The playing court must be a rectangular surface free from obstructions and with dimensions not greater than 94 feet in length by 50 feet in width.

IDEAL MEASUREMENTS ARE: High School Age – 84 by 50 feet. These are the dimensions for the playing court only. Suggestions about construction and lighting are in Table 1-1, Number 3.

ART. 1 . . . The playing court must be marked with sidelines, end lines and other lines as shown in Figure 1-1. There must be at least 3 feet (and preferably 10 feet) of unobstructed space outside boundaries. The sidelines and end lines must be a minimum of 2 inches in width. If it is desirable to use contrasting colored-floor areas instead of the lines, see Table 1-1, Number 3.

ART. 2 . . . If, on an unofficial court, there is less than 3 feet of unobstructed space outside any sideline or end line, a narrow broken line must be marked on the court parallel with and 3 feet inside that boundary. This restraining line becomes the boundary line during a throw-in on that side or end, as in 7-6. It continues to be the boundary until the ball crosses the line.

ART. 1 . . . A restraining circle must be drawn at the center of the court with a radius of 6 feet measured to the outside edge. The edge of the circle must be designated with a minimum of a ¼-inch-wide single line but no wider than 2 inches. See Table 1-1, Number 3 if the use of contrasting colored-floor areas instead of a line is desirable. Spaces for non-jumpers around the center circle are 36 inches deep.

ART. 2 . . . A division line 2 inches wide, must divide the court into two equal parts. If the court is less than 74 feet long, it should be divided by two lines, each parallel to and 40 feet from the farther end line.

ART. 3 . . . Shadow-bordered lines are permissible. A shadow line is a line that designates the required width by use of border or outline lines at least ¼-inch wide, which must lie within the required width. Border lines that are the natural color of the court are permissible. The area within these lines need not be one color, but the continuous outline must be clearly visible to the officials. If the floor has a logo in the center of the court, that logo should not distract from the visibility of the division line or center circle.

ART. 1 . . . A three-point line, 2 inches wide in the form of a semicircle, must be drawn at each end of the court as shown in Figure 1-1. The semicircle has a radius of 19 feet 9 inches from a point in the middle of the free-throw lane directly below the center of the basket to the outside edge of the line. The semicircle must be extended with a 2-inch wide line perpendicular to the end line, the length of which must be 63 inches from the inside edge of the end line.

ART. 2 . . . The three-point line must be the same color as the free-throw lane boundary lines and free-throw semicircle.

ART. 1 . . . A free-throw lane, 12 feet wide measured to the outside of each lane boundary, and the semicircle with the free-throw line as a diameter, must be marked at each end of the court with dimensions and markings as shown in Figure 1-1. All lines designating the free-throw lane, but not lane-space marks are part of the lane.

ART. 2 . . . The lane-space marks (2 inches by 8 inches) identify areas which extend 36 inches from the outer edge of the lane lines toward the sidelines. There are three lane spaces on each lane boundary line.

ART. 3 . . . The free-throw lane line and semicircle must be the same color as the three-point line. See Table 1-1, No. 3 if the use of contrasting colored-floor areas instead of the lines is desirable.

A free-throw line, 2 inches wide, must be drawn across both circles, which have an outside radius of 6 feet as shown in Figure 1-1. It must be parallel to the end line and must have its farthest edge 15 feet from the plane of the face of the backboard.

ART. 1 . . . The backboards must be the same size at both ends of the court. The backboard must be one of three types:

(1) a rectangle 6 feet horizontally and 4 feet vertically; or

(2) a rectangle 6 feet horizontally and 3½ feet vertically; or

(3) a fan-shaped backboard, 54-inches wide and with dimensions as shown in Figure 1-2.

NOTE: The 6-foot horizontal and 3 1/2-foot vertical dimensions are recommended for replacement backboards or new installations.

ART. 2 . . . Each of the backboards must be of any rigid material. The front surface must be flat and, unless it is transparent, it must be white. Tinted glass backboards are prohibited. Figure 1-2 gives specifications for the three types of backboards. See Rule 1, Sections 7, 8, 9. It is not legal to paint a fan-shaped board on a rectangular backboard.

NOTE: For the fan-shaped backboard in transparent material, the recurved cut-out at the bottom may be filled in and the ring attached to the front of the backboard.

ART. 3 . . . If the backboard is transparent, it must be marked as follows: A rectangle must be centered behind the ring and marked by a 2-inch white line. The rectangle must have outside dimensions of 24 inches horizontally and 18 inches vertically. For the rectangular backboard, the top edge of the backboard must be level with the ring. For the fan-shaped backboard, the baseline must be omitted, and the two vertical lines must be extended to the bottom of the backboard. The rectangular target in a bright orange or black color may be used on a nontransparent backboard. The border of the backboard must be marked with a white line. The border must be 3 inches or less in width.

ART. 4 . . . Either type backboard may be transparent or nontransparent. No logo, marking, lettering, etc., is permitted on the backboard, backboard padding, or basket. Figure 1-2

ART. 1 . . . Each backboard must be midway between the sidelines, with the plane of its front face perpendicular to the floor, parallel to the end line, and 4 feet from it.

ART. 2 . . . The upper edge of the backboard must be 13 feet above the floor for the rectangular, and 12 feet 8 inches for the fan-shaped. The backboard must be protected from spectators to a distance of at least 3 feet at each end.

ART. 1 . . . The bottom and each side of the all-rectangular backboards must be padded with a poly high-carb vinyl-type material that meets the Bashor resilience test with a range of 20-30. The padding must cover the bottom surface of the board and the side surface to a distance of 15 inches up from the bottom. The front and back surfaces must be covered to a minimum distance of 3/4 inch from the bottom of the backboard. The padding must be 1 inch thick from the front and back surfaces of the backboard. The material must be 2 inches from the bottom edge of the backboard. It is recommended that the padding be mounted on the backboard by adhesive or material such as Velcro, channel, etc. The padding must be a single, solid color and must be the same color on both backboards.

ART. 2 . . . Any backboard support behind the backboard and at a height of less than 9 feet above the floor must be padded on the bottom surface to a distance of 2 feet from the face of the backboard. All portable backstops must have the bases padded to a height of 7 feet on the court-side surface.

ART. 3 . . . Clearances – As below and behind backboards, all support systems should be at least 8 feet behind the plane of the backboard face and at a height of 7 feet or more above the floor.

ART. 4 . . . Any backboard support, all of which is not directly behind the backboard, should be at least 6 inches behind it if the support extends above the top and at least 2 feet behind it if the support extends beyond the side. Any overhead backboard support structure which must be forward braced due to space limitations, architectural or structural restraints, must meet the following requirements: A front, diagonal-brace system must be located above a line extending upward and into the playing court at a maximum 45-degree angle from a point on a vertical line located a minimum of 6 inches behind the front side of the backboard at a minimum height of 4 feet 6 inches above the basket ring.

ART. 5 . . . Warning on misuse of portable backstops – Manufacturers and administrators should be aware of an “extreme-caution” warning relative to the misuse of portable backstops. A high degree of injury potential and a severe liability problem exists when players or spectators are allowed to hang, sit or stand on the basket ring or backboard. Administrators must see that this practice is eliminated or that the portable units are lowered at the completion of the game. There is a high risk of severe injury, even death, if this practice continues. A recommended warning or inscription such as “Danger – please do not get on the ring/backboard” is desirable.

ART. 1 . . . Each basket must consist of a single metal ring, 18 inches in inside diameter, its flange and braces, and a white-cord 12-mesh net, 15 to 18 inches in length, suspended from beneath the ring.

