Well - it's official. The NF has the press release posted on their website (www.nfhs.org) and they are all as previously posted.

I guess the guys in Indiana who had them up before they were official got their information from Miss Cleo.:p

AGAIN!!
 

Where on the site do you see it? I cannot find it AGAIN!!!

Insert joke where needed. :p

The new rules are posted under "Current Events & News" on the NFHS site--at the bottom of left hand column.

I read the new changes Mark. Interesting on some of the changes mirroring the NCAA mechanics and rules. I am waiting for them to bring the shot-clock into effect. BTW, are any state high school associations playing with shot clock rules right now?

I know California uses a shot clock.

Massachusetts has been using shot clock for years.
It is a very good thing.
For some dumb reason (IMO)
they do not have a ten second backcourt count for girls???

Neither does California for girls only.

Ditto for Washington...girls have 30 sec. clock, but no 10 second count and 5 sec closely guarded only on a held ball anywhere on the court...it's weird...

For Marty
 

Marty, where are you in MA? I'm in out west, near Springfield. If you don't want to post it for the whole world, email me [email protected]

Chuck

States that use the shot clock generally follow the NCAA rules on backcourt and closely guarded.

Just to make this more interesting, could someone explain to me the logic of having backcourt and closely guarded counts when there is a shot clock in use? The purpose of a shot clock is to force a team to attack the basket within a certain amount of time. If you are willing to accept that as an adequate method of forcing offense and making the game enjoyable, then why have the other counts? They seem redundant to me.

It's as if you are saying that 30 seconds to shoot is OK, as long as the ball is in the frontcourt for at least 21 of those seconds and you do not have any of your players hold or dribble the ball for more than 4.9 seconds when a defender is standing 6' or less from them in the frontcourt. What's the point?

The only rationale I can come up with for the 10 second count is that it would be more difficult for the defense to guard full court for 29 seconds than for 9, so putting the offense in a more confined space for 21 of those seconds makes the game more interesting (I suppose).

However, I still see no need for the 5 second count in shot clock games. Frankly, I don't like the count in non-shot clock games either. I feel a gaining a possession is too great a reward for someone standing close to the ball handler for 5 seconds.

Well, by NF logic, just stop calling the 5-second violations, and they'll change the rule! :)

Washington used to have no over-and-back violation for girl's ball - until enough people said they didn't like that and it was changed about 10 years ago...but that would fall under the same category - if you want to waste some of your 30 seconds throwing the ball back down to the other end of the court - go ahead...I do like the 5 sec. only on a held ball part, though - if you force someone to pick up their dribble and can keep them from passing the ball, that defense needs to be rewarded in the rules...

Bob: Massachusetts does EVERYTHING by National
Fed. rules, including 10 sec backcourt, and 5 sec
closely guarded (all the time, not just when the ball
is being held) for girls and boys. They add the 30 sec
shot clock for both, but take away the 10 sec backcourt
count for the girls only.


Mark: I agree with you about the 10 sec backcourt
count being unnecessary (with a shot clock).
But, whether we use it (or the 5 sec closely guarded)
or not,it should be the SAME for boys and girls
basketball. No need to change the game for the
girls, IMO.

Mark,

I saw that the NFHS has added a new signal to our chart for the new "excessive swinging of the elbows violation" this year. Do you or does anybody know what the new mechanic is for this call?