New NFHS Free Throw Rule.
 

Now that we have had a summer of camps using the new rule in preparation of the coming year, how did everybody find the teams adjusting to the new rule?

My observations were as such: The boys adjusted very well. BUT, the girls were a horse of different color. I found that the girls were even worse than under the old rule. I could not believe how many times I had players in the lane before the shooter had released the ball and calling the violation did not teach the players any lessons.

Just my observations.

MTD, Sr.

What I saw this summer more than anything were line violations by shooters, more by girls but also a fair number of boys as well. I simply chalked it up to them not being used to seeing people go into the lane before they could ... so when the shooters saw movement, they simply moved as well.

Seems like this will be the kind of thing that goes away as everyone makes the adjustment to the new rule.

All summer games that I worked using NFHS rules used the old the rule.

I found the teams adjusted pretty well although there were a couple of late game situations where one team just didn't react at all to the release. Opposing got an uncontested rebound or putback...

But these were only in blowout games where the attentions weren't quite there...

From my own perspective I missed my fair share of these calls (someone left early before the release and I didn't call it or missed it)...more so than I would have liked. I'm going to have to make myself much more aware to watch for this in my early season games until i get more comfortable looking for it. Not the biggest thing in the world to learn, but I was surprised that I missed as many as I did over the summer.

I had more than a few occasions where the players who weren't in marked lane spaces violated by breaking the plane of the 3-point line/FTLE because they thought the new rule applied to them. Some of their coaches believed that to be the case as well. I know there were some worries expressed here that those violations might increase, I just didn't think folks would be that clueless.

Silly me.

Why would they do that? :confused:

At my camp this summer, this is what our contact from the state office told us the new rule now allowed. :confused: :eek:

I worked a tournament that did this. I asked why and was told the new 2014-2015 rules changes do not take effect until the school year starts in August.

Really poor decision by the summer tournament people as that doesn't prepare the kids for the upcoming HS season. Areas which play by the old rules in the summer have to del with the adjustment period being during the first part of the HS season. That isn't a positive.

While I agree that it is smart for team camps to incorporate the new rules the national organization (AAU, YBOA, and AYBT, etc.) use the previous season's rule: This year the national tournaments for the organizations were played using 2013-14 rules.

MTD, Sr.

Yeah I agree. It was just those few games though, all other games I did this summer were on the release.

I was initially surprised at the number of 3 point line violations, I thought the kids would have been told. Then I remembered I was dealing with AAU coaches. I'm sure it won't be a problem during the high school season. Fouls during jostling of rebounding position on the other hand....

I saw a lot of defenders in the top lane space breaking the plane of the FT line and invading the shooter's space.

Jet met, this is the same problem that I saw. Shooters and those on the lane lines did fine. Many coaches and players thought the "on the release applied to everyone except the shooter.

I saw a few and was dying to bust them on it, but every time I saw it the shooter made the FT! Stupid delayed violations....

Inquiring Minds Want To Know ...
 

When are they (defenders) allowed to break the plane (going "backward") of the free throw line? I know that the shooter must wait for the "hit".

"Trail, Don't Bail!" (Center, Neither)
 

One key mechanic that's going to be all-the-more important is for C and T (T in two-person) not to bail on the FT release. Stepping down on the shot and providing avid surveillance of rebounding action in respective areas will be of utmost significance and necessity. Partners accustomed to bail on the release will put a crew in tough situations. Confident, accurate foul calls while striding the opposite way seem quite contrary to nature.
Watch video from throughout the nation. This is gonna be a challenging habit to break in many, many officials. Locally, this has got to be a specific POE.

I don't know. I just assume they (AAU) feel their season is an extension of the scholastic season as far as rules. They get started here in late March, so maybe they don't want to change the rules in the middle of their "season".

The folks who run summer ball here have no connection to the high schools; maybe they don't feel it's their concern to worry about what the HS coaches need to adjust to. Also, maybe they want to utilize only rules that are publicized in a rule book.

This actually makes sense. I figured there was a good reason.

There's no violation for going "backward" into the FT semicircle assuming the player did so within the parameters of the rule, i.e., (s)he left their lane space after the try was released. The only option for penalizing the defensive team would be a foul for contacting the thrower if it's warranted.

I haven't seen a 2014-15 rulebook, but I was officiating for quite a while before the "wait till it hits" rule was put into the book.

Before the rule changed years ago, the defender was not allowed to break the plane of the FT line until the ball hit as defenders were aggressively boxing out shooters while they were in their follow-through. I'm guessing that rule was quietly removed when the rule changed and it will be interesting to see if it makes a return.

