2015-16 NFHS Proposed Basketball Rule Changes ...

[BillyMac]

The items (below) are on the Agenda of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, that will meet at the Hyatt Regency, Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 20-22, 2015:

Widening the lane to 16 feet/opening up the post play.

Adding the defensive arc to the floor

Officials should refrain from wearing jewelry, fitness bands, or other items that are not necessary for performing their duties. Could add a statement that “a wedding ring is not considered jewelry.” (similar to language re medical alert bracelets).

Permitting a player to have 6 personal fouls before disqualification

Adding a sock color restriction/regulation to the uniform rule code

The sleeves/tight shall be black or white.

Headbands and wristbands shall be white or black.

Delete: A visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference is not permitted on the undershirt.

Add to Basket Interference definition: Causes the basket or backboard to vibrate when the ball is on or within the basket or the backboard and/or is on or in the cylinder … Inadvertently or unintentionally slaps the backboard in a legitimate attempt to block a shot. Note: slap by a player that is deemed to be intentional would still be a Technical Foul as in Rule 10-3-4.

Changing the closely guarded to 3 feet instead of 6 feet.

Add to Goaltending definition the requirement of the ball having to be outside of the imaginary cylinder

A post player is any offensive or defensive player in the lane area with or without the ball with his/her back to the basket.

Providing a definition for a secondary defender

Eliminate scoring on any charge call.

Playing the game in halves

When a time-out is called while the ball is in the backcourt; move the ball to the half court line to restart the game.

The free throw(s) awarded because of a personal foul shall be attempted by the offended player. If such player must withdraw because of an injury or disqualification, the opposing coach shall select one of the four remaining players in the game at the time of the injury to attempt the injured player’s free throw(s). However, the injured player’s coach shall select any team member to substitute for the injured player. In addition, if the committed foul is an intentional foul or flagrant foul, the offended coach may select any team member/player to attempt the free throw(s). He/she may also select his/her substitute to enter the game. Consequently, if the injury involves blood, the offended coach shall select any substitute from his/her bench to enter the game to attempt the free throw(s).

Not receiving a new 10 sec. after a time-out called from the backcourt or a deflection

By state association adoption, allow the use of shot clock. Shot clock allotted time duration to be determined by state association. The team in control shall attempt a try for goal within allotted time after gaining team control. The try shall leave the shooter’s hand before the expiration of the allotted shot-clock period, and subsequently strike the basket ring or enter the basket before or after the allotted shot-clock period.

Play with a shot clock

Both would now be violations: A player shall not leave the court for an unauthorized reason; nor shall a player purposely and/or deceitfully delay returning after legally being out of bounds.

Technical foul: The head coach shall not permit a team member to participate while wearing an illegal uniform (see 3-4). or illegal apparel.

Technical foul: If there are multiple offenders due to celebration of a successful try, the penalty is one team technical foul and one indirect technical foul to the head coach.

Adding specific information to the rules book for cleaning up post play.
a) It is legal for offensive and defensive players to touch when both are maintaining a legally established position.
b) Illegal contact on post player. It is a foul when:
- an arm-bar is extended and displaces an opponent.
- displacement occurs from a locked and/or extended elbow.
- a leg or knee is used in the rear of an opponent to hold or displace.
- an offensive post player “backs-down” and displaces the defender once that defender has established a legal guarding position.
- the offensive post player holds, hooks or displaces the leg or body of the defender.
- an opponent is displaced from a legally established or obtained position.

Remove current signal #28 which is the same as #7. Replace with a new signal to be used after a made basket and there is a stoppage in play. The signal is used by the officials to indicate the team inbounding the ball may run the baseline. The signal will be: Arm extended from chest, elbow bent at 90 degree angle, move hand and forearm from the elbow in a waving motion horizontally along the endline.

I can't wait to see what they select as new rules for 2015-16. The announcement will be as exciting as Christmas morning. I'm sure that, due to the excitement, I won't be able to sleep for the next month.