Step on Line -- Legal or Illegal?

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

I'm wondering if there's an equally simple, elegant way to describe all the different line violations. The boundary lines are all out of bounds, so if a person is throwing in, it's legal to step on the line, but the lines around the top of the key, where the shooter stands, are all not okay. Free throw lane lines are not okay to step on, during the free throw, stepping on the 3-point line makes a shot a 2-point shot. So basically all lines are like oob, except that the division line is legal if you're still in backcourt. To me, it's confusing. Anyone help here?

It's confusing because you're looking at whether it's "okay" to step on it or not, which is the wrong mantra.

Originally Posted by mbyron

The lines are boundaries, and they are not part of the court area they define. The OOB lines are not part of the court. The lane lines are not part of the lane. The division line is not part of the frontcourt.

That's terrible!

The boundary lines are always OOB.

The lane lines are always part of the lane.

The division line is always part of the backcourt.

The 3 point arc is always part of the two point area.