I experienced this early in the summer season too......"oh, just in the lane spaces? Got it ref."

Even go the question, "Can the shooter leave on the release?" several times.

Late in my summer season, I had plenty of coaches reminding me that the other team was coming in on the release instead of the hit.

I had no problems with the rules. I work college so it was like riding an old bike. It worked out well and in a couple of cases things were rough, but you call the fouls and that went away.

I love the rule and it is no different than officiating rebounding action in any other part of the game.

Peace

Why do you love the rule?

Because he has a sick fetish!:D

Fire Up The Flux Capacitor ...
 

Good point Rich. I forgot all about this rule. I also forgot where I put my car keys this morning.

1996-97 (A year before they changed release to hit) NFHS Basketball Rulebook

9-9: No opponent occupying a marked lane space shall break the plane of the free throw line. Note: The restriction applies until the ball touches the ring, or backboard, or until the free throw ends.

How much you wanna bet that it won't make a return because the editor failed to recognize all the ramifications of this recent rule change?

My head hurts.
 

I started this thread just to post my observations this summer, LOL, and it has now started on the path to the dark side and it looks like I am going to have to climb up into the attic before the start of the season and do some historical research.

But I am glad that the thread has started the group toward getting ready for the new season even though it is August. :p

MTD, Sr.

Because it was the worst rules change I can think of in my career in the first place. Hardly anyone called the violation and it required officials to split hairs in order to call a violation in many cases. I hated the old rule.

Is that good enough for you?

Peace

I can't tell if this is a sincere question or sarcastic. My question was sincere, I genuinely wanted to know what you thought.

I am also glad for the change. Then again, I didn't have any problems officiating "rough" rebounding action, either.

I'm happy for the change, but I don't see any less hair splitting now than before.

This violation has been ignored a lot for the past several years, becoming one of those "I hate to be the only one who calls this." If necessary, which hopefully it won't be, I can see myself being a pioneer now. Players in the lane while the ball is in the hands of the shooter is not something I think I can tolerate.

It's A Violation, Call It ...
 

Previous to the rule change, players in the lane while the ball was in flight was not something that I tolerated.

It was both actually. ;)

Peace

I agree this was probably the reason why the rule was changed. But I don't think officials will continue to let players violate under the new rule. Now it will be beyond obvious when a player along the lane line enters early.

I don't anticipate anyone making the call unless it's just as obvious as before. Again, the hair splitting just moves to a different point in time, but it's still going to be there.

I agree, but there would be violations here and no one would call the darn violation. I often would be the only person that called this violation, especially on the low block player. Most players would act like what they saw on TV. And IMO the rule was stupid for those individuals in the first place because they did what they saw instead of what the rule was. It was also a rule that often was called with more scrutiny or argument from coaches or players. I just hated the old rule and glad it has gone away. This is not the 1970. Maybe that worked then, but now things have changed.

Peace

Inquiring Minds Want To know ...
 

What would make it more obvious on the release than on the hit?

Prior to release all non-participants have eyes on the paint. After the release almost all eyes are following the flight of the ball. Human nature.

Primary Coverage For Fans ???
 

If by nonparticipants you mean fans, I agree with the second statement. I disagree with the first statement. Prior to the release, most fans are watching the shooter's pre-shot ritual.

In any case, I don't care what the fans are watching. As an official I have my primary coverage responsibilities and that's what I'm observing. Of course, now, as the lead, instead of using my peripheral vision to watch for the hit, and listen for the hit, I have to get a good look at the shooter and his release.

I mean BENCH PERSONNEL. You know, where the coaches hang out. You asked what makes it more obvious and now you want qualify your question after the fact.

When have I ever took into consideration what fans think in anything I've ever posted Billy?

New Old Rule, Again ...
 

Sorry about the mix up. I really couldn't figure out what you meant by nonparticipants.

The only important thing about the new (old) rule is what the officials are observing. With the exception of the lead getting a better look at the shooter, we're basically watching, and calling, the same stuff that we watched, and called, before.

I have no problem with the new (old) rule, but I am of the opinion that the lead's job will be a little more difficult, having to get a clear view to watch the release by the shooter, whereas before, the lead could use his peripheral vision to watch for, and also listen, for the ball to hit. Now the shooter has to (almost) be in the lead's primary.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4103/5...21ea6a80_m.jpg

I'm also a little apprehensive about several players, all crowded in the lane, all trying for a rebound, getting an extra second (flight of the ball) with the new rule.

