IAABO NFHS New Rules, Etc. ...

[BillyMac]

Zoochy recently found these on the IAABO website.

Thanks Zoochy.

International Association Of Approved Basketball Officials

NFHS Rules Changes, Editorial Revisions and Other Changes

4-22-1 & 2 Goaltending
Goaltending occurs when:
ART. 1 .A defensive player touches the ball during a try or tap for field goal while the ball is in its downward flight entirely above the basket ring level, has the possibility of entering the basket in flight and is not touching the basket cylinder;
ART. 2 A defensive player touches the ball outside the cylinder during a free-throw attempt.

Rationale: Limiting goaltending to defensive players simplifies the rule and enhances consistency in enforcement. Offensively, there is no practical incentive for a player to intentionally goaltend their own team’s shot. By removing the possibility of offensive goaltending, officials no longer need to determine whether a ball in flight is a legitimate try or a pass, reducing subjectivity and improving clarity. This change streamlines decision-making for both officials and players and supports the flow of play by allowing more scoring opportunities at the basket.

4-22-3 Goaltending
ART. 3 When the ball contacts the backboard, it is considered to be on its downward flight. In such a case, it is goaltending when the ball is touched by a player as long as it has a possibility of entering the basket.

Rationale: Clarifying that a try contacting the backboard means it is on its downward flight addresses a frequent misunderstanding among coaches, players, and fans. This definition helps officials apply the goaltending rule more consistently and enhances the accuracy of enforcement.

4-34-1 Players/Bench Personnel/Substitutes/Team Members
ART. 1 A player is one of the five team members who are legally on the court at any given time, except during time-outs or intermissions.
ART. 2 Bench personnel are all individuals who are part of or affiliated with a team, including, but not limited to: substitutes, coaches, manager(s) and statistician(s). During time-out or intermissions, all team members are bench personnel for the purpose of penalizing unsporting behavior.

Rationale: This change resolves a long-standing inconsistency in how the five players in the game are defined during time-outs versus intermissions. By clarifying that these players become bench personnel, enforcement of the rule becomes more consistent by eliminating the need to determine which team members had been in the game when a time-out was granted

7-5-3, 7-5-4 Resumption-Of-Play Procedure, Throw-Ins
ART. 3 After a violation (9-1, 9-2, 9-4 through 9-13) by either team, a foul by either team before the bonus is in effect or any other stoppage in play, the throw-in location will be determined by the location of the violation/foul or the location of the ball when the stoppage occurs. If the throw-in is to be in the team's frontcourt or backcourt, it shall be at either the nearest 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot 3-feet outside the lane line along the end line. (Diagram 5)
ART. 4 Officials shall determine the designated spot by using three-point line. If the stoppage of play on or within the three-point line, the designated spot shall be the nearest point on the end line 3 feet outside the lane line.(See Number 1 on Diagram 5).If the stoppage occurs outside the three-point line , the designated spot shall be the nearest sideline at the 28-foot line. (See Number 2 on Diagram 5).

Rationale: This change provides clearly visible existing court markings to determine designated throw-in spots after stoppages of play (other than out-of-bounds) and eliminates reliance on an undefined “imaginary line”. This provides officials with a more consistent and objective reference, reduces ambiguity, and improves the accuracy and efficiency of resumption-of-play procedures.

9-2-12 Throw-In Provisions
ART. 2 The thrower shall not purposely and/or deceitfully delay returning after legally being out of bounds and then become the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing court.

Rationale: Previously penalized as a technical foul, this change will now align with the penalty for similar violations, such as a player purposely or deceitfully delaying their return from out of bounds. By reducing the severity of the penalty, officials are more likely to enforce the rule, leading to more consistent application.

10-4-3, 4-6-2 (NEW) Player Technical
ART. 3. Illegally contact the backboard/ring by placing a hand on the backboard or ring to gain an advantage.
Basket Interference
Basket Interference occurs when a player:
ART. 2. Slaps or strikes the backboard causing the backboard or basket to vibrate while the ball is on or within either basket or is touching the backboard or within the cylinder.

Rationale: This revision redefines the act of slapping or striking the backboard that it results in vibration during a scoring attempt, from a technical foul to a basket interference violation. By removing the need to judge a player's intent, for example, during attempted blocked shots, this change promotes more objective and consistent officiating. It standardizes enforcement by aligning this action with other basket interference provisions, simplifying decision making for officials

4-19-3c FOUL
ART. 3 An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul that may or may not be premeditated and is not based solely on the severity of the act. Intentional fouls include, but are not limited to:
c. Contact that is not a legitimate attempt to play the ball/player

Rationale: This editorial revision addresses a contradiction between Rule 4-19-3 and Casebook 4.19.3D, which recognizes strategic fouling near the end of a game as an acceptable tactic. The current rule language implies that all attempts to stop the clock should be considered intentional fouls, which limits officials’ discretion and conflicts with common game strategy. By clarifying this language, the rule allows officials to distinguish between excessive or non-legitimate contact and routine strategic fouls, supporting more consistent and practical enforcement