[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

1. Allow referees to correct "wrong team" throw in errors (i.e. Team A awarded the ball for a throw in following a time out when Team B should have been awarded the ball) UNTIL a change of possession. While on the topic of correctable errors, modify the heck out of the current rule. If a team SCORES when an FT should have been awarded, the basket ENDS the time of correcting the error. If FTs are shot at the WRONG BASKET, that is NOT CORRECTABLE (both baskets should be 10' high, both FT lines should be at 15' and wind should not be a factor). If the team that got fouled is not on the ball enough to know that a foul is an FT shooting situation (or the defensive team is not aware in the case of fouling a poor FTer), that is not correctable, either.

The whole shooting at the wrong basket thing never made sense to me either. If the kid makes the free throw, count it. If he misses, don't give him another try.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

2. Change the definition of "Closely Guarded" to actually being "closely guarded" -- i.e. Change the rule to THREE FEET instead of SIX FEET.

Three feet is pretty close quarters. I'm afraid grunewar is right on this one. Forcing the defense to come in closer is not desirable.

If we ever do adopt a shot clock, I'd prefer to simply do away with the closely guarded count entirely. At the very least strip it down to the current NCAA-W rule.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

3. Do not charge a technical foul if a team only returns four players to the court following a time out. If a team wants to play short, let them. Similarly, if a team wishes to play 4v4 when the opponent only has 4 eligible players, let them. Why not allow a team to commit a "sporting act"? Forcing such teams to play with 5 if they have 5 is silly.

Agreed. If you can't get all your players back on the court after a TO, they wait at the table for the next opportunity to sub. However, still a T if they come running onto the court after the ball is in play.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

4. Change delaying coming back onto the court into a violation to match leaving the court and coming back onto the court.

Agreed. Hope springs eternal on this, the NFHS has recently shown a willingness to acknowledge that not every undesirable behavior is worthy of the nuclear option.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

5. Allow players to enter the lane on release on FTs. I have NEVER understood why there is a differentiation on certain 15 foot shots (FTs) force everyone to stand still until the ball hits, while other 15 foot shots, rebounders can kill each other (within the displacement rules of the game)BEFORE the release.

Why not allow them into the lane once the ball is at the shooter's disposal? I'm not being sarcastic, if the debate is over what magical moment is the right one, why not set it to be at a time that makes officiating free throws easier?

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

6. Modify the backcourt violation rules to restore the purpose of the division line (i.e. to prevent a team from delaying the game by using the entire 84/94 foot court instead of just half of it). First of all, eliminate the last-touch-first-touch violation by stating that PLAYER CONTROL must be established in the front court after a ball is tipped by the defense. Secondly, eliminate the throw-in exceptions to the backcourt violation rules. Until a player has BOTH FEET AND THE BALL IN THE FRONT COURT, the player shall be considered to be in the backcourt -- regardless whether the ball is tipped/not tipped on the inbounds pass. As a result, a player who jumps from the frontcourt to the backcourt to catch the ball would NOT be called for an "over and back" violation when, in fact, the BALL has never PASSED the division line.

I rather like this idea. Empirical evidence (i.e., the sheer number of threads started on this very topic) clearly indicates this is the most difficult rule to understand and apply correctly. As currently written it's got a big "gotcha" factor to it in situations that have nothing to do with the original intent of the rule.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

8. I rather like Nevada's idea on concentric circles for 1s, 2s and 3s. Perhaps a semicircle at 6 feet and another at the International distance. The short to midrange jump shot is almost gone from the game. While backdoor cut lay-ups are a thing of beauty, stopping at the six foot mark for a shot off the glass would be great, too. For FTs three defenders would be allowed inside the 6' arc for rebounding and the shooting team would be allowed two rebounders between the semicircles (FT shooter would be the third rebounder). The other four players would be outside the 3 point arc. Players can step in on release.

It is an interesting idea. But it would then be some other game and not basketball.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

9. I like MTD's rule regarding 3 FTs at foul 13 and beyond, except NO bonus free throws until the 8th foul, 2 shots at the 10th foul and 3 shots at the 12th foul.

Free throws take too long as it is. But the idea of an escalating penalty for team fouls has merit. How about after 12 we award one point and continue to shoot only two?

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

10. I like JRut's suggestion on the coaching box with a slight modification. Coaches would be able to COACH anywhere from 10' from the division line to the baseline, but there would be a "complaint box" that is 14' wide. If the coach is outside the "complaint box" and argues, automatic "T", but he can COACH anywhere he would like.

Two thoughts. I prefer the college rule. The problem is rarely that the coach is too far towards the baseline, it's that the coach is too far towards midcourt. Taking away the box for a T is both juvenile and sometimes creates a more difficult situation because now we have to police it. The "complaint box" idea is just silly.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

11. Continue to compile ALL relevant situations and case plays that are still in effect EACH YEAR in a single document (Case Book). ONLY delete such plays from the case book when a rule change makes them no longer valid. HIGHLIGHT all NEW CASEPLAYS in the Case Book as is done with the Rules Book.

Agreed. In this age of online access, they don't need to print and distribute the entire volume either. They could continue to publish the existing book, which would serve as the Reader's Digest version of the "big book". The big book would be available online.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

12. Make BillyMac's "Most Misunderstood Rules" mandatory reading for ALL NFHS Head and Assistant Coaches (with an online test following).

Lots of states already require coaches to take a rules test. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it's common for coaches to share the answers and never actually "take" the test. My preference would be a proctored exam. It's not like schools don't have the facilities in place to do this.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

13. Mandate fitness tests for referees at each level (BOYS MS, FR, JV, V and GIRLS MS, FR, JV and V -- yes, there is a BIG difference in requirements).

This merits a discussion all its own.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

14. Play 2 halves, but give the coaches one extra time out each. Close games would last as long, but most other games would be shortened by a couple minutes.

The longer I do this, the more I favor just playing halves.

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

15. ALL rules (such as the OHSAA 6th quarter in a day technical) MUST be in the NFHS Rules Book OR a NFHS Rules Addendum Book that would have ALL States exceptions listed in it by State.

Too much bother. Too un-American