NFHS Basketball Rules Changes - 2024-25
1-19: Limits the use of electronic devices used during a game for the purposes of recording and tracking stats, reviewing or diagramming plays, or other similar contest related functions.
Rationale: Clarifies the type of electronic devices that are allowed during the game, prohibiting the use of voice and video recording devices worn during a contest.
2-11-11: Requires the non-official scorer(s) to compare records with the official scorer when multiple scorers are present.
Rationale: Allows the official scorer to remain focused on game activity and places the responsibility of comparing scoring and other bookkeeping information on the auxiliary scorer(s).
3-3-6: Requires a player who has been injured to be removed from the game if the coach is beckoned by the official, whether the coach enters the playing area or not, or if bench personnel (i.e., a coach or athletic trainer) enters the court without being beckoned. The coach may still use a time-out to continue assessment of the injury and keep the injured player in the game.
Rationale: Creates consistency for officials that an injured player is subject to removal from the game when an injury occurs, and the coach/team personnel are beckoned or if they enter the court without an official beckoning.
3-3-7: Allows 20 seconds for a player to address any minor blood on the body or uniform without leaving the game. If the blood cannot be appropriately covered/cleaned within 20 seconds, the head coach may take a time-out to address the issue or substitute for the player.
Rationale: Provides a short interval of time to handle a blood related issue without delaying the game, while still addressing the health-related concerns associated with blood on a player.
3-4-4a (NEW): Allows the use of a school logo/mascot image to be centered directly above the uniform number in place of an identifying name.
Rationale: Removes the restriction of allowing only lettering on the front of the jersey.
4-6-1 EXCEPTION (NEW): Creates an exception to basket interference by allowing a player(s) to touch only the net while the ball is on or within the basket provided that the contact did not affect the ball.
Rationale: Allows play to continue unless the contact of the net affects the try for goal.
4-47-5 (NEW), 10-2-1g (NEW), 10-4-5b: Changes the penalty for failing to immediately pass the ball to the nearer official when a whistle sounds from a player technical to a warning for delay for the first violation and a team technical for any subsequent offense.
Rationale: Allows officials to issue a warning before assessing a technical and the technical will now be assessed to the team and not the player, lessening the severity of the penalty while addressing the behavior.
4-49 (NEW), 10-2-1g (NEW), 10-4-6f: Changes the penalty for faking being fouled from a player technical to a warning for the first violation and a team technical for any subsequent offense and adds a definition and examples.
Rationale: Allows officials to issue a warning before assessing a technical and the technical will now be assessed to the team and not the player, lessening the severity of the penalty while addressing the behavior.
7-1-1: Establishes that a player is out of bounds if contact by a teammate or other bench personnel outside the boundary line provides an advantage, allowing the player to remain in bounds.
Rationale: Establishes that a player cannot be assisted from outside the boundary line by teammates or bench personnel to remain in-bounds.
9-10-1a NOTE (NEW), 4-10: Allows state associations to adopt a modification to the closely guarded rule if they have adopted the 35-second shot clock, allowing players to dribble the ball for more than five seconds while closely guarded and maintain that a player may not hold the ball for five or more seconds.
Rationale: Permits states utilizing the 35-second shot clock to allow players to dribble without enforcing the closely guarded rule since they have a 35-second time limit to attempt a try for goal, maintaining an appropriate pace of play.
10-1-1 PENALTY, 10-1-2 PENALTY, 10-2-7 PENALTY (NEW), 10-5-1 PENALTY(NEW): Establishes that all administrative, team and bench technical fouls that occur during pregame offset – no free throws are awarded – and the game will start with a jump ball and the head coach does not lose the privilege of the coaching box.
Rationale: Clarifies that an equal number of technical fouls committed by both teams during pregame offset and establishes how the game will start after offsetting technical fouls.
10-2-7 (NEW), 10-5-1i: Changes the penalty for dunking or attempting to dunk or stuff a dead ball from a bench technical to a team technical.
Rationale: Continues to penalize the offending team with a team technical foul (free-throws, offended team the ball to start the period, a foul added to the team count), but no longer requires the coach to lose the coaching box to start the game and no personal foul is awarded.
