INFORMATION FOR 2015-16 SEASON
As a follow-up to the National Federation of State High School Associations
2015-16 Rule Changes, Major Editorial Changes & Points of Emphasis, a more detailed analysis of the Points of Emphasis reveal the following:
Basketball Points of Emphasis – 2015 -16
1. POST PLAY
New information has been added to the Rule Book that addresses cleaning up post play.
It is legal for offensive and defensive players to touch when both are maintaining a legally established position. Illegal contact on a post player is any tactic using hands or arms or just generally demonstrates rough, physical movements that allow a player on offense or defense to control the movement of an opposing player.
It is a foul and should be ruled as such when:
a. An opponent is displaced
from a legally established or obtained position;
b. An arm-bar is extended and displaces an opponent;
c. A locked and/or extended elbow displaces an
opponent;
d. A leg or knee is used in the rear of an opponent to
hold or displace;
e. Holding, hooking, slapping, pinning or pushing the leg or body of an
opponent;
f. An offensive post player “backs-down” and displaces
the defender once that defender has established a legal guarding position.
The challenge for the official is to distinguish contact by opposing players that enables either to legally MAINTAIN legally established positions from contact by opposing players that allows either to illegally CONTROL the movement of the other. Specifically identifying when making these calls and verbalizing when reporting these calls, any of the illegal acts described in (a) – (f) will provide consistency and clarity to play calling in the post.
2. REBOUNDING
One of the leading causes of injury in high school basketball continues to be the result of illegal contact that takes place during rebounding. Any activity to illegally gain rebounding position on an opponent must be properly enforced and penalized. Some examples of illegal rebounding activity are:
a. Displacing, charging or
pushing an opponent;
b. Extending the arms or elbows to impede the movement of an opponent;
c. Using the hips or knees to hinder or impede an opponent;
d. Violation of the principle of verticality;
e. Contact between players in free-throw lane spaces prior to the ball being
released by the free thrower.
Rebounders include each player involved in the act, whether an offensive or defensive player. It is a coach’s responsibility to teach players the proper rule based techniques of legal rebounding.
The key to officiating contact during rebounding is positioning by the Trail and Center officials who must protect the Lead’s back. Focusing on rebounding match-ups following a shot - and not the ball - will allow officials to identify when rebounding activity includes (a) – (e). Incorporating the concepts of “possession consequence” and “clean-up” provide a consistent basis to call rebounding fouls. If the contact will result in a loss of possession or prevent possession for the favored rebounder, or the contact, despite not having an impact on possession, is excessive and needs to be otherwise penalized to maintain the game’s composure, then a whistle should follow.
3. FREE THROW SHOOTER
Rule 9-1-3g was revised in 2014-15 to allow a player occupying a marked lane space to enter the lane on the release of the ball by the free thrower. As a result of this change, protection of the free thrower needs to be emphasized. On release of the ball by the free thrower, the defender boxing out shall not cross the free-throw line extended into the semicircle until the ball contacts the ring or backboard. A player, other than the free thrower, who does not occupy a marked lane space, may not have either foot beyond the vertical plane of the free-throw line extended and the three-point line which is farther from the basket until the ball touches the ring or backboard or until the free throw ends.
This POE reminds the official that the recent rule allowing players along the lane line to enter the lane after the release of the ball does not apply to the shooter’s opponents who after entering continue to cross the free-throw line before the ball contacts the ring or backboard. This is a delayed violation and if called will result in a substitute free throw if missed. Review each official’s (2 & 3 person crews) responsibilities during free throws in the NFHS Manual.
4. NFHS SIGNALS AND MECHANICS
The NFHS Basketball Officials Manual was revised for 2015-16. Officials are reminded that, when officiating a high school basketball game, the proper NFHS signals and NFHS mechanics are to be used.
*********
“Emphasize” these points now to more easily transition
and introduce them in the regular season.
Michael V. Statham
Rules Interpreter
