Free Throw Question (NFHS)
 

4-20 ART. 3

The free throw ends when the try is successful, when it is certain the try will not be successful, when the try touches the floor or any player, or when the ball becomes dead.

Do you equate the bolded part as meaning the ball becomes dead because the free throw never hit the rim or that the free throw hit the rim and then hit a player or the floor?

Both.

I say the FT ends when the try touches the floor as in: a player bounces the ball in the lane to attempt a "bouncing shot." Violation the ball is dead as soon as it bounces in the lane. Obviously if it is an airball, it is also a dead ball for a violation. If it hits the rim (or backboard) then the floor, then it is certain that the try is unsuccessful yet the ball remains live. As for the FT ending upon a player touch: If it is before the ball touches the rim (or backboard), above the rim, on the way down and has a chance to go in, it is goaltending. Dead ball, award 1 point and then 2 for T (or no basket if same team).

If it touches the rim remains in the cylinder and then is touched by a player it is BI. Again, FT ends, Dead ball, award a point (or wipe away if same team) and away you go.

If the ball touches the rim (or backboard) then bounces out of the cylinder and is touched by a player, the FT ends but then play on.

Just because the FT ends does not mean that the ball is dead. But any time the ball is dead, the free throw also ends. (I think)

Nothing But Net ...
 

Legal in HORSE.

We had the same discussion in our meeting the other night. We came to the consensus, that the question meant shooting an air ball.

If your point is that the clause is superfluous, then I probably agree (with the possible exception of the "bounce shot"). It might be left over from some previous rule change (that is, it used to be required, but a rule change has now made it not required).

I also don't see that it causes any harm.

I'm asking b/c it is on the test and I got it wrong. :D

If I remember correctly I answered true.

It's possible the try touch a player or the floor before it's clear it will not be successful. GT comes to mind as a play that would end the FT before it's clear the try would be unsuccesful.

Agree. It prevents showboat "Globetrotter" type of shots that are deemed not to be part of the game.

Agree, but just to be clear, the violation is not for bouncing in the lane. The bounce simply ends the free throw, as if a normal free throw had missed and then been rebounded. The violation is for a legal free throw which failed to strike the ring or enter the basket before the free throw ended.

Sweet Georgia Brown ...
 

I could have sworn that the NFHS deemed giant rubber bands to be legal?