New Rule

[BillyMac]

From Old School: "If I blow my whistle, and a split second later the horn goes off to end the game. 1 second or less or not, the game is not over because my whistle blew before the horn went off. Simple. Federation says if one second or less game is over."

2006-07 NFHS Rule Revision: 5-10-1, Lag Time Eliminated: "The referee may put the exact time observed by an official back on the game clock. When an official has definite knowledge relative to the time involved, he or she should have the ability to put the correct time on the game clock"

So in this case, if an official observed 0.5 seconds on the game clock when the whistle blew, he or she can put 0.5 seconds back on the clock. So according to the Federation, it's not as simple as Old School implies, and the game may, or may not be over. Also, if no official has definite knowledge of the clock when the whistle blew, and if the whistle was blown for a foul, and if foul shots are to be taken, and if those foul shots will impact the game, they are taken, and the game may not be over, the team behind can end up winning, or the game can go into overtime. As Yogi Berra said "It ain't over till it's over" and basketball rules are never as simple as they appear.

Statements like "Federation says if one second or less game is over" could lead to some confusion amoung nonofficials and new officials who visit this Forum. I wish that posters would be more careful about such statements which could lead to some rule myths and confusion.