Too Early in the Lane

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by refiator

Thoughts….
Should NFHS make entering the lane too early on free throws a POE or change the rule to allow players to enter the lane on the release? This seems (at least in GA) to be a growing problem that is not equitably enforced. I think this should be a POE and more strictly enforced…But maybe I'm old school….

Just enforce it. Early in the game. Don't pass it up on the other end if it occurs there. Put out the notice that illegal entry will be called for the violation that it is. When it's called early, it generally keeps the players in compliance the remainder of the game. Most of the time, anyway.
It's a local POE here after one prominent game last year was won by 3 points by the team which clearly violated this rule 13 -- yes, 13! -- times. The advantage was so stark on video that the only excuse any rational person could come up with was sheer indifference on the part of the one official who, as lead, kept watching the flight of the free throw and missed 10 violations on that team himself, 7 with clear possession consequence for the violating player.
Should we abolish the rule for the sake of inattentiveness or indifference? My answer to that question is, what's next after that? It perhaps isn't the best policy to go abolishing rules for the sake of those who don't care to enforce them.
Pregame it. Do it. The players will conform.
Off my soapbox now.