Hands Up or Hands Down?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

Again, I have a real hard time imagining how 2-4 players wiggling their fingers along the lane line would "disconcert" anyone.

Of course, I'd be more shocked to see something like this in a boys game...by more than one person.

I am going to play devil's advocate here and will ask you the following question: What does the word 'disconcertion' mean to you. How does this relate to: NFHS R4-S20-A1: A free throw is the opportunity given a player to score one point by an unhindered try for goal from within the free-throw semicirlcle and behind the free-throw line. NCAA R4-S30-A1: A free throw is the previlige given a player to score one point by an unhindered try for goal from within the free-throw semicirlcle and behind the free-throw line.

The word 'unhindered' is the key to how we as officials handle this situation. I think that all of us would agree that if all of the defenisive players were to start saying "miss it", "miss it", "miss it" from the time the shooter received the ball from the time he released it on his free throw attempt, this would be a classic example of 'disconcertion'. "Playing the piano", which is what I call the waving of one's hands/fingers, is really no different that saying "miss it", "miss it". It is disconcertion because the shooter is not receiving an "unhindered" free throw attempt. The defense can hold there arms up, but it can not "play the piano".

MTD, Sr.