Stan,

Case 9.1.2 follows a time-out therefore the "resuming play procedure" is followed. When the resuming play procedure is in effect, a free throw violation is the correct call. However, the original post did not occur after a time-out (nor at the beginning of a quarter) so the resuming play procedure is <b> not </b> in effect. When no resuming play procedure is in effect, the defense <b> must </b> occupy the bottom spots.

Z

Thanks Z, Stan

Clueless coach or not. When the Trail tells the coach to get a player in the first spot and the coach ignores the Trail, that coach is "asking" for a delay of game technical. The first lane spaces are not to quote you: "usually considered something you deserve to be able to fill." By rule the defensive team must occupy them.

MTD
Please don't misuse my words in that manner. What I was referring to is not the rule and ruling, but the mindset of a coach. The rule is quite clear. However, coaches do not generally read rulebooks. And coaches do not think of the rule as a requirement to occupy the lower space, but rather as the right to occupy that space because of the advantageous position it presents. A coach is usually more concerned that the other team will sneak into a space that his team has the right to occupy, as opposed to worrying about his team not occupying a space it is required to occupy.

Your orignal post made it sound like the coach is attempting to delay intentionally and buy time. I was only contesting your conclusion regarding the intent of the coach. You were giving them more credit for rules knowledge (and blame for rules abuse) than they deserve.

I think that the general consensus is right - get their attention, inform them of the problem, if they don't fix it, go to the T. Manage the game, please, before whacking a team/coach.