2022-23 NFHS Basketball Rules Changes

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Raymond

When my organs are getting donated to scientific studies, HS refs will still be making excuses for why they allow ballhandlers to get manhandled all over the court..."it's soft", "they have to play through it", etc.

I’m not stopping the clock for that, if the dribbler can continue without loss of possession or some other significant disadvantage.

The game fees at the HS level simply aren’t enough to warrant a 90-minute or two-hour game. Get in, get finished, get out.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I’m not stopping the clock for that, if the dribbler can continue without loss of possession or some other significant disadvantage.

...

Referees will complain about how sloppy a game was oblivious to the fact they allowed so much physicality on the ball handlers, leading to turnovers. Or wonder why a player dribbled into a trap, ignoring that the defender literally pushed the dribbler in that direction.

The lower the athleticism and/or skill, the more we need whistles on those plays.


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[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Referees will complain about how sloppy a game was oblivious to the fact they allowed so much physicality on the ball handlers, leading to turnovers. Or wonder why a player dribbled into a trap, ignoring that the defender literally pushed the dribbler in that direction.

The lower the athleticism and/or skill, the more we need whistles on those plays.


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Yep. The game goes so much smoother and is more entertaining once you stop letting defenders get away with so much that should be a foul. Fouls eventually come back down, scoring goes up, and the ball moves more quickly.

[ilyazhito]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Yep. The game goes so much smoother and is more entertaining once you stop letting defenders get away with so much that should be a foul. Fouls eventually come back down, scoring goes up, and the ball moves more quickly.

I agree. That is why I try to be consistent and rigorous on calling freedom of movement fouls. I call two hands and stayed hands frequently.

In the DC area, 90 minute games are the average, particularly at the varsity level.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

In the DC area, 90 minute games are the average, particularly at the varsity level.

Ugh, around a 65 minute average for me. I’m showered and driving home before you start the fourth quarter.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Raymond

Referees will complain about how sloppy a game was oblivious to the fact they allowed so much physicality on the ball handlers, leading to turnovers. Or wonder why a player dribbled into a trap, ignoring that the defender literally pushed the dribbler in that direction.

The lower the athleticism and/or skill, the more we need whistles on those plays.

All we have to do is call fouls. If the contact (illegal) cause the player to fall, lose the ball, make a bad pass, go out of bounds or make a shot harder, blow the damn whistle.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If the contact (illegal) cause the player to fall, lose the ball, make a bad pass, go out of bounds or make a shot harder, blow the damn whistle.

This sounds like the long held NFHS philosophy based on advantage and disadvantage. It still exists. Of course, it has to be called. Nobody can argue that.

A player or a team should not be permitted an advantage which is not intended by a rule. Neither should play be permitted to develop which may lead to placing a player at a disadvantage not intended by a rule.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

All you have to do is call one or two and they usually stop. Most of the time I call a handchecking foul, and the coach gets on the player for not using their hands. Especially when they do it with two hands.

This sounds like the new NFHS philosophy, now actually written into the rulebook.

10-7-12: The following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler/dribbler. A player becomes a ball handler when he/she receives the ball. This would include a player in a post position.
a. Placing two hands on the player.
b. Placing an extended arm bar on the player.
c. Placing and keeping a hand on the player.
d. Contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

This is where, sometimes, different officials have different philosophies.

As JRutledge noted, when called early in a game, players and coaches adjust, making for smoother game.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

As JRutledge noted, when called early in a game, players and coaches adjust, making for smoother game.

If one is going to call a hand check "touch" foul, do it early in the game. Don't call your first "touch" foul with a minute to go in the fourth period of a tied game.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If the contact (illegal) cause the player to fall, lose the ball, make a bad pass, go out of bounds or make a shot harder, blow the damn whistle.

Call these advantage/disadvantage fouls at any time, even if you call your first one with a minute to go in the fourth period of a tied game.

[JRutledge]

Billy,

Funny, I did not say a damn thing about handchecking as an advantage/disadvantage foul. And 4-27 did not magically go away in the rulebook in the last 10 years either. There is still a standard that all contact is not a foul and when that contact does not directly influence the normal movement of players, it is not illegal or should not be ruled a foul.

The handchecking rules are particular and still have a judgment element to them. Because there are people that think anytime a hand touches a dribbler that is a foul. That is not how the rule is written.

A lot of the contact that Raymond was mentioning was not handchecking fouls. Players are trapped and we allow defenders to crowd or bump into ball handlers with their torso or hit them with their arms which are not handchecking fouls. The NCAA put in a cylinder foul to allow the ball handler some space to move normally. So at least they have that part figured out where we think as NF officials that that kind of contact is OK, just because there is no rule in place.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If the contact (illegal) cause the player to fall, lose the ball, make a bad pass, go out of bounds or make a shot harder, blow the damn whistle.

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I did not say a damn thing about handchecking as an advantage/disadvantage foul.

The situations you described in an earlier post certainly describe advantage/disadvantage situations (player falls, player loses ball, player makes a bad pass, player goes out of bounds, player had difficulty shooting). Some could have been caused by handchecking. Some may have been caused by other types of fouls (push, block, etc.).

Many posts previous to your post were specifically aimed at ball handlers, possibly with handchecking, thus I thought you were commenting on those posts, not slightly changing the topic to all illegal contact fouls. I thought ... "poorly".

Originally Posted by Raymond

… refs will still be making excuses for why they allow ballhandlers to get manhandled all over the court ...

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

… if the dribbler can continue without loss of possession or some other significant disadvantage…

Originally Posted by Raymond

… so much physicality on the ball handlers, leading to turnovers. Or wonder why a player dribbled into a trap, ignoring that the defender literally pushed the dribbler in that direction.

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

… consistent and rigorous on calling freedom of movement fouls. I call two hands and stayed hands frequently …

Originally Posted by JRutledge

All you have to do is call one or two and they usually stop. Most of the time I call a handchecking foul …

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The handchecking rules are particular and still have a judgment element to them. Because there are people that think anytime a hand touches a dribbler that is a foul. That is not how the rule is written.

Judgment does have a role, but multiple points of emphases and a recent rule language change, have taken away some of that judgment.

A single, momentary "hot stove" touch with one hand? Legal. Single, momentary, touch, and one hand.

Everything else? See 10-7-12 and adjudicate based on what your state, local area, and assigner, want.

10-7-12: The following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler/dribbler. A player becomes a ball handler when he/she receives the ball. This would include a player in a post position.
a. Placing two hands on the player.
b. Placing an extended arm bar on the player.
c. Placing and keeping a hand on the player.
d. Contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

My local interpreter and assigner want these "touch" fouls called.

As usual, when in Rome ...

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I’m not stopping the clock for that, if the dribbler can continue without loss of possession or some other significant disadvantage.

The game fees at the HS level simply aren’t enough to warrant a 90-minute or two-hour game. Get in, get finished, get out.

All you have to do is call one or two and they usually stop. Most of the time I call a handchecking foul, and the coach gets on the player for not using their hands. So it usually does not warrant a lot of calls in this area in the first place. Especially when they do it with two hands. Yes, still try to see the effect or the influence of the contact, but call it all the time and it only requires one or two calls from the crew and they get the message.

Peace