2024-25 Basketball Editorial Changes
1-13-2, 2-2-4 NOTE, 2-10-6, 3-3-1c NOTE, 3-3-7 NOTES 1, 3-4-2a, 3-5-1 NOTE, 3-5-7, 4-12-2 NOTE (NEW), 7-2-1, 7-3-2, 7-6-6, 8-5-3, 9-1 PENALTIES 1c, 9-2-10 NOTE 2 (NEW), 9-2 PENALTIES 1, 9-2 PENALTY, 9-7-1 NOTE (NEW), 9-9-3 NOTE (NEW), 10-4-3, 10-4-6h, 10-5, 10-5-3, Official Signals
2024-25 Basketball Points of Emphasis
- Warning for Delay
- Faking Being Fouled
- Proper Procedures for Handling Blood
February 2024
QUESTION: Does every player who wears an undershirt have to have the same length sleeves?
ANSWER: Sleeve length must be the same on an individual player (right arm must match length of left arm), but it does not have to match the length of all teammates.
January 2024
QUESTION: What is the difference between a Headband and a Hair Control Device?
ANSWER: Headband - GOES AROUND THE WHOLE HEAD. Color restrictions must be followed (white, black, beige or the predominant color of the jersey...same color for all items on all participants). No extensions.
Hair Control Device - GOES AROUND THE HAIR ONLY. No color restrictions.
QUESTION: Are noisemakers allowed at basketball games during the regular season?
ANSWER: No. NFHS Rule 1-18, page 17.
MUSIC/SOUND EFFECTS/ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS
The playing of music/sound effects shall only be permitted during pregame, time-outs, intermission and post-game. The use of artificial noisemakers shall be prohibited. The announcer shall be prohibited from making announcements during the game, such as "two minutes to go."
November 2023
QUESTION: What is the difference between a violation and a technical when a player leaves the playing court (out of bounds) and returns during play?
ANSWER:
9.3.3 - Player Out of Bounds - Leaving the Court
9-3-3: Establishes that a player may step out of bounds without penalty unless they are the first player to touch the ball after returning to the court or if they left the court to avoid a violation.
Rationale: Allows a player to step out of bounds if they gain no advantage and penalizes a team only if they gain an advantage by leaving the court and returning to avoid a violation or to be the first to touch the ball.
SITUATION A:
A1 receives a pass while in the restricted area of the lane. A1 passes the ball to A2 outside the three-point line. In order to get the three-second count stopped, A1 steps directly out of bounds under A’s basket.
RULING: A1 is charged with a violation for leaving the court for an unauthorized reason. (9-3-3)
SITUATION B:
A1 and A2 set a double screen near the end line. A3 intentionally goes out of bounds outside the end line to have his/her defender detained by the double screen.
RULING: The official shall call a violation on A3 as soon as he/she steps out of bounds. The ball is awarded to Team B at a designated spot nearest to where the violation occurred.
SITUATION C:
A1 and A2 set a double screen near the end line. B3 intentionally goes out of bounds outside the end line to avoid being detained by A1 and A2. Just as B3 goes out of bounds, A3’s try is in flight.
RULING: B3 is called for a leaving-the-floor violation. Team A will receive the ball out of bounds at a spot nearest to where the violation occurred. Since the violation is on the defense, the ball does not become dead until the try has ended. If the try is successful, it will count. (6-7-9 EXCEPTION d)
SITUATION D:
The score is tied 60 to 60 with four seconds remaining in the game. A1 has a fast break and is near the free-throw line on his/her way to an uncontested lay-up. B5 running down the court near the sideline, intentionally runs out of bounds in the hopes of getting a leaving-the-floor violation called.
RULING: B5’s intentional violation should be ignored and A1’s activity should continue without interruption.
COMMENT: Non-contact, away from the ball, illegal defensive violations (i.e. excessively swinging the elbows, leaving the floor for an unauthorized reason) specifically designed to stop the clock near the end of a period or take away a clear advantageous position by the offense should be temporarily ignored. The defensive team should not benefit from the tactic. If time is not a factor, the defense should be penalized with the violation or a technical foul for unsporting behavior. (10-2-4)
Section 4 Player Technical
10.4.2 - Delay Returning to Court
Purposely and/or deceitfully delaying returning after legally being out of bounds.
SITUATION A:
A1 has the ball out of bounds for a throw-in. A1 completes the throw-in to A2 and then purposefully delays his/her return by taking four or five steps along the end line prior to coming inbounds behind a screen set by A3 and A4. A1 gets a return pass from A2 and takes an unchallenged try for goal.
RULING: A1 is charged with a technical foul for purposely delaying his/her return to the court following the throw-in. A1’s movement out of bounds along the end line was to take advantage of the screen and return to the court in a more advantageous position.
