Step on Line -- Legal or Illegal?

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I said the semi-circle, Juulie, not the FT line.

The 6-ft radius semi-circle is part of the area in which the free-thrower may legally be. The FT line is part of the FT lane and not within the semi-circle, which has the farther edge of the FT line from the end line as its diameter.

I know what the FT line is, Nevada. I thought the semi-circle was also illegal for the shooter to step on.

[Juulie Downs]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

I know what the FT line is, Nevada. I thought the semi-circle was also illegal for the shooter to step on.

But that just emphasizes my point. The shooter can step on the line (but not over the line) going backward, or sideways, but not forward. How to explain THAT to a coach?!?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

I know what the FT line is, Nevada. I thought the semi-circle was also illegal for the shooter to step on.

It's not. The FT must be attempted from WITHIN the semi-circle. Now consider exactly what constitutes the mathematical line of the semi-circle? It's the outermost edge, right? That's what it says on the court diagram in the front of the rules book. So the whole of the curved line marking this on the floor lies within the FT semi-circle.
The two following rules state from where the FT must be attempted and define the foot placement of the thrower. Admittedly, the second one could be written more clearly, but it does say BEYOND ... the free-throw semicircle line is illegal, not on it.
9-1-1 . . . The try shall be attempted from within the free-throw semicircle and behind the free-throw line.
9-1-3e. The free thrower shall not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the edge of the free-throw line which is farther from the basket or the free-throw semicircle line.

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

But that just emphasizes my point. The shooter can step on the line (but not over the line) going backward, or sideways, but not forward. How to explain THAT to a coach?!?

The best way to explain this to a coach would vary, but I would suggest that one start by asking the coach if the kid is positioned inside or outside of the 3pt area when his heels are on the semi-circle.
Then ask him if the kid is within the FT lane when standing with his toes on the FT line.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Now consider exactly what constitutes the mathematical line of the semi-circle? It's the outermost edge, right?

Nevaderef: Are you 100% sure about this? I would never call it a violation in a "real" game if the free throw shooter momentarily placed the back of his hell on, but not over, the semicircle, but, in theory, I would like to know the correct interpretation in case this ever shows up on an IAABO refresher exam. These refresher exams are known for to have weird situations, and picky questions.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Nevaderef: Are you 100% sure about this? I would never call it a violation in a "real" game if the free throw shooter momentarily placed the back of his hell on, but not over, the semicircle, but, in theory, I would like to know the correct interpretation in case this ever shows up on an IAABO refresher exam. These refresher exams are known for to have weird situations, and picky questions.

NFHS rule 9-1-3(e).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

NFHS rule 9-1-7.

Jurassic Referee: Thanks. I couldn't find 9-1-7, but while looking for it, I came up with this:

9-1-3-e: The free thrower shall not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the edge of the free-throw line which is farther from the basket or the freethrow semicircle line.

The free thrower shall not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the edge the freethrow semicircle line. Which edge? I've always treated it like a boundary line, the "inner" edge being "out". Nevaderef, I believe, says to use the "outer" edge in regard to this rule.

Which edge? And again, this is only for theoretical purposes.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

1) I couldn't find 9-1-7, but while looking for it, I came up with this:

2) 9-1-3-e: The free thrower shall not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the edge of the free-throw line which is farther from the basket or the freethrow semicircle line.

The free thrower shall not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the freethrow semicircle line.

Which edge?

1) Changed-used handy old rule book for cite instead of latest one. Handy old rulebook has now been thrown back into the drawer from whence it came.

2) If you take out the part in red which refers to one situation, it leaves the other situation of the two detailed in 9-1-3e(as written right below that in blue). Note that in the red-highlighted situation, they say that the FT shooter can't step on the closest edge of the FT line to him/her. It stands to reason that they also meant that the same criteria should apply to the semicircle line as the free throw line-i.e. the FT shooter can't step on the closest edge of the semicircle line to him. And afaik, that's the way it has always been interpreted and called.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Juulie Downs

I thought the semi-circle was also illegal for the shooter to step on.

Of course not, Larry bird did it over 5000 times and was never called for a single violation. But, of course, he was Larry Bird.