ART. 2 . . . Each ring must not be more than 5/8 inch in diameter, with the possible addition of small-gauge loops on the bottom edge for attaching a 12-mesh net. The ring and its attaching flange and braces must be bright orange in color.

ART. 3 . . . The cord of the net must be not less than 120-thread nor more than 144-thread twine, or plastic material of comparable dimensions with no additional extensions. It must be constructed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through.

ART. 1 . . . Each basket ring must be securely attached to the backboard/support system with a ring-restraining device. Such a device must ensure that the basket stays attached in the event a glass backboard breaks. Each basket ring must have its upper edge 10 feet above and parallel to the floor and must be equidistant from the vertical edges of the backboard. The nearest point of the inside edge of the ring must be 6 inches from the plane of the face of the backboard.

ART. 2 . . . Positive-lock breakaway, flex breakaway and fixed rings are legal. Breakaway basket rings must have rebound characteristics similar to those of fixed rings. The pressure-release mechanism should ensure these characteristics, as well as protect both the ring and backboard. The design of the ring and its construction should ensure player safety.

ART. 3 . . . For those rings with a breakaway mechanism, the pressure release mechanism must be preset so that rings do not deflect more than ½ inch when subjected to static load of 50 pounds and may be sealed or field adjustable. When released, the positive-lock breakaway ring must not rotate more than 30 degrees below the original horizontal position. After release and with the load no longer applied, the ring must return automatically and instantaneously to the original position.

NOTE: It is recommended that schools have the basket rings tested for rules compliance.

ART. 1 . . . The ball must meet the following specifications:

a. Its solid color must be Pantone Matching System (PMS) Orange 151, Red-Orange 173 or Brown 1535, effective 2019-20.

b. It must be spherical.

c. It must have a deeply-pebbled cover with horizontally shaped panels bonded tightly to the rubber carcass.

d. The circumference must be:

1. Within a minimum of 29½ inches to a maximum of 30 inches for high school boys competition.
2. Within a minimum of 28½ inches to a maximum of 29 inches for high school girls competition.

e. The weight must be: Figure 1-3

1. Within a minimum of 20 ounces to a maximum of 22 ounces for high school boys competition.
2. Within a minimum of 18 ounces to a maximum of 20 ounces for high school girls competition.

f. The black rubber rib separating the panels must not exceed ¼ inch in width.

g. The ball must include the NFHS Authenticating Mark. The mark can be displayed in either format shown in Figure 1-3. A current list of NFHS authenticated products can be found on the Web site, www.nfhs.org.

NOTE: By state association adoption, either legal-size ball may be used for boys junior high school competition.

ART. 2 . . . The ball must be inflated to an air pressure such that when it is dropped to the playing surface from a height of 6 feet, measured to the bottom of the ball, it must rebound to a height, measured to the top of the ball, of not less than 49 inches when it strikes on its least resilient spot, nor more than 54 inches when it strikes on its most resilient spot. NOTE: To be legal, the air pressure which will give the required reaction must be stamped on it. The pressure for game use must make the ball bounce legally.

ART. 3 . . . The home team must provide a ball which meets the specifications. The referee must be the sole judge of the legality of the ball and may select a ball provided by the visiting team.

ART. 1 . . . The location of each team’s bench must be designated by game management. It is recommended that the benches for team members and coaches of both teams be placed along that side of the court on which the scorer’s and timer’s table is located.

ART. 2 . . . The coaching box must be outlined outside the side of the court on which the scorer’s and timer’s table and team benches are located. The area must be bounded by a line drawn 28 feet from the end line towards the division line. At this point, a line drawn from the sideline toward the team bench becomes the end of the coaching box going towards the end line. These lines must be located off the court and be 2 inches wide. The same directions should be followed for the other side of the scorer’s and timer’s table.

NOTE: State associations may alter the length and placement of the 28- foot (maximum) coaching box.

ART. 3 . . . The time-out area must be the area inside an imaginary rectangle formed by the boundaries of the sideline (including the bench), end line, and an imaginary line extended from the free-throw lane line nearest the bench area meeting an imaginary line extended from the coaching-box line.

A red light behind each backboard or an LED light on each backboard is permitted to signal that time has expired for a quarter or extra period. In facilities without a red light behind or an LED light on each backboard, the audible timer’s signal must indicate that time has expired.

A visible game clock and scoreboard are mandatory. An alternate timing device and scoring information system must be available in the event of malfunction.

A visible display must be located at the scorer’s and timer’s table to indicate team possession for the alternating-possession procedure.

An “X” 12 inches long and 2 inches wide must be placed on the floor out of bounds directly in front of the official scorer to help substitutes with the proper location.

The playing of music/sound effects must only be permitted during pregame, time-outs, intermission and post-game. The use of artificial noisemakers must be prohibited. The announcer must be prohibited from making announcements during the game, such as “two minutes to go.”

The use of electronic devices is permitted during the game.

Non-playing personnel, e.g., spirit participants, media, must remain outside of the playing area during a 30-second time-out. Non-playing personnel must be located outside the free-throw lane lines extended toward the sidelines throughout the game.

ART. 1 . . . The official’s uniform must be a black-and-white striped shirt, black pants, primarily black shoes and socks.

ART. 2 . . . The game officials must be a referee and an umpire or a referee and two umpires who must be assisted by an official timer and scorer.

ART. 3 . . . The scorer and timer must be located at the scorer’s and timer’s table on the side of the court. It is recommended that the official scorer and timer be seated next to each other.

ART. 1 . . . The officials must make decisions for infractions of the rules committed within or outside the boundary lines. The use of any replay or television monitoring equipment by the officials in making any decision relating to the game is prohibited.

NOTE: A state association may permit game or replay officials to use a replay monitor during state championship series contests to determine if a scored goal at the expiration of time in the fourth quarter or any overtime period (0:00 on the game clock) should be counted, and if so, determine if it is a two-point or a three-point goal.

ART. 2 . . . The officials’ jurisdiction, prior to the game, begins when they arrive on the floor. The officials’ arrival on the floor must be at least 15 minutes before the scheduled starting time of the game.

ART. 3 . . . The officials’ jurisdiction extends through periods when the game may be momentarily stopped for any reason.

ART. 4 . . . The jurisdiction of the officials is terminated and the final score has been approved when all officials leave the visual confines of the playing area.

NOTE: The officials retain clerical authority over the contest through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualifications, which are responsive to actions occurring while the officials had jurisdiction. State associations may intercede in the event of unusual incidents that occur before, during or after the officials’ jurisdiction has ended or in the event that a contest is terminated prior to the conclusion of regulation play.

The referee must make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.

The referee must:

ART. 1 . . . Inspect and approve all equipment, including court, baskets, ball, backboards, and scorer’s and timer’s signals.

ART. 2 . . . Designate the official timepiece and official timer prior to the scheduled starting time of the game.

ART. 3 . . . Designate the official scorebook and official scorer prior to the scheduled starting time of the game.

NOTE: A state association may authorize use of supplementary equipment to aid in game administration.

ART. 4 . . . Be responsible for having each team notified three minutes before each half is to begin.

ART. 5 . . . Verify with the head coach, prior to each contest, that his/her team member’s uniforms and equipment are legal and will be worn properly, and that all participants will exhibit proper sporting behavior throughout the contest.

The referee must:

ART. 1 . . . Designate the official to toss the ball in the center restraining circle for all jump-ball situations.

