NFHS and NCAA (Men's and) Women's Fighting Rule.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Okay. I cannot get up into the attic right now but I need help in verifying my memory.

Situation: B1 commits a CF against A1 but A1 takes umbrage with B1's CF and takes the Ball and decides to pass the Ball at high velocity toward B1's face and B1 retaliates by Pushing A1 with great force.

I seem to remember that even if A1's initial action toward B1 would not be considered a Fighting Foul or Flagrant Foul as a stand-alone action, if it causes B1 to retaliate, A1 and B1 are to be charged with Fighting Fouls. My memory wants to say this Rule Change its and Interpretation and Approved Ruling was from the late 1980s.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

B1 commits a CF against A1 but A1 takes umbrage with B1's CF and takes the Ball and decides to pass the Ball at high velocity toward B1's face and B1 retaliates by Pushing A1 with great force. I seem to remember that even if A1's initial action toward B1 would not be considered a Fighting Foul or Flagrant Foul as a stand-alone action, if it causes B1 to retaliate, A1 and B1 are to be charged with Fighting Fouls.

While technically A1 did not contact B1 (the ball did), the action could be considered taunting, which is then considered part of the fight after there was contact retaliaition.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

While technically A1 did not contact B1 (the ball did), the action could be considered taunting, which is then considered part of the fight after there was contact retaliaition.

He throws the ball at high speed and hits an opponent in the face and you call it...

Taunting???

That's a flagrant technical foul.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

He throws the ball at high speed and hits an opponent in the face and you call it...Taunting??? That's a flagrant technical foul.

Agree, I was just trying to wrap my head around and got distracted by contact or no contact.

You're right, any unsporting act (not just tauntng) can be considered part of a fight.

4-18-: Fighting is a flagrant act and can occur when the ball is dead or live. Fighting includes, but is not limited to combative acts such as:
ART. 1 An attempt to strike, punch or kick by using a fist, hands, arms, legs or feet regardless of whether contact is made.
ART. 2 An attempt to instigate a fight by committing an unsporting act that causes a person to retaliate by fighting.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I did not try to get into The Attic but here are the Rule citations:

2025-26 NFHS Rule 4, Section 18, Article 2:

Fighting is a flagrant act and can occur when the ball is dead or live. Fighting includes, but is not limited to combative acts such as: An attempt to instigate a fight by committing an unsporting act that causes a person to retaliate by fighting.


2025-26 NCAA Men’s Rule 10, Section 5, Article 4:

When, during a confrontation, an individual uses unsportsmanlike acts or comments which, in the opinion of the official, provoke the other individual to retaliate by fighting, it shall be ruled that both individuals have been involved in the fight.


2025-26 & 2026-27 NCAA Women’s Rule 10, Section 15, Article 4:

When, during a confrontation, an individual uses unsportsmanlike acts or comments which, in the opinion of the official, provoke the other individual to retaliate by fighting, it shall be ruled that both individuals have been involved in the fight.

MTD, Sr.