2025-26 NFHS Rules Changes

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ilyazhito

The rocket ship should still apply in the backcourt. In NFHS rules now, any stoppage in the frontcourt, other than OOB, uses the 4 designated spots.

We are going to have to get that explained or more wording. Because right now, it seems like this is for everywhere on the court. I would doubt the NF would have two different diagrams based on the FC and BC. But stranger things have happened.

Peace

[ltllng]

I emailed the NFHS to fix the wording on this.
The Rocket Ship is now GONE!

Updated here:
https://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource...anges-2025-26/

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Rationale: By using the visible three-point line as the line of demarcation, officials will have a clearer and more consistent method for determining throw-in locations. This improves accuracy and reduces confusion, resulting in more reliable throw-ins.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by ltllng

I emailed the NFHS to fix the wording on this.
The Rocket Ship is now GONE!

Updated here:
https://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource...anges-2025-26/

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Rationale: By using the visible three-point line as the line of demarcation, officials will have a clearer and more consistent method for determining throw-in locations. This improves accuracy and reduces confusion, resulting in more reliable throw-ins.

Itling:

Where did the NFHS make any change to R7-S5-A4 in its May 28, 2025 publication from its May 21, 2025 publication. I do not see any change in the Rule nor in its Rationale. Both the May 21, 2025 publication and the May 28, 2025 publication are the same: word for word.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by ltllng

The Rocket Ship is now GONE!

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Itling: Where did the NFHS make any change to R7-S5-A4 ...

Itling may be corrrect:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Previous wording only stated frontcourt:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

[BillyMac]

I'm trying to understand the new rules using common sense language.

How does this sound?

Goaltending violations only for defensive team. No more goaltending violations for the offensive team, for both passes and shots.

Once ball contacts the backboard, it is automatically considered to be on its downward flight. Therefore, if a player touches the ball after it hits the backboard, and the ball has a possibility of entering the basket, it is ruled as goaltending.

Slapping the backboard, with, or without intent, is no longer a technical foul. However, if the backboard is slapped, with, or without intent, and it affects the shot such that it doesn't go in the basket, award the goal for basket interference. Likewise, if the backboard is slapped, with, or without intent, and it does not affect the shot that doesn't go in the basket, do not award the goal.

Technical foul for players who illegally put hand on the backboard or ring to gain an advantage.

Violation for inbounder to purposely or deceitfully delay returning inbounds.

A player is one of the five team members legally on the court at any given time, except during timeouts or intermissions.

Officials will use the three point line to determining the designated throwin spot following a stoppage of play in both the frontcourt and the backcourt.

Middle school coaches in the games I work usually don't attend new rules clinics.

I'm trying to come up with my "elevator speech" for next season.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Middle school coaches in the games I work usually don't attend new rules clinics..

You have 90% too much for MS coaches. The only one I *might* mention is the violation for not entering the court immediately. And, if I did so, I wouldn't say anything about it formerly being a T.

the most important thing: "We are still paying 6 minute quarters? Good."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

You have 90% too much for MS coaches

I can definitely cover all of these within the time parameters of an "elevator speech", meant to last the duration of an elevator ride, which can vary in length from approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.

Can you please comment on all that I've broached?

Is my "common sense" language accurate to the purpose and intent of the actual more complex rule language?

I will also use this to cover the new rules with my middle school partners, some who haven't cracked open a rule book since the Obama administration.

In our local board we play eight minute middle school periods and get paid the same as a freshman or junior varsity high school game.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Itling may be corrrect:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Previous wording only stated frontcourt:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Damn trifocals! 🤬🤬 🤣🤣

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Damn trifocals!

IAABO (I Am A Blind Official)

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by ltllng

I emailed the NFHS to fix the wording on this.
The Rocket Ship is now GONE!

Updated here:
https://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource...anges-2025-26/

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Rationale: By using the visible three-point line as the line of demarcation, officials will have a clearer and more consistent method for determining throw-in locations. This improves accuracy and reduces confusion, resulting in more reliable throw-ins.

If one opens the above link it will open the May 28, 2025 version and this version is different from the original May 21, 2025 version. Both the May 21st and May 28th versions which can be converted to a 'print version' by clicking on the link in the upper right hand of the page labeled: Print and the May 28th version shows the correction from the Print version of May 21st version. But ...

