[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Zoochy

2025-26 Case Book 4.34.1 COMMENT: During a time-out, A1 is considered a player and not bench personnel.

Nice catch Zoochy.

The paper NFHS 2025-26 casebook contains a copy-paste error from the 2024-25 casebook.

2025-26 NFHS Basketball Rules Changes

In a change to Rule 4-34-1, all players in the game will be considered bench personnel once an official signals for a time-out. This change ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by allowing officials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs. Prior to this change, if a player warranted a penalty for unsporting conduct during a time-out, an official was required to determine if the player had been in the game or on the bench.

4-34-1: This rule change updates the definition of a player to clarify that a player is one of the five team members legally on the court at any given time, except during time-outs or intermissions. The change ensures consistency in rule enforcement by recognizing that it is difficult to distinguish between players, substitutes, and bench personnel during time-outs and intermissions. This clarification also supports the accountability of coaches for all team conduct during these periods and helps avoid misapplication of penalties such as technical fouls.

Rationale: This change ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by bench personnel. It allows officials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs, aligning with
the current rules for intermissions. It eliminates confusion and potential misapplication of rules and ensures fair and consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting behavior, regardless of the individual’s role.

4.34.1 SITUATION: Team A requests a time-out; at the conclusion of the time-out as the teams are returning to the court, A1 curses at the game officials. RULING: A1 is assessed a technical foul. The foul will count as one of A1's fouls toward disqualification and count toward the team foul count. An indirect technical foul is also charged to the head coach resulting in the loss of coaching-box privileges as A1 is considered bench personnel in this situation. COMMENT: During a time-out, A1 is considered bench personnel and not a player.

We've been told that bench personnel become players when the ball becomes live (disposal, tossed).