ART. 2 . . . Administer the alternating-possession throw-in to start the second, third and fourth quarters.

ART. 3 . . . Decide whether a goal must count if the officials disagree.

ART. 4 . . . May declare the game a forfeit when conditions warrant.

ART. 5 . . . Decide matters upon which the scorer and timer disagree and correct obvious timing errors.

ART. 6 . . . Confer with the official scorer at halftime to determine the possession arrow is pointed in the proper direction to begin play in the third quarter.

ART. 7 . . . Check and approve the score at the end of each half.

ART. 8 . . . Inform each team and the table officials of the overtime procedures when the score is tied at the end of regulation time.

No official has the authority to set aside or question decisions made by the other official(s) within the limits of their respective outlined duties.

The officials must conduct the game in accordance with the rules. This includes:

ART. 1 . . . Notifying the captains when play is about to begin at the start of the game.

ART. 2 . . . Putting the ball in play.

ART. 3 . . . Determining when the ball becomes dead and live.

ART. 4 . . . Prohibiting practice during a dead ball, except between halves.

ART. 5 . . . Administering penalties.

ART. 6 . . . Granting and charging time-out.

ART. 7 . . . Beckoning substitutes to enter the court.

ART. 8 . . . Signaling a three-point attempt and signaling a successful three point goal.

ART. 9 . . . Silently and visibly counting seconds to administer the throw in (7-6), free-throw (8-4; 9-1-3a), backcourt (9-8) and closely-guarded (9-10) rules.

ART. 10 . . . Reporting a team warning for delay to the official scorer and then to the head coach.

ART. 11 . . . Reporting a team warning for head coach/bench personnel misconduct to the official and then to the head coach.

ART. 12 . . . Notifying the head coach when a team is granted its final allowable time-out.

The officials must:

ART. 1 . . . Penalize unsporting conduct by any player, coach, substitute, team attendant or follower.

NOTE: The home management or game committee is responsible for spectator behavior, insofar as it can reasonably be expected to control the spectators. The officials may rule fouls on either team if its supporters act in such a way as to interfere with the proper conduct of the game. Discretion must be used in ruling such fouls, however, lest a team be unjustly penalized. When team supporters become unruly or interfere with the orderly progress of the game, the officials must stop the game until the host management resolves the situation and the game can proceed in an orderly manner. In the absence of a designated school representative, the home coach must serve as the host management.

ART. 2 . . . Penalize and disqualify the offender if flagrant misconduct occurs.

ART. 3 . . . Remove a player from the game who commits his/her fifth foul (personal and technical).

ART. 4 . . . Notify the head coach and request the timer to begin the replacement interval, and then notify the player on a disqualification.

ART. 5 . . . Immediately remove a player from the game who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion as in 3-3-8. (See NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports)

ART. 1 . . . When a foul occurs, an official must signal the timer to stop the clock. The official must verbally inform the offender, then with finger(s) of two hands, indicate to the scorer the number of the offender and the number of free throws.

ART. 2 . . . When a team is entitled to a throw-in, an official must signal the timer to stop the clock and clearly signal:

a. The act which caused the ball to become dead.
b. The direction of play and announce the color of the team entitled to the throw-in.
c. The throw-in spot unless it follows a successful goal or an awarded goal.

ART. 1 . . . Officials may correct an error if a rule is inadvertently set aside and results in:

a. Failure to award a merited free throw.
b. Awarding an unmerited free throw.
c. Permitting a wrong player to attempt a free throw.
d. Attempting a free throw at the wrong basket.
e. Erroneously counting or canceling a score.

ART. 2 . . . In order to correct any of the officials’ errors listed in Article 1, such error must be recognized by an official no later than during the first dead ball after the clock has properly started.

ART. 3 . . . If in Article 1e the error is made while the clock is running and the ball dead, it must be recognized by an official before the second live ball.

ART. 4 . . . If the error is a free throw by the wrong player or at the wrong basket, or the awarding of an unmerited free throw, the free throw and the activity during it, other than unsporting, flagrant, intentional or technical fouls, must be canceled.

ART. 5 . . . Points scored, consumed time and additional activity, which may occur prior to the recognition of an error, must not be nullified. Errors because of free-throw attempts by the wrong player or at the wrong basket must be corrected by applying 8-1 and 2.

ART. 6 . . . If an error is corrected, play must be resumed from the point of interruption to rectify the error, unless it involves awarding a merited free throw(s) and there has been no change of team possession since the error was made, in which case play must resume as after any free-throw attempt(s).

The scorer must:

ART. 1 . . . Keep a record of the names and numbers of players who are to start the game and of all substitutes who enter the game. NOTE: It is recommended the team member’s numbers be entered into the scorebook in numerical order.

ART. 2 . . . Notify the nearer official when there is an infraction of the rules pertaining to submission of the roster, substitutions or numbers of players.

ART. 3 . . . Signal the officials by using the game horn or a sounding device unlike that used by the referee and umpire(s). This may be used immediately if, or as soon as, the ball is dead or is in control of the offending team.

ART. 4 . . . Record the field goals made, the free throws made and missed, and keep a running summary of the points scored.

ART. 5 . . . Record warnings for head coach/bench personnel misconduct as well as the personal and technical fouls reported on each player and notify an official immediately when the fifth foul (personal and technical) is charged to any player, the second technical foul is charged to any team member, bench personnel, or directly to the head coach, or the third technical foul is charged to the head coach.

NOTE: The procedure if a player who has committed his/her fifth foul – continues to play because the scorer has failed to notify the official is as follows: As soon as the scorer discovers the irregularity, the game horn should be sounded after, or as soon as, the ball is in control of the offending team or is dead. The disqualified player must be removed immediately. Any points which may have been scored while such player was illegally in the game are counted. If other aspects of the error are correctable, the procedure to be followed is included among the duties of the officials.

ART. 6 . . . Record the time-out information charged to each team (who and when) and notify a team and its coach, through an official, whenever that team is granted its final allotted charged time-out.

ART. 7 . . . Record the jump balls for the alternating-possession procedure and be responsible for the possession arrow.

ART. 8 . . . Record the number of warnings in the official scorebook, as in Rule 4-47and 4-48.

ART. 9 . . . Signal the nearer official each time a team is granted a time-out in excess of the allotted number.

ART. 10 . . . Signal in each half when a player commits a common foul beginning with his/her team’s seventh and 10th foul.

ART. 11 . . . Compare records with the visiting scorer after each goal, each foul, each charged time-out, and end of each quarter and extra period, notifying the referee at once of any discrepancy. If the mistake cannot be found, the referee must accept the record of the official scorebook, unless he/she has knowledge which permits him/her to decide otherwise. If the discrepancy is in the score and the mistake is not resolved, the referee must accept the progressive team totals of the official scorebook. A bookkeeping mistake may be corrected at any time until the referee approves the final score. The scorebook of the home team must be the official book, unless the referee rules otherwise. The official scorebook must remain at the scorer’s table throughout the game, including all intermissions.

ART. 12 . . . The official scorer is required to wear a black-and-white vertically striped garment.

The timer must:

ART. 1 . . . Note when each half is to start and must notify the referee more than three minutes before this time so the referee may notify the teams, or cause them to be notified, at least three minutes before the half is to start.

ART. 2 . . . Signal the scorer three minutes before starting time.

ART. 3 . . . Be provided with a clock to be used for timing quarters, extra periods and intermissions, and a stopwatch for timing time-outs. The clock must be operated by the official timer. The clock and a stopwatch must be placed so that they may be seen by the timer. The clock must be started or stopped as prescribed in Rule 5-8 and 5-9.