If one clicks on the link in the upper left hand corner labeled: Download a PDF version. The PDF version for May 28th is the same as the PDF version for May 21st; the NFHS did not correct the PDF version.

The PDF version: https://www.nfhs.org/media/7213787/2...-rationale.pdf

MTD, Sr.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

IAABO (I Am A Blind Official)

Billy, we are both blind in one eye and cannot see out of the other!

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Now we know where the Rocket Ship is going.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Billy, we are both blind in one eye and cannot see out of the other!

In the off season before the last basketball season, I had cataract surgery on my left eye.

As a "regular" on the "middle school circuit" many fans and coaches know me quite well.

This past year I often told such fans and coaches, "Hey, if you thought I was good last year, I just got cataract surgery on my left eye and now I can finally see the basketball, boundaries, and numbers, so I'm going to be much better this year".

Many replied, "Better get the other eye done as soon as possible".

True story.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by ltllng

I emailed the NFHS to fix the wording on this.
The Rocket Ship is now GONE!

Updated here:
https://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource...anges-2025-26/

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Rationale: By using the visible three-point line as the line of demarcation, officials will have a clearer and more consistent method for determining throw-in locations. This improves accuracy and reduces confusion, resulting in more reliable throw-ins.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Itling may be corrrect:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt and backcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Previous wording only stated frontcourt:

7-5-4: This rule change updates the procedure for determining the designated throw-in spot following a stoppage of play (not due to the ball going out of bounds) in the frontcourt. Instead of relying on an imaginary line, officials now use existing court markings, specifically the three-point line, to determine the location. This change improves accuracy, consistency, and clarity for officials by using visible floor markings rather than imaginary lines, which were often misjudged.

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

If one opens the above link it will open the May 28, 2025 version and this version is different from the original May 21, 2025 version. Both the May 21st and May 28th versions which can be converted to a 'print version' by clicking on the link in the upper right hand of the page labeled: Print and the May 28th version shows the correction from the Print version of May 21st version. But ...

If one clicks on the link in the upper left hand corner labeled: Download a PDF version. The PDF version for May 28th is the same as the PDF version for May 21st; the NFHS did not correct the PDF version.

The PDF version: https://www.nfhs.org/media/7213787/2...-rationale.pdf

MTD, Sr.

As everyone should know by now the NFHS website was complete revamped at 12:00amEDT on July 01, 2025 and the new website is not that user friendly (not that the prevision was much better but that is a discussion for another time). The revamp was for all Sports but when the change was made, the Basketball Rules pages reverted to the obsolete pre-May 28, 2025 pages.

The real irony is that when the NFHS finally dropped the 2025-26 NFHS Basketball Comments on the Rules and Points of Emphasis on July 14, 2025, it updated the 2025-26 Rules Changes, Editorial Changes, and POE with a version dated June 24, 2025 which was nothing more than the May 21st version which the May 28th version was supposed to have corrected, and the June 14th PDF version is exactly the same as the May 21st and 28th (which was the same as the 21st version) versions.

And it gets curious and curiouser because:

The July 14th 2025-26 NFHS Basketball Comments on the Rules for R7-S5-A4 only mention ‘Front Court’ and not ‘Front Court and Backcourt’.

Therefore, “Lucy! You have some ‘splaining to do!”

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

And it gets curious and curiouser because: The July 14th 2025-26 NFHS Basketball Comments on the Rules for R7-S5-A4 only mention ‘Forecourt’ and not ‘Forecourt and Backcourt’. Therefore, “Lucy! You have some ‘splaining to do!”

Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.: You're showing your age.

The NFHS stopped using the terms "forecourt" and "midcourt" way back in the twentieth century.

In fact, we may be some of the few alive to remember such.

Remember "Lack of action"?

Remember "Play ball!".

Remember a new closely guarded count for dribblers (sixteen seconds of legal closely guarded, hold, dribble, dribble across midcourt line, hold)?

But in essence, what Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. was "trying" to say is true.

7-5-4: This change provides a clearer, more consistent method for determining the throw-in location after a stoppage of play in the frontcourt when the ball has not gone out of bounds.

Silly NFHS, everybody must be in "vacation mode".