1. NFHS Basketball 2008-09 Rules Changes Major Editorial Changes Points of Emphasis
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2. NFHS Basketball 2008-09 Rules Changes

3. Headbands Defined, Colors Added (3-5-3)
Headband is any item that goes around the entire head
Includes:
Elastic strips
Elastic bands
Pre-wrap
Moisture-absorbing terry cloth
Other similar items
3.5.3 SITUATION A: The predominate color of the Team A jerseys are red. Prior to the game, an official notices that A1 is wearing (a) a black headband and black wristbands; (b) beige pre-wrap around the entire head; and (c) beige pre-wrap around the entire head and red wristbands. RULING: Legal in (a) and (b). Illegal equipment in (c); the headband color does not match the wristband color. The official shall inform the player and the head coach that these items are illegal and may not be worn during the game.
3.5.3 SITUATION B: The predominate color of the Team A jerseys are white. Prior to the game, an official notices that A1 is wearing a multi-colored hair-control device that does not go entirely around the head and A2 is wearing a black “scrunchie” to control the hair and beige pre-wrap around the entire head. RULING: Legal equipment provided all Team A members are wearing beige-colored headbands and wristbands.
3.5.3 SITUATION C: The predominate color of the Team A jerseys are royal blue. Substitute A6 is beckoned onto the court to replace A1. A6 attempts to enter (a) wearing red pre-wrap as a pony-tail holder and royal blue wristbands; (b) wearing red pre-wrap around the entire head and royal blue wristbands. RULING: Legal in (a); red pre-wrap used to control the hair that does not go around the entire head is permissible. Illegal in (b); pre-wrap that goes around the entire head must be white, black, beige or the predominate color of the team jersey.

4. Headbands Defined, Colors Added (3-5-3)
Headbands must be:
Worn on the forehead/crown
Nonabrasive
Unadorned
Maximum of 2 inches
Only one logo (school or manufacturer) permitted
Head decorations prohibited

5. Headbands Defined, Colors Added (3-5-3)
All headbands must meet other requirements of:
Color
Maximum size
Logo restrictions
Team uniformity
Ponytail holders are considered hair-control devices – no restrictions

7. Headbands Defined, Colors Added (3-5-3)
Black and beige added to list of permissible colors
Permitted colors now includes:
White
Black
Beige (standard pre-wrap color)
Predominant jersey color

8. Headbands Defined, Colors Added (3-5-3)
Rule now easier to apply and enforce
Additional colors provide low-cost options to student-athletes
Team uniformity still required – same color for all items and team members
Non-compliant items must be removed prior to participation

9. Free-Throw Lane Spaces (8-1-4b, c, d, e)
All players moved up one space on free-throw lane
Two spaces closest to end line now remain vacant
New 2” x 8” mark must be added to lane near free-throw line – temporary or permanent
Old 2” x 8” mark near end line need not be removed
8.1.4 SITUATION: A1 is at the free-throw line for the first attempt of a bonus situation. B4 and B5 are positioned on the lane in the area below the neutral-zone marks and A4 and A5 are positioned in the first marked lane spaces. The official fails to notice the improper alignment and bounces the ball to A1. RULING: If the improper alignment is not corrected prior to the free thrower having the ball at his/her disposal, a simultaneous free-throw violation shall be called. Team B occupied an area that must remain vacant and Team A is prohibited from occupying the first marked lane spaces. (8-1-4b, c; Penalty 3)

10. Free-Throw Lane Spaces (8-1-4b, c, d, e)

12. Free-Throw Lane Spaces (8-1-4b, c, d, e)
Georgia experiment results indicated:
Free-throw fouls reduced
Offensive and defensive rebounding percentages within acceptable ranges
Lane movement upward makes disconcertion of the shooter more of a possibility
Officials must remain vigilant in calling violations and fouls during free-throw action

13. Illegal Uniform Penalty (10-5-4)
Maximum of one technical foul for:
Illegal uniform(s)
Illegal pant(s) or skirt(s)
Illegal number(s)
Previous penalty was one technical foul assessed to each starter/substitute
Technical foul now charged directly to head coach
Must be seated for the remainder of the game in states utilizing the optional coaching box
SITUATION A: Prior to the start of the game, the officials notice that the home team is wearing orange jerseys and the visiting team is wearing red jerseys. RULING: The referee shall direct the home team to wear the required white jerseys. If they are unable to comply, a technical foul shall be charged directly to the head coach. The visiting team is awarded two free throws followed by a division-line throw-in opposite the table. The alternating-possession arrow is set toward the home team when the ball is at the disposal of the thrower-in. The home team’s head coach has lost his/her coaching-box privileges for the remainder of the game in states utilizing the optional coaching box. (3-4-1c)
SITUATION B: Team A is wearing jerseys that have a visible manufacturer’s logo above the neckline. Team B’s coach informs the official of the logos just as the ball is about to be inbounded to begin the second quarter. RULING: Illegal jerseys. A technical foul is charged directly to Team A’s head coach when the infraction is discovered. Team B is awarded two free throws followed by a division-line throw-in opposite the table. Team A’s head coach has lost his/her coaching-box privileges for the remainder of the game in states utilizing the optional coaching box. (3-4-2a)

15. Illegal Uniform Penalty (10-5-4)
Proliferation of illegal uniforms in recent years
Previous penalty was severe and many games started with multiple technical fouls
Penalty changed because head coach is ultimately responsible for the ordering, purchasing and wearing of legal uniforms
No change to rule regarding illegal items such as jewelry, undershirts, etc.