ART. 4 . . . Sound a warning signal 15 seconds before the expiration of an intermission or a time-out, immediately after which the players must prepare to resume play, and signal again at the end of the intermission or time-out.

ART. 5 . . . Sound a warning signal to announce 15 seconds (maximum) permitted for replacing a disqualified or injured player, or for a player directed to leave the game.

NOTE: The official must signal the timer to begin the 15-second interval for replacing an injured player after the injured player has been removed from the court and the coach has been notified that a replacement is required, except as in 3-3-6.

ART. 6 . . . Stop the clock at the expiration of time for each quarter or extra period, and when an official signals time-out, as in 5-8. For an intermission or a charged time-out, start the stopwatch and signal the referee as outlined in Article 4.

ART. 7 . . . Indicate by signal the expiration of playing time in each quarter or extra period. If a red/LED light is used, the light is the official expiration of playing time.

If the red/LED light fails to illuminate and the timer’s signal fails to sound, or is not recognized by the officials, the timer must go onto the court or use other means to immediately notify the nearest official. If in the meantime, a goal has been made or a foul has occurred, the referee must consult the timer:

ART. 1 . . . If table officials agree that time expired before the ball was in flight, the goal must not count.

ART. 2 . . . If table officials agree that the quarter or extra period ended, as in 5-6-2 before the foul occurred, the foul must be disregarded, unless it was intentional or flagrant.

ART. 3 . . . If table officials disagree, the goal must count and/or the foul must be penalized, unless the referee has knowledge which alters such ruling.

ART. 1 . . . Each team consists of five players, one of whom is the captain.

NOTE: A team must begin the game with five players, but if it has no substitutes to replace disqualified or injured players, it must continue with fewer than five. When there is only one player participating for a team, the team must forfeit the game, unless the referee believes that team has an opportunity to win the game.

ART. 2 . . . The captain is the representative of his/her team and may address an official on matters of interpretation or to obtain essential information, if it is done in a courteous manner. Any player may address an official to request a time-out or permission to leave the court.

ART. 1 . . . At least 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time, each team must supply the official scorer with the name and number of each team member and designate the five starting players. Failure to comply results in a technical foul (see 10-1-1 Penalty).

ART. 2 . . . After the 10-minute time limit specified in Article 1, a team is charged with a maximum of one technical foul regardless of how many infractions of the following are committed (see 10-1-2 Penalty):

a. Changing a designated starter, unless necessitated by illness, injury, illegal equipment or apparel, etc., or to attempt a technical foul free throw.

b. Adding a name to the team member list.

c. Requiring the scorer to change a team member’s or player’s number in the scorebook.

d. Requiring a player to change to the number in the scorebook.

e. Having identical numbers on team members and/or players.

ART. 1 . . . A substitute who desires to enter must report to the scorer, giving his/her number.

a. Between quarters, at halftime and during a time-out, the substitute must report or be in position to report to the scorer, prior to the warning signal which is sounded 15 seconds before the end of the intermission or the time-out.

NOTE: When the substitute(s) is not properly reported, the player(s) in the game at the conclusion of the quarter when the time-out was granted must begin play for the new quarter after the time-out.

b. Substitutions between halves may be made by the substitute or a team representative.

c. During multiple free throws resulting from personal fouls, substitutions may be made only before the final attempt in the sequence and after the final attempt has been scored.

EXCEPTION: When a player is required by rule to be replaced prior to administering the free throw(s), then all other substitutes who have legally reported may also enter the game.

d. If entry is at any time other than between quarters, and a substitute who is entitled and ready to enter reports to the scorer, the scorer must use a sounding device or game horn, if, or as soon as, the ball is dead and the clock is stopped.

e. A captain may request a defensive match-up if three or more substitutes from the same team enter during an opportunity to substitute.

ART. 2 . . . The substitute must remain outside the boundary until an official beckons, whereupon he/she must enter immediately. If the ball is about to become live, the beckoning signal should be withheld. The entering substitute must not replace a designated jumper or a free thrower except as in 8-2 and 8-3. If the substitute enters to replace a player who must jump or attempt a free throw, he/she must withdraw until the next opportunity to substitute.

ART. 3 . . . A substitute becomes a player when he/she legally enters the court. If entry is not legal, the substitute becomes a player when the ball becomes live. A player becomes bench personnel after his/her substitute becomes a player or after notification of the coach following his/her disqualification.

ART. 4 . . . A player who has been replaced, or directed to leave the game must not re-enter before the next opportunity to substitute after the clock has been started properly following his/her replacement.

ART. 5. . . A player not wearing the pants/skirt properly and above the hips and/or a player not tucking in a team jersey (front and back) designed to be worn inside the pants/skirt, must be directed to leave the game as in 3-3-4; a charged time-out must not alter this requirement.

ART. 6 . . . A player who has been injured to the extent that the coach or any other bench personnel is beckoned and comes onto the court must be – directed to leave the game, unless a time-out is requested by, and granted to, his/her team and the situation can be corrected by the end of the timeout.

ART. 7 . . . A player who is bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, must be directed to leave the game until the bleeding is stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or the uniform is changed before returning to competition, unless a time-out is requested by, and granted to, his/her team and the situation can be corrected by the end of the time-out.

NOTES: (Arts. 6, 7) 1. If players from both teams are directed to leave the game because of injury/blood, both teams must request and be granted a time-out in order to keep each player in the game, as in 5-11-8. 2. A time-out granted to keep a player in the game must be requested before the replacement interval begins.

ART. 8 . . . Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) must be immediately removed from the game and must not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health care professional. (See NFHS Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports.)

ART. 1 . . . Team jersey color and design must adhere to the following:

a. The torso of the team jersey must be the same single solid color for all team members.

b. The torso is the portion of the jersey from an imaginary line at the base of the neckline extending to each armhole, down to the bottom hem of the jersey and from side seam/insert to side seam/insert. The imaginary line at the base of the neckline must not extend beyond 1½ inches from the lowest point of the neckline apex/opening.

c. The torso color must be white for the home team and a contrasting dark color for the visiting team.

NOTE: It is recommended that the dark torso color for the visiting team be the darker color of the school’s color scheme or black.

d. There are no color/design restrictions in the area of the team jersey from the imaginary line at the base of the neckline to the top of the shoulder and in the corresponding area on the back of the jersey. There are restrictions on what identifying names may be placed in this area. (3-4-4)

e. Side inserts, including trim/piping/accent color(s), must be no more than 4 inches in width (2 inches on each side of seam) of any color(s) or design, centered vertically below the armpit. Side inserts for all team jerseys must be the same width.

f. Trim, piping or an accent color differing from the torso color must not exceed 1 inch around the arm openings, except as in item d above.

ART. 2 . . . Logos/flags/patches must adhere to the following:

a. A visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference is permitted on the team jersey, not to exceed 2¼ square inches with no dimension more than 2¼ inches. The manufacturer’s logo may be located no more than 5 inches below the shoulder seam on the front of the jersey, or 2 inches from the neckline on the back of the jersey; or in either side insert.

b. The American flag may be worn anywhere on the team jersey provided it does not exceed 2 x 3 inches and does not interfere with the visibility of the player’s number.

c. By state association adoption, one commemorative/memorial patch may be worn on the jersey. The patch must not exceed 4 square inches, must not be a number and must be located above the neckline or in the side insert.

d. A school or conference logo/mascot may be located at the apex/opening of the neckline or above it, in the corresponding area on the back of the jersey and/or in either side insert.

