Who does the Throw in?

[Mregor]

I depends on what court coverage scheme you are using. This is from the Referee Magazine / NASO book, Basketball Officials Manual....

The NFHS Manual states, "If the designated spot is above the free throw line extended, the lead official administering the throw in will now become the new trail. The original trail becomes the new lead". Basically, you switch when the spot is above the fee throw line extended. If below the free throw line extended, the lead remains the lead and bounces the ball to the thrower. Note that this is per NFHS manual.

However, Referee Magazine recommends a different court coverage scheme where the trail has all the normal lines plus the sideline opposite trail above the free throw line extended. Their reasoning for this is that it is the Trail's primary area but if the lead has to watch that sideline above the free throw line, no one is watching off ball when the ball is out high. They recommend that for sideline coverage, the lead only have the baseline and the sideline opposite trail up to the free throw line extended except when the pass originates from the lane area to a player above the free throw line. (You really got to get the book to understand it better). If you go with this court coverage, the lead would administer all throw ins below the free throw line extended and the trail would come over and administer the throw in on the sideline above the free throw line extended. The lead would then move opposite to properly box in the play. The benefit of this court coverage is better off ball coverage but you do give up some sidline coverage. They (and I agree) believe it is a better to sacrifice some sidline in favor of the better off ball coverage.

Whichever you choose should depend on what coverage you've been using all along throughout the season. Good Luck!

Mregor