Breaking the plane by defense during throw in

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

This is where the NFHS rules break down. We have to determine if A1 intended to make a throwin or to make a pass to a teammate who was OOB or was expected to be OOB, perhaps by the time the ball got there. In one case, this would be a T on B3 and legal in the other case.

Camron Rust: It appears that you, like me, agree that situation 1 (above) is legal, but that situation 2 can be confusing according to the NFHS definition of when the throwin pass ends. I was really hoping that a Forum member could come up with a casebook play, annual interpretation, or rules exam question that would clear up the ruling on Situation 2.

NFHS 4-42-5: The throw-in ends when:
a. The passed ball touches or is legally touched by another player inbounds.
b. The passed ball touches or is touched by another player out of bounds, except as in 7-5-7 (Any player of the team may make a direct throw-in or he/she may pass the ball along the end line to a teammate(s) outside the boundary).

NFHS 9-2-10: The opponent(s) of the thrower shall not have any part of his/her person through the inbounds side of the throw-in boundary-line plane until the ball has been released on a throw-in pass. NOTE: The thrower may penetrate the plane provided he/she does not touch the inbounds area before the ball is released on the throw-in pass. The opponent in this situation may legally touch or grasp the ball.

By definition, we know when the throwin ends. When does the throwin pass end? In Situation 2, does the throwin pass end after the first pass by A1, or after the second pass, by A2? In my opinion, I believe that the throwin doesn't end until after the second pass by A2, thus making the across the endline steal by B3 illegal, and a technical foul, but I would like to have further rulebook, or casebook, backing to defend my opinion.