ART. 3 . . . Numbers must adhere to the following:

a. Team jerseys must include the team member’s number, which must be at least 6 inches high on the back and at least 4 inches high on the front and not less than 3/4 inch in width excluding the border.

b. The number(s) must be centered vertically and horizontally on the portion of the jersey that is intended to be visible.

c. The number(s) on the front and back of the team jersey must be the same color and style.

d. Each team member must be numbered on the front and back of the team jersey with plain Arabic numerals. The following numbers are legal: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 00, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. A team member list must not have both numbers 0 and 00.

e. No more than three colors may be used on the number. The style of the number must be clearly visible and conform to one of the following:

1. A solid contrasting color with no more than two solid color ¼-inch borders around the entire number. If the team jersey color is used as a border, it must be counted as one of the allowed colors.

2. The team jersey color itself when bordered with not more than two ¼-inch solid border(s) contrasting with the team jersey color.

3. A solid contrasting color with a “shadow” trim of a contrasting color on part of the number not to exceed ½ inch in width and may be used with one 1/4-inch border.

ART. 4 . . . Identifying name(s) must adhere to the following:

a. If used, lettering with school name, school’s nickname, school logo, player’s name and/or abbreviations of the official school name must be placed horizontally on the jersey.

b. The panel in the shoulder area of the jersey on the back may be used for placing identifying names as well.

c. Lettering above a number may be arched, but the first and last letters must be on the same horizontal plane, such plane must not be below a plane extending through the top of the number(s).

d. Lettering below a number must have the first and last letters on the same horizontal plane and said plane must not be above a plane extending through the bottom of the numbers(s).

e. Any point on any letter must not be closer than one inch to any point on any number(s).

f. Any form of decorative accent (e.g., paw, halo, crown, star) in an identifying name or abbreviation is only permitted if the name or abbreviation is located above the number.

g. If a tail is used in the lettering of an identifying name or abbreviation, the name or abbreviation must be located below the number.

ART. 5 . . . Uniform pants/skirts must have only one visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference. See 3-6-2 for size requirements. Showing multiple manufacturer’s logos on the waist band of the pants/skirts makes the item illegal.

ART. 1 . . . The referee must not permit any team member to wear equipment or apparel which, in his/her judgment, is dangerous or confusing to other players or is not appropriate.

NOTE: Each state association may, in keeping with applicable laws, authorize exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual participants with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as those individuals with unique and extenuating circumstances. The accommodations should not fundamentally alter the sport, heighten risk to the athlete/others or place opponents at a disadvantage.

ART. 2 . . . Guards, casts and braces must meet the following guidelines:

a. A guard, cast or brace made of a hard and unyielding substance, such as, but not limited to, leather, plaster, plastic or metal must not be worn on the elbow, hand, finger/thumb, wrist or forearm; even though covered with soft padding.

b. Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the upper arm or shoulder must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than ½” thick.

c. Knee and ankle braces which are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production are permitted and do not require any additional padding/covering nor do the braces need to meet the color restrictions.

NOTE: A brace is defined as anything worn for a medical purpose to increase stability. In general, it is made of neoprene or elastic knit with an insert embedded to support the joint. It may or may not have a hinge and/or straps or an opening over the kneecap.

d. A protective face mask may be worn and made of hard material, but must be worn molded to the face with no protrusions.

e. Must be worn for medical reasons.

ART. 3 . . . Arm sleeves, knee sleeves, lower leg sleeves, compression shorts and tights are permissible:

a. Anything worn on the arm and/or leg is a sleeve, except a knee brace, and must meet the color restrictions.

b. The sleeves/tights, compression shorts must be black, white, beige or the predominant color of the jersey and the same color sleeves/tights must be worn by teammates.

c. All sleeves/tights, compression shorts must be the same solid color and must be the same color as any headband or wristband worn.

d. Meet the logo requirements in 3-6.

ART. 4 . . . Wristbands and headwear must meet the following guidelines:

a. Headbands and wristbands must be white, black, beige or the predominant color of the jersey and must be the same color for each item and all participants. They must be the same color as any sleeve/tights worn. See 3-6 for logo requirements.

b. A headband is any item that goes around the entire head. It must be a circular design without extensions. If worn, only one headband is permitted, it must be worn on the forehead/crown, it must be nonabrasive and unadorned, and it must be no more than 3 inches wide.

c. If worn, only one wristband is permitted on each wrist, each must be worn on the arm below the elbow, each must be moisture absorbing, nonabrasive and unadorned, and each must be a maximum of 4 inches wide.

d. Rubber, cloth or elastic bands may be used to control hair. Hard items, including, but not limited to, beads, barrettes and bobby pins, are prohibited. Hair-control devices are not required to meet color restrictions.

e. Head decorations and headwear, except those specified above, are prohibited.

EXCEPTION: State associations may on an individual basis permit a player to participate while wearing a head covering if it meets the following criteria:

a. For medical or cosmetic reasons – In the event a participant is required by a licensed medical physician to cover his/her head with a covering or wrap, the physician’s statement is required before the state association can approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely that it will come off during play.

b. For religious reasons – In the event there is documented evidence provided to the state association that a participant may not expose his/her uncovered head, the state association may approve a covering or wrap which is not abrasive, hard or dangerous to any other player and which is attached in such a way it is highly unlikely it will come off during play.

ART. 5 . . . Equipment which is unnatural and/or designed to increase a team member’s height or vertical reach or to gain a competitive advantage must not be permitted. Equipment and apparel must not be modified from the original manufactured state and must be worn in the manner the manufacturer intended it to be worn.

Note: Provided the shorts are not in conflict with Rule 3-4-5, no drawstring or other part of the shorts intended to maintain them in a normal position causes potential harm to the player or others and wearing of the shorts is not objectionable in exposing the anatomy, there is not restriction on folding or rolling the shorts at the natural waistband seam.

ART. 6 . . . Undershirts must be a single solid color similar to the torso of the jersey and must be hemmed and not have frayed or ragged edges. If the undershirt has sleeves, they must be the same length. Only one visible logo is permitted. See 3-6 for logo requirements.

ART. 7 . . . Jewelry is prohibited. Religious and medical-alert medals are not considered jewelry. A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform. A medical-alert medal must be taped and may be visible.

ART. 1 . . . One visible manufacturer’s logo/trademark/reference or school logo/mascot is permitted on the wristbands, headband, compression shorts, undershirts, and arm and leg compression sleeves. (3-5-3, 3-5-4, 3-5-6).

ART. 2 . . . The size must be limited to 2¼ square inches and must not exceed 2¼ inches in any dimension on any item.

The referee must not permit any team member to participate if in his/her judgment any item constitutes a safety concern, such as, but not limited to, a player’s fingernails or hairstyle.

ART. 1 . . . An airborne shooter is a player who has released the ball on a try for a goal or has tapped the ball and has not returned to the floor.

ART. 2 . . . The airborne shooter is considered to be in the act of shooting.

ART. 1 . . . Alternating possession is the method of putting the ball in play by a throw-in as outlined in 6-4.

ART. 2 . . . The possession arrow is a device located at the scorer’s table which is used to indicate the direction of a team’s basket for the alternating-possession procedure.

Alternating-possession control is established and the initial direction of the possession arrow is set toward the opponent’s basket when:

ART. 1 . . . A player secures control of the ball, as after the jump ball beginning the game and each extra period.

ART. 2 . . . The ball is placed at the disposal of the free thrower after a common foul when the bonus free throw is in effect.

