"Short Gyms" Division Line is still Division Line?

[NoFussRef]

Short court division line extended?

Some of the Middle School courts in my area are quite dated. Some still have fan shaped backboards. In many of them the courts are shorter than "regulation" in length and/or width. I am sure I am not the only one to have worked a court that was so short the top of the 3pt-arcs and the center circles were almost touching.

Anyway, I had a long time coach tell me something I have never heard of before. I'm thinking myth here, but wanted to see if anyone else has heard of this or can back it up as ever being true.

After a game a coach tells me that when the court is "short" in length, our 10sec count still goes to the division line, but once they gain FC status the division line is extended into BC several feet. He says that there are often lines on the court indicating the "new division line". I see the markings on the floor he is referring to, but I've always thought these were for volleyball or some other activity.

ANYONE heard of this?

[chartrusepengui]

Yes, we have them around here in a few places ....... becoming fewer fortunately. Here there are 3 lines in those gyms. The division line, then the other two are measured from the endline where the division line would be on a regulation court.

[NoFussRef]

Well like I always say, doesn't matter if you have officiated for 5 minutes or 50 years... you learn something "new" every season.

Now the question I have for you is do the lines your speaking of go all the way across the court (sideline-sideline) ?

The ones this coach pointed out were not solid all the way across, like I said in OP I am almost sure these particular lines are for volleyball. If working a "short court" and these lines are not marked, I am guessing you just go with the marked division line?

[Camron Rust]

In a properly marked gym, they'd be full lines from sideline to sideline.

The rule specifies alternative lines when the gym is shorter than 74 feet....and those lines should be 40 feet from the FC endline.

In the event they're not painted and the court is truly a very short court, I'd designate some marking on the court as the division line, even if it is not complete, with a word to the coaches and players that you'll only consider a violation regarding the line to have occurred if it is absolutely clear that they player stepped on/over the line or extended line.

The court you're talking about sounds like it was around 62' (25' to the top of the key plus 6' for the half circle....all times 2). That court definitely needs alternative backcourt lines.

[NoFussRef]

Thanks for help on this. Learned something "new" I can incorporate into pre-game with partners and coaches when this situation arrises.

Also can't wait to see this coach again and thank him as well.

[rockyroad]

My son's team plays against a school that has this situation. Their court has three lines - the "normal" center court line for the center circle jump ball and subsequent quarter throw-ins, and then two other lines about 5 feet on either side of that. To get into the frontcourt, you have to cross the extra line closest to your basket (not the center line), and then to have an over and back violation, you have to cross the line farthest from your basket.

Kind of weird the first few times we played there, but now everyone knows and it's no big deal.

[Adam]

I usually check would site management or the home team to find out how the court is generally played. I've never seen it done with partial lines, though.