One Foot on the Line, The Sequel

[rainmaker]

Well, as suggested a few days ago, "That Guy Howard", which means Howard Mayo, local basketball rules god, and previous member of the NFHS rules committee for a number of years, has checked in about the one-foot- on-the-line-is-it-legal-guarding-position discussion. I'm starting a new thread because the earlier one had sort of degenerated (why am I not surprised!?)

I posted earlier an e-mail exchange we had where he quoted the rule, and pointed out the problems in the wording. I also read him as saying that once legal guarding position had been established, a foot could then move onto the line, and the position would stil be legal. I had apparently mis-read him, though.

He called me tonight to report his official position now, after checking with Mary Struckhoff over the weekend. So Howard, Mary Struckhoff and the NFHS rules committee are all in agreement about how they want this thing called, and that's the way it's going to be!! The rule is, if any of the foot is out of bounds, when contact is made, it's a blocking foul, regardless of any previously established legal guarding position.

I'm thinking of it as being consistent in this way, offense can't step on or over the line. Defense can't step on or over the line, now, either.

And remember, you heard it first ..... HERE on the OfficialForum.com!!