ART. 3 . . . The ball is placed at the disposal of the thrower after:

a. A violation during or following the jump before a player secures control.
b. The free throws for a non-common foul.
c. A common foul before the bonus free throw is in effect.

NOTE: This procedure is used only to establish the alternating-possession procedure. See 6-4 for using the procedure and reversing the possession arrow.

ART. 1 . . . A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the backcourt if either the ball or the player (either player if the ball is touching more than one) is touching the backcourt.

ART. 2 . . . A ball which is in contact with a player or with the court is in the frontcourt if neither the ball nor the player is touching the backcourt.

ART. 3 . . . A ball which is in flight retains the same location as when it was last in contact with a player or the court.

ART. 4 . . . A ball which touches a player or an official is the same as the ball touching the floor at that individual’s location.

ART. 5 . . . A ball which touches the front faces or edges of the backboard is treated the same as touching the floor inbounds; see also 4-15-1.

ART. 6 . . . During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, the ball is in the frontcourt when the ball and both feet of the dribbler touch the court entirely in the frontcourt.

ART. 7 . . . A ball is at the disposal of a player when it is:

a. Handed to a thrower or free thrower.
b. Caught by a thrower or free thrower after it is bounced to him/her.
c. Placed on the floor at the spot.
d. Available to a player after a goal and the official begins the throw-in count.

ART. 1 . . . A team’s own basket is the one into which its players try to throw or tap the ball.

ART. 2 . . . Each team’s basket for practice before the game and for the first half must be the one farther from its team bench.

ART. 3 . . . The teams must change baskets for the second half.

ART. 4 . . . If by mistake the officials permit a team to go the wrong direction, when discovered all points scored, fouls committed, and time consumed must count as if each team had gone the proper direction. Play must resume with each team going the proper direction based on bench location.

Basket interference occurs when a player:

ART. 1 . . . Touches the ball or any part of the basket (including the net) while the ball is on or within either basket.

ART. 2 . . . Touches the ball while any part of the ball is within the imaginary cylinder which has the basket ring as its lower base.

EXCEPTION: In Arts. 1 or 2, if a player has his/her hand legally in contact with the ball, it is not a violation if such contact with the ball continues after it enters the imaginary cylinder or if in such action, the player touches the basket. Dunking or stuffing is legal and is not basket interference.

ART. 3 . . . Touches the ball outside the cylinder while reaching through the basket from below.

ART. 4 . . . Pulls down a movable ring so that it contacts the ball before the ring returns to its original position.

ART. 1 . . . Blocking is illegal personal contact which impedes the progress of an opponent with or without the ball.

ART. 2 . . . Charging is illegal personal contact caused by pushing or moving into an opponent’s torso.

a. A player who is moving with the ball is required to stop or change direction to avoid contact if a defensive player has obtained a legal guarding position in his/her path.

b. If a guard has obtained a legal guarding position, the player with the ball must get his/her head and shoulders past the torso of the defensive player. If contact occurs on the torso of the defensive player, the dribbler is responsible for the contact.

c. There must be reasonable space between two defensive players or a defensive player and a boundary line to allow the dribbler to continue in his/her path. If there is less than 3 feet of space, the dribbler has the greater responsibility for the contact.

d. The player with the ball may not push the torso of the guard to gain an advantage to pass, shoot or dribble.

ART. 1 . . . A bonus free throw is the second free throw awarded for a common foul (except a player-control or team-control foul) as follows:

a. Beginning with a team’s seventh foul in each half and for the eighth and ninth foul, the bonus is awarded only if the first free throw is successful.

b. Beginning with a team’s 10th foul in each half, two free throws are awarded whether or not the first free throw is successful.

NOTE: Rule 2-10-1 a, b are applied if a merited free throw is not awarded or an unmerited free throw is awarded.

ART. 2 . . . Player-control, team-control and technical fouls are counted as team fouls to reach the bonus. When a technical foul is also charged indirectly to the head coach, it counts only as one team foul.

ART. 1 . . . Boundary lines of the court consist of end lines and sidelines.

ART. 2 . . . The inside edges of these lines define the inbounds and out-of-bounds areas.

A closely guarded situation occurs when a player in control of the ball in his/her team’s frontcourt, is continuously guarded by any opponent who is within six feet of the player who is holding or dribbling the ball. The distance must be measured from the forward foot/feet of the defender to the forward foot/feet of the ball handler. A closely guarded count must be terminated when the offensive player in control of the ball gets his/her head and shoulders past the defensive player.

ART. 1 . . . Continuous motion applies to a try or tap for field goals and free throws, but it has no significance unless there is a foul by any defensive player during the interval which begins when the habitual throwing movement starts a try or with the touching on a tap and ends when the ball is clearly in flight.

ART. 2 . . . If an opponent fouls after a player has started a try for goal, he/she is permitted to complete the customary arm movement, and if pivoting or stepping when fouled, may complete the usual foot or body movement in any activity while holding the ball. These privileges are granted only when the usual throwing motion has started before the foul occurs and before the ball is in flight.

ART. 3 . . . Continuous motion does not apply if a teammate fouls after a player has started a try for a goal and before the ball is in flight. The ball becomes dead immediately.

ART. 1 . . . A player is in control of the ball when he/she is holding or dribbling a live ball. There is no player control when, during a jump ball, a jumper catches the ball prior to the ball touching the floor or a non-jumper, or during an interrupted dribble.

ART. 2 . . . A team is in control of the ball:

a. When a player of the team is in control.
b. While a live ball is being passed among teammates.
c. During an interrupted dribble.
d. When a player of the team has disposal of the ball for a throw-in.

ART. 3 . . . Team control continues until:

a. The ball is in flight during a try or tap for goal.
b. An opponent secures control.
c. The ball becomes dead.

ART. 4 . . . While the ball remains live a loose ball always remains in control of the team whose player last had control, unless it is a try or tap for goal.

ART. 5 . . . Team control does not exist during a jump ball or the touching of a rebound, but is re-established when a player secures control.

ART. 6 . . . Neither team control nor player control exists during a dead ball, a jump ball or when the ball is in flight during a try or tap for goal.

ART. 1 . . . A team’s frontcourt consists of that part of the court between its end line and the nearer edge of the division line, including its basket and the inbounds part of the backboard.

ART. 2 . . . A team’s backcourt consists of the rest of the court, including the entire division line and the opponent’s basket and inbounds part of the opponent’s backboard.

ART. 1 . . . A disqualified player is one who is barred from further participation in the game because of having committed his/her fifth foul (personal and technical), two technical fouls or a flagrant foul.

ART. 2 . . . A player is officially disqualified and becomes bench personnel when the coach is notified by an official.

ART. 1 . . . A dribble is ball movement caused by a player in control who bats (intentionally strikes the ball with the hand(s)) or pushes the ball to the floor once or several times. It is not a part of a dribble when the ball touches a player’s own backboard.

ART. 2 . . . During a dribble the ball may be batted into the air provided it is permitted to strike the floor before the ball is touched again with the hand(s).

ART. 3 . . . The dribble begins by pushing, throwing or batting the ball to the floor before the pivot foot is lifted.

ART. 4 . . . The dribble ends when:

a. The dribbler catches or causes the ball to come to rest in one or both hands.

b. The dribbler palms/carries the ball by allowing it to come to rest in one or both hands.

c. The dribbler simultaneously touches the ball with both hands.

d. The ball touches or is touched by an opponent and causes the dribbler to lose control.

e. The ball becomes dead.

