Eleanor Finch
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has a strict set of rules governing basketball games. These rules cover a wide range of situations, including fouls, unsporting behaviour, and illegal contact. Illegal contact is defined as holding, or personal contact with an opponent that interferes with their freedom of movement. This includes extending arms, shoulders, hips, or elbows to hinder an opponent, as well as bending the body abnormally to hold or displace them. The NFHS rules also emphasise the importance of protecting the free-throw shooter and addressing illegal tactics related to rebounding, which are among the leading causes of injury in high school basketball.
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What You'll Learn
Holding
Incidental contact with an opponent is permitted and does not constitute a foul. When 10 players are moving rapidly in a limited area, some contact is to be expected. Contact that does not hinder the opponent from participating in normal defensive or offensive movements should be considered incidental. For example, when a dribbler, without contact, sufficiently passes an opponent to have their head and shoulders in advance of that opponent, the greater responsibility for subsequent contact is on the opponent. Similarly, when a dribbler is moving in a straight-line path, they may not be crowded out of that path, but if an opponent is able to legally obtain a defensive position in that path, the dribbler must avoid contact by changing direction or ending their dribble.
A pivot occurs when a player holding the ball steps once or more than once in any direction with the same foot while the other foot, called the pivot foot, is kept at its point of contact with the floor. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain an advantage to pass, shoot, or dribble.
Some examples of actions that constitute a foul when committed against a ball-handler include placing two hands on the player, placing an extended arm bar on the player, placing and keeping a hand on the player, and contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.
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Incidental contact
In basketball, incidental contact can occur during rebounding, screening, or guarding, and it is up to the officials to determine if such contact is incidental or illegal. For example, when a dribbler is moving in a straight-line path, an opponent may not crowd them out of that path. However, if an opponent legally obtains a defensive position in that path, the dribbler must avoid contact by changing direction or ending their dribble.
In softball, collisions on the base paths are less common, but they can still occur incidentally. Umpires must be prepared to rule on these scenarios, considering the intent and severity of the contact. For instance, if a runner pushes a catcher out of the base path before touching home plate, it is considered obstruction, and the runner is awarded home plate. However, if the runner's push is deemed malicious, they will be ejected, and the run will not count.
Additionally, in both basketball and softball, unsporting behaviour, such as disrespectfully addressing or taunting an opponent, is considered illegal and can result in penalties.
It is worth noting that the NFHS rules and definitions of incidental contact may evolve over time, as they did between the 2015-16 and 2024-25 seasons, with new points of emphasis being introduced periodically.
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Fouls and violations
Fouls:
- Unsporting fouls: These include disrespectfully addressing or contacting an official, using profane language or obscene gestures, baiting or taunting an opponent, or purposely obstructing an opponent's vision.
- Contact fouls: The NFHS has an excessive contact rule, which includes placing two hands on an opponent, placing and keeping a hand on them, or contacting them more than once with the same hand or alternating hands. This rule applies to ball-handlers and dribblers outside the lane area.
- In-game fouls: During play, a foul can be committed by delaying the game, violating the throw-in boundary line, or interfering with the ball after a goal.
- Player number foul: Having more than five team players participating simultaneously is a violation.
- Coaching foul: The head coach can be charged with an indirect technical foul, which does not count toward the team's foul count in the half.
Violations:
- Throw-in violations: Repeated violations of the throw-in rules are outlined in the NFHS rules.
- Free-throw violations: The free thrower must be in the free-throw semicircle when the official is ready to administer the free throw, unless there is a resumption-of-play procedure in effect.
- Rebounding violations: The NFHS emphasizes that illegal tactics related to rebounding should be called out as they are a leading cause of injury in high school basketball.
- Protection of the free-throw shooter: Rules changes have been made to allow a player occupying a marked lane space to enter the lane on the release of the ball, providing added protection to the free-throw shooter.
- Mechanics and signals: The NFHS has approved mechanics and signals for officials to use, and communication between officials and participants is vital.
The NFHS rules aim to promote fair play and safety for all participants, and these fouls and violations are an important part of achieving that goal.
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Taunting
NFHS rules prohibit any form of taunting intended to embarrass, ridicule, or demean others under any circumstances, including on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin. Taunting falls under unsportsmanlike conduct, which is a foul or offence that violates the generally accepted rules of sportsmanship and participant conduct.
In youth baseball, coaches play a crucial role in preventing taunting and enforcing sportsmanship. They are responsible for setting a positive example and instilling values of respect and fair play in their players. Failure to address taunting within a team can lead to disciplinary action, including suspensions for both players and coaches. Umpires are responsible for recognizing and penalizing teams for breaking the rules, with penalties ranging from warnings to ejections, depending on the severity of the offence.
In football, game officials should penalize acts that are prolonged, choreographed, and directed at an opponent. Any act that is clearly intended to taunt, demean, or show disrespect to an opponent or the game should be penalized. This includes demonstrations of violence, such as brandishing guns and throat slashes, as well as gestures with sexual connotations.
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Rebounding
To ensure fair play and prevent injuries, the NFHS has outlined specific rules and regulations regarding rebounding:
- Illegal tactics related to rebounding, such as using the hands, arm bars, or other unsportsmanlike conduct, are strictly prohibited and should be called by officials. These violations are among the leading causes of injury in high school basketball, so prompt and accurate officiating is crucial.
- Players are not permitted to extend their shoulders, hips, knees, arms, or elbows fully or partially in a non-vertical position, hindering the movement of an opponent when contact occurs.
- Bending the body abnormally to hold or displace an opponent during a rebound is also prohibited.
- The NFHS rules emphasize the importance of communication during rebounding situations. Officials must use only NFHS-approved mechanics and signals to ensure clear and consistent communication with players and other officials.
- The rules also address post-play situations, urging fouls to be called when violations occur. This includes situations where players use illegal tactics, such as arm bars, in the post area.
- The NFHS has approved a new signal to be used after a basket is made or when there is a stoppage in play. This signal indicates that the team in-bounding the ball may run the baseline and is used to restart play after a time-out or injury.
In summary, rebounding in the context of NFHS rules involves players vying for possession of the ball without establishing team or player control. It is a critical aspect of the game that requires strict adherence to rules to prevent injuries and promote fair play. Officials play a crucial role in enforcing these rules, particularly when it comes to illegal tactics and ensuring smooth communication during play.
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Frequently asked questions
Illegal contact in basketball includes holding, or personal contact with an opponent that interferes with their freedom of movement. Illegal contact also includes:
- Placing two hands on the player
- Placing an extended arm bar on the player
- Placing and keeping a hand on the player
- Contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands
- Using shoulders, hips, knees, arms, or elbows to hinder an opponent's movement
- Abnormally bending the body to hold or displace an opponent
- Pushing the torso of the guard to gain an advantage to pass, shoot, or dribble
According to NFHS rules, fouls in basketball include unsporting behaviour such as disrespectfully addressing or taunting an opponent, using profane language or obscene gestures, and inciting undesirable crowd reactions.
Referees should consider the context and intent behind certain actions when calling fouls in basketball under NFHS rules. For example, contact that occurs when players are in equally favourable positions to perform normal defensive or offensive movements should not be considered illegal, even if the contact is severe. On the other hand, referees should be vigilant in calling fouls for illegal tactics related to rebounding, as these violations can lead to injuries.
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