2025-26 NFHS Rules Changes

[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".

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

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

The NFHS stopped using the terms "forecourt" and "midcourt" 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 guarding 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".

BillyMac:

I have no idea why I used the word Forecourt!

I will edit the comment immediately,

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

I have no idea why I used the word Forecourt!