SITUATION B:
After a lengthy substitution process involving multiple substitutions for both Team A and Team B, A5 goes to the bench and remains there, mistakenly believing he/she has been replaced. The ball is put in play even though Team A has only four players on the court. Team A is bringing the ball into A’s frontcourt when the coach of Team A realizes they have only four players. The coach yells for A5 to return and he/she sprints directly onto the court and catches up with the play.
RULING: No technical foul is charged to A5. A5’s return to the court was not deceitful, nor did it provide A5 an unfair positioning advantage on the court.
QUESTION: How do I correctly apply the new NFHS throw-in rules?
ANSWER: The NFHS issued this clarification of the throw-in rules:
Out-of-Bounds Violations.
A reminder that the new rules have not changed the ensuing throw-in spot for out-of-bounds violations. Play should be resumed from the designated out-of-bounds spot nearest the violation. For plays on the sideline, the ensuing throw-in is always at the violation spot. For plays on either endline, the ensuing throw-in is only moved from the violation spot if the violation is located in the free-throw lane. A reminder that the court is split in half and the ensuing throw-ins should be taken from the side of the free-throw lane which the violation occurred from.
Backcourt Violations or Fouls.
A reminder that the new rules have not changed regarding fouls or violations in the ensuing team's backcourt. See the graphic below as a reminder of these throw-in spots.
(New) Stepping on the Division Line.
NFHS released their rules interpretations for the 2023-24 year and rules changes. When a player commits a backcourt violation by only stepping on the division line, the ensuing throw-in would be at the appropriate 28-foot line for the side of the court the violation occurred on.
Timeout During Throw-in.
When the throw-in team requests and is granted a timeout during a throw-in, the ensuing throw-in spot is unchanged. For example, if a throw-in is for an out-of-bounds violation where the ball was deflected out in one of the frontcourt corners, a timeout does not change the throw-in is still for the out-of-bounds violation. The ensuing throw-in following the timeout does not allow the throw-in to be taken from the designated spot three feet outside the free-throw lane line.
Timeout in Frontcourt.
When the offensive team requests and is granted a timeout during on-court action in the offensive frontcourt, the ensuing throw-in is from the side of the floor the ball is when play is stopped at the designated three feet spot outside the free-throw lane line or 28-foot line as determined by the ball’s location when the timeout is granted.
Backcourt Throw-in Untouched.
When the offensive team has a throw-in in the offensive backcourt and the throw-in goes out of bounds untouched, the ensuing throw-in will be from the side of the floor of the throw-in at the designated three feet spot outside the free-throw lane line or 28-foot line. This is a throw-in violation and the offense will be awarded possession in its frontcourt; therefore the throw-in will be at one of the four designated spots.
Other Common Scenarios.
Here are some other situations where the four designated spots are used for the ensuing throw-in. A 10-second backcourt violation, when point of interruption is used with the offensive team in the frontcourt, backcourt violation (note the above graphic should be used for where the ball was touched creating the backcourt violation rather for designated spot on endline or 28-foot line), off-ball foul that awards possession in the ensuing team’s frontcourt, kicking violation in ensuing team’s frontcourt, ensuing throw-in for an intentional foul in ensuing team’s frontcourt, etc.
Technical Foul Throw-ins.
A division line throw-in is still used to resume play following the free throws for a technical foul.
Additional Situation, provided by NFHS
SITUATION: Team A has possession of the ball in its frontcourt when the ball is deflected out of bounds by Team B. The ball exits the court along the end line close to the right sideline. Team A is granted an in-bound at the location where the ball exited the court. While Team A is trying to inbound the ball, Team A calls a time-out. After the time-out, the in-bound spot (a) returns to the same spot; (b) moves to the designated spot 3-feet outside of the lane along the end line. RULING: (a) Correct procedure; (b) Incorrect procedure. COMMENT: Since the ball was not on the court, the time-out did not create a “stoppage in play” that would move the in-bound spot to one of the four designated spots. Play will continue from the in-bound spot established by the deflection of the ball by Team B. (7-5-2, 7-5-3a)
QUESTION: Are there any rules that would prohibit a basketball staff from using an iPad on the bench during games?
ANSWER: NFHS Rule 1-19 ELECTRONIC DEVICES: The use of electronic devices is permitted during the game.
QUESTION: Double Fouls. A common foul is committed by Team B, and team A is in the bonus. After this, a technical foul is given to a player on Team B, and then during the same dead ball period before the free throws, a technical foul is given to the coach of Team A. Does this scenario with the technical fouls fall under the false double foul rule, in which we would enforce both (Free throws to both teams), or do the technical fouls offset, and we continue with the bonus free throws?
