Goatending?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by hoopguy

Anybody know when this rule was changed and why? I realize the backboard now does not make it goaltending but when I played(dating myself) it was goaltending and I am wondering when the change occurred and what the rational behind it was. Of course I did not read a rule book as a player so I could be wrong but I do not think so. Seems like it would be a lot easier for officials with the old 'once it touches the backboard' goatending vs the more decision making rule of today.

As a fan I think I like the old rule better. More of an advantage toward the smaller player. Once the player gets the ball on the backboard he knew it was safe from being blocked.

Afaik, the rule has never changed in NFHS rules. It's been the same for the last 50 years anyway. Goaltending has always been defined as touching a shot that has a chance to go in on the way down. The FED issued periodic interpretations that noted that touching a shot after it hit the glass had to meet the exact same criteria defined in the GT rule. We had to judge whether the touch after the ball hit the glass was on the way up or on the way down, and then rule accordingly. Iow, it's always been a straight judgment call.

This is one rule that I can see the FED changing to the NCAA rule sometime in the future...to make our job easier and take out some of the judgment factor.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

The FED issued periodic interpretations that noted that touching a shot after it hit the glass had to meet the exact same criteria defined in the GT rule.

This is the bit that's different from NCAA (and NBE). The glass is irrelevant to the NFHS rule.

In the other codes, once the ball touches the glass above the rim, you can have GT even when the ball is still going up.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by mbyron

This is the bit that's different from NCAA (and NBE). The glass is irrelevant to the NFHS rule.

And iirc the NCAA only changed their GT rule a couple of years ago to match the NBE. Before that it was the same as the the NFHS.