old rule question ( before 1980 )

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

If the offense was behind or tied, they had to push it beyond the 28' hash. That was one purpose of that line as I recall. Also, if you broke that line, the 5 second count on a dribble would stop as well, if I recall correctly.

If the defense was behind, they were forced to press.

It actually went away in the late 80's as there was no need for it after the shot clock was implemented.

It was a stupid rule. Officials had to decide at what point to warn the team to play and stop stalling. Far too subjective.

The five second closely guarded rule was updated so that the only purpose of the hashmark was to enforce the lack of action rule. I think it was in the early 70s that a dribbler would no longer be able to break a count by advancing the ball past the line.