ART. 5 . . . An interrupted dribble occurs when the ball is loose after deflecting off the dribbler or after it momentarily gets away from the dribbler. There is no player control during an interrupted dribble.

ART. 6 . . . During an interrupted dribble:

a. A closely guarded count must not be started or must be terminated.

b. A player-control foul cannot be committed, but a team-control foul still may be committed.

c. A time-out request must not be granted.

d. Out-of-bounds violation does not apply on the player involved in the interrupted dribble.

Dunking is the driving, forcing, pushing or attempting to force a ball through the basket with the hand(s).

An extra period is the extension of playing time necessary to break a tie score. The length of each extra period is four minutes.

Fighting is a flagrant act and can occur when the ball is dead or live. Fighting includes, but is not limited to combative acts such as:

ART. 1 . . . An attempt to strike, punch or kick by using a fist, hands, arms, legs or feet regardless of whether contact is made.

ART. 2 . . . An attempt to instigate a fight by committing an unsporting act that causes a person to retaliate by fighting.

A foul is an infraction of the rules which is charged and is penalized.

ART. 1 . . . A personal foul is a player foul which involves illegal contact with an opponent while the ball is live, which hinders an opponent from performing normal defensive and offensive movements. A personal foul also includes contact by or on an airborne shooter when the ball is dead.

NOTE: Contact after the ball has become dead is incidental unless it is ruled intentional or flagrant or is committed by or on an airborne shooter.

ART. 2 . . . A common foul is a personal foul which is neither flagrant nor intentional nor committed against a player trying or tapping for a field goal nor a part of a double, simultaneous or multiple foul.

ART. 3 . . . An intentional foul is a personal or technical foul that may or may not be premeditated and is not based solely on the severity of the act. Intentional fouls include, but are not limited to:

1. Contact that neutralizes an opponent’s obvious advantageous position.
2. Contact away from the ball with an opponent who is clearly not involved with a play.
3. Contact that is not a legitimate attempt to play the ball/player specifically designed to stop the clock or keep it from starting.
4. Excessive contact with an opponent while the ball is live or until an airborne shooter returns to the floor.
5. Contact with a thrower-in as in 9-2-10 Penalty 4.

ART. 4 . . . A flagrant foul may be a personal or technical foul of a violent nature involves, but is not limited to violent contact such as: striking, kicking and kneeing. If technical, it involves dead-ball contact or non-contact at any time which is extreme or persistent, vulgar or abusive conduct. Fighting is a flagrant act.

ART. 5 . . . A technical foul is:

1. A foul by a non-player.
2. A non-contact foul by a player.
3. An intentional or flagrant contact foul while the ball is dead, except a foul by an airborne shooter.
4. A direct technical, charged to the head coach because of his/her actions, as in 10-6.
5. An indirect technical, charged to the head coach as a result of a bench technical foul being assessed to team bench personnel, as in 10-5.

ART. 6 . . . A player-control foul is a common foul committed by a player while he/she is in control of the ball or by an airborne shooter.

ART. 7 . . . A team-control foul is a common foul committed by a member of the team that has team control or by a member of the throw-in team from the start of the throw-in until player control is obtained inbounds.

ART. 8 . . . Double fouls:

1. A double personal foul is a situation in which two opponents commit personal fouls against each other at approximately the same time.
2. A double technical foul is a situation in which two opponents commit technical fouls against each other at approximately the same time.

ART. 9 . . . A false double foul is a situation in which there are fouls by both teams, the second of which occurs before the clock is started following the first, and such that at least one of the attributes of a double foul is absent.

ART. 10 . . . A simultaneous foul (personal or technical) by opponents is a situation in which there is a foul by both teams which occurs at approximately the same time, but are not committed by opponents against each other.

ART. 11 . . . A multiple foul is a situation in which two or more teammates commit personal fouls against the same opponent at approximately the same time.

ART. 12 . . . A false multiple foul is a situation in which there are two or more fouls by the same team and the last foul is committed before the clock is started following the first, and at least one of the attributes of a multiple foul is absent.

ART. 13 . . . A team foul is any personal foul or technical foul (except indirect technical fouls) which is charged to either team. All team fouls are counted to reach the bonus free throw.

ART. 14 . . . An unsporting foul is a non-contact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

ART. 1 . . . A free throw is the opportunity given a player to score one point by an unhindered try for goal from within the free-throw semicircle and behind the free-throw line.

ART. 2 . . . The free throw begins when the ball is at the disposal of the free thrower.

ART. 3 . . . The free throw ends when the try is successful, when it is certain the try will not be successful, when the try touches the floor or any player, or when the ball becomes dead.

A fumble is the accidental loss of player control when the ball unintentionally drops or slips from a player’s grasp.

Goaltending occurs when a player touches the ball during a field-goal try or tap while the ball is in its downward flight entirely above the basket ring level, has the possibility of entering the basket in flight and is not touching the basket cylinder or a player touches the ball outside the cylinder during a free-throw attempt.

ART. 1 . . . Guarding is the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. There is no minimum distance required between the guard and opponent, but the maximum is 6 feet when closely guarded. Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court provided such player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent. A player who extends an arm, shoulder, hip or leg into the path of an opponent is not considered to have a legal position if contact occurs.

ART. 2 . . . To obtain an initial legal guarding position:

a. The guard must have both feet touching the playing court.
b. The front of the guard’s torso must be facing the opponent.

ART. 3 . . . After the initial legal guarding position is obtained:

a. The guard may have one or both feet on the playing court or be airborne, provided he/she has inbound status.
b. The guard is not required to continue facing the opponent.
c. The guard may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position, – provided it is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.
d. The guard may raise hands or jump within his/her own vertical plane.
e. The guard may turn or duck to absorb the shock of imminent contact.

ART. 4 . . . Guarding an opponent with the ball or a stationary opponent – without the ball:

a. No time or distance is required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. If the opponent with the ball is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.

ART. 5 . . . Guarding a moving opponent without the ball:

a. Time and distance are factors required to obtain an initial legal position.
b. The guard must give the opponent the time and/or distance to avoid contact.
c. The distance need not be more than two strides.
d. If the opponent is airborne, the guard must have obtained legal position before the opponent left the floor.

ART. 1 . . . It is legal to extend the arms vertically above the shoulders and need not be lowered to avoid contact with an opponent when the action of the opponent causes contact. This legal use of the arms and hands usually occurs when guarding the player making a throw-in, the player with the ball in pressing tactics and a player with the ball who is maneuvering to try for goal by pivoting, jumping, etc.

ART. 2 . . . It is legal use of hands to reach to block or slap the ball controlled by a dribbler or a player throwing for goal or a player holding it and accidentally hitting the hand of the opponent when it is in contact with the ball.

ART. 3 . . . It is legal to hold the hands and arms in front of the face or body for protection and to absorb force from an imminent charge by an opponent. This same protective use of the arms and hands occurs when a player who has set a screen outside the opponent’s visual field is about to be run into by the player being screened. The action, however, should be a recoil action rather than a pushing action.

ART. 4 . . . It is not legal to use hands and arms or hips and shoulders to force his/her way through a screen or to hold the screener and then to push him/her aside in order to maintain a guarding position relative to his/her – opponent.

ART. 5 . . . It is not legal to use hands on an opponent which in any way inhibits the freedom of movement of the opponent or acts as an aid to a player in starting or stopping.

ART. 6 . . . It is not legal to extend the arms fully or partially in a position other than vertical so that the freedom of movement of an opponent is hindered when contact with the arms occurs. The extension of the elbows when the hands are on the hips or when the hands are held near the chest or when the arms are held more or less horizontally are examples of the illegal positions used.