ANSWER: Fundamental Rule #12 indicates “Penalties for fouls are administered in the order in which they occur.” Team A would shoot their bonus free throws first with no players lined up, then the free throws for the corresponding technical fouls would be shot…first Team A, then Team B with Team B getting the ball at half court for a throw-in.
January 2021
QUESTION: Is it mandatory to exchange the COVID Verification form before each game?
ANSWER: Yes, mandatory. If one team does not have the form, and cannot produce it by game-time, the game can result in a forfeit.
QUESTION: Has there been a change to the Sectional Semifinal and Sectional Final sites?
ANSWER: Yes. All Sectional games will be played at the home of the higher seed. This change was made due to the many cancellations by neutral sites and the inability to get all of these sites replaced. This model was utilized in volleyball in the Fall. In order to move forward in this manner, a re-seeding will occur on the Sunday after the Regional Finals. We need hosts for these seeding meetings.
December 2020
QUESTION: When can my team play games after quarantine?
ANSWER: Use the following chart:
| Missed Days of Practice |
Practices before competition |
| 7 - 13 |
3 |
| 14+ |
5 |
- Count all calendar days
- Practice on the day of a competition does not count
- Practices must be in-person for acclimatization purposes
- Socially Distanced practices in the gym with a coach DO count.
November 2020
QUESTION: If my team is unable to play a full schedule of games, could we replace the game with local scrimmages? And, do scrimmages have to be in the beginning of the season?
ANSWER: Currently, basketball is allowed 24 games and 1 scrimmage. Games can be “traded” for scrimmages. In other words, if you are unable/prefer not to fill the 24 game maximum on your schedule, you may replace games with scrimmages. A scrimmage may be played at any time during the WIAA basketball season (regular season or WIAA Tournament Series) provided:
- Three different days of practice have elapsed
- Does not count in either team’s win/loss record
- No loss of academic class time
- All athletes participating, meet all WIAA and school eligibility requirements (exceptions: students ineligible due to academic deficiency, cod of conduct violations, or those required to miss the next competitive event, due to being ejected from their last competitive event, may participate at the discretion of the school)
April 2019
QUESTION: Can Middle Level Coaches use the 28-foot coaching box?
ANSWER: Only High School Coaches are given the opportunity to use the coaching box. This applies to grades 9-12, and all levels (i.e. Freshmen, JV, Varsity, etc.)
QUESTION: Team A is behind late in the game. They have no time outs. The shoot and make a shot. After the ball goes through a player from team A immediately grabs the ball and throws it into the crowd. It was an intentional act to stop the clock and to set up their press.
ANSWER: Refer to the NFHS Basketball Case Book (Page 77, Rule 10.2.1 Situation D)
Immediately following a goal by A1, A3 slaps the ball away so that Team B is unable to make a quick throw-in. RULING: The official shall sound his/her whistle and go to the table to have the scorer record a team warning for delay. The warning shall then be reported to the head coach of Team A. Any subsequent delay by Team A shall result in a team technical foul charged to Team A (4-47-3)
QUESTION: Towards the end of the game (say under 2 minutes), the coach for the defensive team is yelling and telling the players to foul, foul, foul - to stop the clock and maybe give their team a chance to get the ball back. What is the ruling? Please let me know the rule or case book ref, and follow-up on this situation. I thought this was not legal. Some coaches use a code word (red or similar) to indicate the team should foul, but I did not think it was ok to yell, foul, foul, etc. to stop the clock.
ANSWER: Refer to the NFHS Basketball Case Book. (Page 28, Rule 4.19.3 Situation D)
Late in the fourth quarter Team B is trailing by six points. Team B’s head coach begins to yell to his or her player to ‘foul, foul, foul!” B1 responds by (a) grabbing A1 from behind, or (b) reaching for the ball but illegally contacting A1 on the arm. RULING: In (a), an intentional foul shall be ruled. In (b), a common foul shall be ruled as B1 was making a legitimate attempt to ‘play the ball’. COMMENT: Fouling near the end of a game is an acceptable coaching and playing strategy. Officials must determine if a foul is intentional by judging the fouling act itself, not wheter or not the coach instructed a player to perform the act.
QUESTION: Team A has the ball on the base line and inbounds it, touched by Team A then goes in the backcourt and is again touched by Team A. This is over and back call - violation, is this correct?
ANSWER: This would not be an over-and-back situation. There is TEAM control when the ball is in possession out of bounds. There is not PLAYER CONTROL until the ball is entered. Therefore, if PLAYER CONTROL has not been established, there cannot be an over and back.