16. NFHS Basketball 2008-09 Major Editorial Changes

17. Uniform Section (3-4) Entire uniform section reorganized
Articles grouped by topic:
Art. 1…Team jersey color and design
Art. 2…Logos/flags/patches
Art. 3…Numbers
Art. 4…Identifying names
Art. 5…Uniform pants/skirts
Some terminology changed to reflect current industry standards (trim = piping)

18. Incidental Contact (4-27-2)
Portion of previous definition removed
Clarifies that a foul should be called when displacement occurs during a loose ball
Many erroneously believed that any contact is legal if the ball is loose
Previous definition didn’t support the calling of a foul for displacement

19. Throw-in Ends (4-42-5)
Definition of a throw-in ending reorganized into sub-articles for clarity
The throw-in ends when:
The passed ball touches or is legally touched by another player inbounds
The passed ball touches or is touched by another player out of bounds, except as in 7-5-7
The throw-in team commits a throw-in violation

20. Head Coaches’ Rule (10-5)
Section reorganized for better understanding and clarity
Art. 1…Regulations regarding standing/sitting
Art. 2…Replacing a disqualified player
Art. 3…Playing a disqualified player
Art. 4…Illegal uniforms (new)
ART. 1…The head coach shall remain seated on the team bench, except:
By state association adoption, the head coach may stand within the designated coaching box described in The first technical foul charged directly or indirectly to the head coach results in loss of coaching-box privileges and the head coach must remain seated for the remainder of the game, except as stated below in b, c, d and e.
The head coach may stand within the coaching box to request a time-out or signal his/her players to request a time-out.
The head coach may stand and/or leave the coaching box to confer with personnel at the scorer’s table to request a time-out as in
The head coach may stand within the coaching box to replace or remove a disqualified/injured player or player directed to leave the game.
The head coach may stand as in c and d.
ART. 2…The head coach shall replace or remove a disqualified/injured player, or player directed to leave the game, within 20 seconds when a substitute is available.
ART. 3…The head coach shall not permit a team member to participate after being removed from the game for disqualification.
ART. 4…The head coach shall not permit a team member to participate while wearing an illegal uniform (see 3-4).
PENALTY: (Section 5) Two free throws plus ball for division-line throw-in. The foul is charged directly to the head coach. (Art. 3) Penalized if discovered while being violated. (Art. 4) Penalized when discovered. Only one technical foul is charged regardless of the number of offenders.

21. NFHS Basketball 2008-09 Points of Emphasis

22. Legal Uniforms Ordering/purchasing improvements have been made
Educational push last year – PowerPoint & PDF on NFHS Website
Updated documents for posted
NFHS also working with manufacturer’s to approve new designs and improve compliance

23. Legal Uniforms
Officials must enforce the rules to continue to improve compliance
Uniform rules are in place for a reason
Officials must also continue to enforce the penalty for uniforms not being worn properly – direct players to leave the game or may not enter

24. Legal Uniforms Items of specific concern: Jerseys not tucked in
Pants not on waist
Jewelry
Illegal head/wristbands (color, logo, size)
Illegal undershirts (visible logo, color, hems)
Undergarments (color, above knee)

26. Rough Play Continued concern with increasing level of rough play
There is a difference between physical play and rough play
Rough play creates conflict between players and increases the opportunity for injuries and unsporting situations
Of particular concern:
Post play
Hand-checking
Loose-ball contact

27. Rough Play – Post Play Key word is displacement
If a player is displaced – a foul has occurred
Types of displacement in post:
Offensive players backing down opponents
Defensive players moving opponents off a legally established spot on the floor

29. Rough Play – Hand-checking
Defenders are not permitted to have hands on the ball handler/dribbler or other offensive players away from the ball
Contact is NOT incidental
Offensive players are not permitted to use hands or body to push off to create space

30. Rough Play – Hand-checking
A foul must be called, regardless of where it happens on the court, when a player:
Continuously places a hand on an opponent
Places two hands on an opponent
Continuously jabs a hand or forearm on an opponent

32. Rough Play – Loose-ball Contact
A loose-ball situation is not consent for jumping on an opponent who is on the floor to create a held ball
“Going for the ball” is not permission to take out or displace an opponent who is in a more advantageous position
Incidental contact is permitted when players are in equally favorable positions

34. Time-outs Coaches must realize: Officials must ensure:
Not all time-out requests may be granted
Officials have other immediate responsibilities to the game that require their attention
Officials must verify the status of the ball
Officials must ensure:
Player control has been obtained during live-ball situations before granting a time-out
Request is coming from a player or the head coach of the team whose player is in control

36. Time-outs
If in doubt as to which player has obtained control during a loose-ball situation – call a jump ball, rather than a time-out

38. Slapping the Backboard
More players are slapping the backboard during the course of playing action
Officials must determine if the act is:
Unintentional – part of a legitimate attempt to block a try for goal = LEGAL
Intentional – venting frustration or drawing attention to him/herself = TECHNICAL FOUL
By definition, this backboard contact cannot be basket interference
Rule 4-6: Basket Interference occurs when a player: 1) touches the ball or any part of the basket (including the net) while the ball is on or within either basket; 2) touches the ball while any part of the ball is within the imaginary cylinder which has the basket as its lower base.

41. Officials’ Mechanics & Signals
Communication and consistency most important elements of officiating
Officials must be familiar and comfortable with proper NFHS mechanics and signals
Use only approved NFHS mechanics and signals to:
Effectively cover the court with individual primary coverage areas
Effectively communicate with partners
Provide immediate information/feedback to coaches, players, scorers, timers and fans

42. Officials’ Mechanics & Signals
Signals are used to communicate – not to draw attention to the official
Use of unauthorized signals can confuse because meaning may be unknown
Signals should be given in a calm, controlled, professional manner – NOT “hit and run”
Uniformity in mechanics and signaling is essential to promote consistency and communication from one game site to the next

45. QUESTIONS?