Unlike many on the Forum, I was officiating when we went from the release to the hit, and although it was wasn't a big change, it was a little easier to officiate with the "new" hit rule. Not by much, but it was a little easier.

I do like the rule change for one reason, because, now, the high school, college, and professional, rule sets will all be similar for this situation.

I'll adjust. I've adjusted to a lot of other changes over thirty-four years.

I still don't see why violations will be more obvious under the new rule.

Trail responsibilities
 

Can someone discuss trail responsibilities on free throws and my thinking that it would be nice for trail to be responsible for everyone outside the 3 point line?

I agree with this, because I think of "obvious" as "obvious to the calling official", but I see BNR's point as "obvious to everyone in the gym, especially the coaches." Basically, more difficult to question. I'll add, though, that I've never really had a coach question this call (and I make 2 or 3 lane violation calls a year, probably), so I don't see a difference.

Two or three person?

Peace

Interestingly, the IAABO manual doesn't say anything about who is responsible for players outside marked lane spaces in 2-person or 3-person. That being said, logic dictates the T would handle those players.

Like They Use To Raise Hand For Fouls ...
 

It's the honor system. The players call violations on themselves.

Bill:

I am laughing so hard I can hardly type. Back in the ancient days of women's college basketball when the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS) wrote the rules for women's college basketball there was a section at the front of the rules book every year entitled: HONOR CALLS.

The section read as such:

"The joint NAGWS-AAU basketball rules committee supports the official position of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport that sport participants should be encouraged to acknowledge fouls and violations when appropriate.

"The Joint Committee does not, at this time, specify specific honor calls; however, it is understood that players should recognize their improprieties.

"This position is justified in light of the committee's belief that sport is a positive force in solidarity, encourages integrity, provides enriching encounters is an education experience and a reflection of our society's valuable qualities."

Not once in all of the years that I officiated women's college basketball when it was played under NAGWS Rules did I have a player make an honor call on herself. I officiated many heated Division I games between Univ. of Miami (UM) and Florida International Univ. (FIU), UM and Florida State (FSU), FIU and FSU, UM and Univ. of Florida (UF), and FIU and UF. It just never would have happened.

But, I will say one thing, after every game, my partner and I would meet at center court and every player and coach from both teams would line up and shake our hands and thank us for officiating the game, even after tournament games. Can you see that happening now, LOL!

MTD, Sr.

Real Sportsmanship ...
 

We've discussed this on the Forum in the past (love the Bryon collared shirt):

http://www.values.com/inspirational-...106-Basketball

And from another sport:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6TPjx1DMaEw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Exactly. That hair has just been repositioned. The same decision must still be made for those willing to make it.

Well in our state the new FT rule does not go into effect until Nov 1st, so all of the summer league games I've reffed (and am reffing now) are utilizing the current NFHS rule. No reason for teams to be using a rule that theoretially does not 'exist' as of yet:); however, when the rule does go into effect I know there will be the usual array of missed calls and mistaken calls which is typical for the implementation of novel rules. I expect that FT shooters who use a "hitch" in their release will draw lane violations from both their team mates and opponents. (by 'hitch' in the FT shot, rem'ber like grand-mama larry johnson used to shoot his FTs: holding the ball high and just before releasing FT he would stop in mid-form and pause for a second, then release the shot).

Do those leagues think the rule change is going to be rescinded before November or something? They don't want to get anyone's hopes up? :rolleyes:

That rule will not be rescinded at all, it has already been determined to go into effect; however, since it does not exist yet, the leagues are correctly using the current NFHS rule. I have no problem with that and niether should any coaches or players.

Isn't the purpose of playing summer ball is to prepare for the upcoming season? Not sure what you mean by the rule does not exist yet. I would assume if a up coming Freshman can play with their high school and they are not exactly a Freshman yet until the school year starts either if we use that logic. I guess, not big deal just sounds like weird logic not to apply a new rule.

Peace

To me and what I have seen, players were leaving before the shot anyway and officials werent calling it anyway.

MTD, Jr., and I have always (with apologies to the late J. Dallas Shirley) call it.

MTD, Sr.

They changed the rule awhile back because play got too rough and officials
were not calling the fouls, now they changed the rule back because officals were not calling the violations. Can we assume they will change it back after
x number of years when the fouls dont get called and play gets rough again. Maybe its a circle of life thing.

Solution: No one on the lane. Ball to B after the FTs (whether made or missed).

Bob:

And I thought I was a radical old cuss, :D!

MTD, Sr.