fight rule

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Yes, there is.

In one place, in very plain language, it says that fighting is a technical foul without mention of the status of the ball (live/dead).

Elsewhere, it says that live ball contact is a personal foul.


I'm of the opinion that the fighting rule, being the more special situation, should supersede the more general live ball/personal rule. But, not all agree.

We have been over this point before and while I acknowledge the truth in Camron's statement, I respectfully disagree with his conclusion.

4-18 tells us that fighting can occur during either a live or dead ball and makes no mention of what type of foul it is.

10-3-8 lists "be charged with fighting" under player technical without mention of the status of the ball.

4-19-4 states only that fighting is a flagrant act. It does not state whether it is a personal or technical foul. This passage also lists certain actions that are personal fouls and when actions are technical fouls.

4-19-1 states that live ball contact is a personal foul, as Camron wrote above.

The fact is that the Case Book elaborates further and he doesn't mention this.

In very plain language, and correctly so in my opinion, the Case Book states that two players fighting during a live ball are charged with a double flagrant personal foul. The citation is 10.4.5 Situation A.

I am of the opinion that 10-3-8 is a small oversight in the NFHS Rules Book and that the intent of the rules writers was for this passage to be taken in the context of a technical foul, meaning that the act was done during a dead ball or without contact as noted in 4-19-4. It should be clarified through an editorial change. Simply adding "during a dead ball" would be helpful, if not fully complete.