside from Iowa) or Michigan (did they ever do 6 on 6?) or before I was around in Iowa.

so the trail official knows when to stop moving forward?

I played it.

Rita