THROW-IN LOCATION November 16, 2023
Question: Team A has the ball in the front court, they call timeout. Does the ball go to one of the 4 inbound spots or does it go to the spot where the ball is?
Answer: The ball goes to one of the 4 inbounds spots, because a timeout falls under “the ball becomes dead.”
The throw-in procedure for front-court violations was simplified in Rules 7-5-2 through 7-5-5. When the ball is in team control in the offensive team’s frontcourt and the defensive team commits a violation, a common foul prior to the bonus, or the ball becomes dead, the corresponding throw-in by the offensive team will be at one of four designated spots determined by where the infraction took place. The designated spots are either the nearest 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot 3 feet outside the lane line on the end line. The one exception is when the defensive team causes a ball to be out of bounds, the throw-in shall be the spot where the ball went out of bounds.
DOUBLE FOULS November 13, 2023
Question: A common foul is committed by Team B, and team A is in the bonus. After this, a technical foul is given to a player on Team B, and then during the same dead ball period before the free throws, a technical foul is given to the coach of Team A. Does this scenario with the technical fouls fall under the false double foul rule, in which we would enforce both (Free throws to both teams), or do the technical fouls offset, and we continue with the bonus free throws?
Answer: Team B will shoot two free throws for the Team A Technical, then Team A will shoot two free throws for the Team B Technical, the players will line-up for Team A shooting the bonus free throws.
RETURNING FROM OUT OF BOUNDS November 8, 2023
Question: We were looking at the Case Book p. 70, 9.3.3 Situations A-B-C. All was good. Then we talked about the Inbounding play where the Player from Team A inbounds the ball from the baseline, then goes across the lane before returning to the court. According to the new rule this is legal as long as he is not the first to touch the ball. But we came across Case Book p. 80, 10.4.2 Situation A. This play calls it a Technical Foul, as this play always used to be. Is this the way to call it, or is this a leftover from the older ruling?
Answer: 9-3-3 refers to a player leaving the court to avoid a violation or on their own, but then be the first player to touch the ball. 10-4-2 refers to a player purposefully or deceitfully delaying returning after legally being out of bounds (ex: inbounding the ball).
9-3-3: Establishes that a player may step out of bounds without penalty unless they are the first player to touch the ball after returning to the court or if they left the court to avoid a violation. Rationale: Allows a player to step out of bounds if they gain no advantage and penalizes a team only if they gain an advantage by leaving the court and returning to avoid a violation or to be the first to touch the ball.
Section 4 Player Technical 10.4.2 - Delay Returning to Court. Purposely and/or deceitfully delaying returning after legally being out of bounds.
AIRBORNE SHOOTER, END OF GAME February 2, 2023
Question: if a shooter is in the act of shooting (airborne shooter) and if fouled after 0.00 and did not get the ball off before 0.00 but still has not come back to the ground, how would we adjudicate that. Would we ignore the foul since after 0.00 or since we must bring a shooter up and down would we still call a foul there and give them 2 free throws with no time on the clock to determine if OT is needed. There are several rules that bring us back and forth including the definition of an airborne shooter and then personal foul. Airborne shooter must shoot the ball to be an airborne shooter per definition, but personal foul says you can foul a dead ball airborne shooter.
Answer: You do not ignore the foul, the airborne shooter is protected, regardless of time. However, depending on whether the ball was out of the hands of the shooter prior to or after the expiration of time will determine next actions taken. Free throws are to be administered for the personal foul committed, unless they will not have a bearing on the outcome of the game and since no time remains.
4-19-1 & Note states a personal foul includes contact on an airborne shooter when the ball is dead; contact after the ball has become dead is incidental unless it is committed on an airborne shooter.
Consideration for this situation of when the ball is dead as defined in 6-7-5,6,7 & Exception "The ball does not become dead until the try or tap for field goals ends until the airborne shooter returns to the floor."
5-6-2 Exception 3 is relevant regarding the ending of a quarter, and whether free throws shall be attempted.
A foul was called on an airborne shooter, so with that information and your questions about time expiring:
- If time had expired before the shot was released from the hands, then no goal could count, and depending on the location, either 2 or 3 free throws are awarded.
- If time had not expired before the shot was released from the hands, then the goal could count, and depending on that result, the appropriate free throws are awarded.
- However, free throws are awarded depending on whether they will impact the outcome of the game.
Casebook 5.2.5 Situation C may be helpful to review.
Casebook 5.6.2 Situation D addresses your question as well. Ignoring the layer of a technical, A1 is awarded two free throws due to being fouled as time expired even though the ball wasn’t out of A1’s hands.