ART. 7 . . . It is not legal to use the hand and/or forearm to prevent an – opponent from attacking the ball during a dribble or when throwing for goal.

ART. 8 . . . It is not legal to swing arms and elbows excessively. This occurs when:

a. Arms and elbows are swung about while using the shoulders as pivots, and the speed of the extended arms and elbows is in excess of the rest of the body as it rotates on the hips or on the pivot foot.
b. The aggressiveness with which the arms and elbows are swung could cause injury to another player if contacted.

Using this description as a basis, an official will promptly and unhesitatingly rule such action with arms and elbows a violation.

ART. 9 . . . It is not legal to lock arms or grasp a teammate(s) in an effort to restrict the movement of an opponent.

A held ball occurs when:

ART. 1 . . . Opponents have their hands so firmly on the ball that control cannot be obtained without undue roughness.

ART. 2 . . . An opponent places his/her hand(s) on the ball and prevents an airborne player from throwing the ball or releasing it on a try.

Holding is illegal personal contact with an opponent which interferes with his/her freedom of movement.

Incidental contact is contact with an opponent which is permitted and which does not constitute a foul.

ART. 1 . . . The mere fact that contact occurs does not constitute a foul. When 10 players are moving rapidly in a limited area, some contact is certain to occur.

ART. 2 . . . Contact, which may result when opponents are in equally favorable positions to perform normal defensive or offensive movements, should not be considered illegal, even though the contact may be severe.

ART. 3 . . . Similarly, contact which does not hinder the opponent from – participating in normal defensive or offensive movements should be considered incidental.

ART. 4 . . . A player who is screened within his/her visual field is expected to avoid contact with the screener by stopping or going around the screener. In cases of screens outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener, and such contact is to be ruled incidental contact, provided the screener is not displaced if he/she has the ball.

ART. 5 . . . If, however, a player approaches an opponent from behind or from a position from which he/she has no reasonable chance to play the ball without making contact with the opponent, the responsibility is on the player in the unfavorable position.

ART. 1 . . . A jump ball is a method of putting the ball into play to start the game and each extra period by tossing it up between two opponents in the center restraining circle, or as in 7-3 before the alternating-possession procedure has been established.

ART. 2 . . . The jump ball begins when the ball leaves the official’s hand(s) and ends when the touched ball contacts a non-jumper, an official, the floor, a basket or backboard.

Kicking the ball is intentionally striking it with any part of the leg or foot.

A multiple throw is a succession of free throws attempted by the same team.

A pass is movement of the ball caused by a player who throws, bats or rolls the ball to another player.

A penalty is an action assessed by an official to a player or team for a rules infraction. See Rules 9 and 10.

A pivot takes place when a player who is 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.

ART. 1 . . . A player is one of five team members who are legally on the court at any given time, except intermission.

ART. 2 . . . Bench personnel are all individuals who are part of or affiliated with a team, including, but not limited to: substitutes, coaches, manager(s) and statistician(s). During an intermission, all team members are bench personnel for the purpose of penalizing unsporting behavior.

ART. 3 . . . A substitute becomes a player when he/she legally enters the court. If entry is not legal, the substitute becomes a player when the ball becomes live. A player becomes bench personnel after his/her substitute becomes a player or after notification of the coach following his/her disqualification.

ART. 4 . . . A team member is a member of bench personnel who is in uniform and is eligible to become a player.

ART. 1 . . . The location of a player or non-player is determined by where the person is touching the floor as far as being:

a. Inbounds or out-of-bounds.
b. In the frontcourt or backcourt.
c. Outside (behind/beyond) or inside the three-point field-goal line.

ART. 2 . . . When a player is touching the backcourt, out of bounds or the three-point line, the player is located in backcourt, out of bounds or inside the three-point line, respectively.

ART. 3 . . . The location of an airborne player with reference to the three factors of Article 1 is the same as at the time such player was last in contact with the floor or an extension of the floor, such as a bleacher.

ART. 1 . . . Method of resuming play due to an official’s inadvertent whistle, an interrupted game, as in 5-4-3, a correctable error, as in 2-10-6, a double personal, double technical or simultaneous foul, as in 4-19-8 and 4-19-10.

ART. 2 . . . Play must be resumed by one of the following methods:

a. A throw-in to the team that was in control at an out-of-bounds spot nearest to where the ball was located when the interruption occurred.
b. A free throw or a throw-in when the interruption occurred during this activity or if a team is entitled to such.
c. A jump ball or alternating-possession throw-in when neither team is in control and no goal, infraction, nor end of quarter/extra period is involved when the game is interrupted.

ART. 3 . . . When the ball remains live after a violation or foul (as in 4-19-8) during a try for goal, the point of interruption is determined to be when the ball becomes dead following the violation or foul.

ART. 1 . . . Rebounding is an attempt by any player to secure possession of the ball following a try or tap for goal. In a rebounding situation there is no player or team control.

ART. 2 . . . To obtain or maintain legal rebounding position, a player may not:

a. Displace, charge or push an opponent.
b. Extend shoulders, hips, knees or extend the arms or elbows fully or partially in a position other than vertical so that the freedom of movement of an opponent is hindered when contact with the arms or elbows occurs.
c. Bend his/her body in an abnormal position to hold or displace an opponent.
d. Violate the principle of verticality.

ART. 3 . . . Every player is entitled to a spot on the playing court, provided the player gets there first without illegally contacting an opponent.

The resumption-of-play procedure is used to prevent delay in putting the ball in play when a throw-in team does not make a thrower available or following a time-out or intermission (unless either team is not on the court to start the second half) as in 7-5-1 and 8-1-2. The procedure results in a violation instead of a technical foul for initial delay in specific situations.

ART. 1 . . . A rule is one of a group of regulations which governs the game.

ART. 2 . . . A game regulation, commonly called a rule, sometimes states or implies that the ball is dead or a foul or violation is involved. If it does not, it is assumed the ball is live and no foul or violation has occurred to affect the situation.

ART. 3 . . . A single infraction is not complicated by a second infraction unless so stated or implied.

ART. 1 . . . A screen is legal action by a player who, without causing contact, delays or prevents an opponent from reaching a desired position.

ART. 2 . . . To establish a legal screening position:

a. The screener may face any direction.
b. Time and distance are relevant.
c. The screener must be stationary, except when both the screener and opponent are moving in the same path and the same direction.
d. The screener must stay within his/her vertical plane with a stance approximately shoulder width apart.

ART. 3 . . . When screening a stationary opponent from the front or side (within the visual field), the screener may be anywhere short of contact.

ART. 4 . . . When screening a stationary opponent from behind (outside the visual field), the screener must allow the opponent one normal step backward without contact.

ART. 5 . . . When screening a moving opponent, the screener must allow the opponent time and distance to avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. The speed of the player to be screened will determine where the screener may take his/her stationary position. The position will vary and may be one to two normal steps or strides from the opponent.

ART. 6 . . . When screening an opponent who is moving in the same path and direction as the screener, the player behind is responsible if contact is made because the player in front slows up or stops and the player behind overruns his/her opponent.

ART. 7 . . . A player who is screened within his/her visual field is expected to avoid contact by going around the screener. In cases of screens outside the visual field, the opponent may make inadvertent contact with the screener and if the opponent is running rapidly, the contact may be severe. Such a case is to be ruled as incidental contact provided the opponent stops or attempts to stop on contact and moves around the screen, and provided the screener is not displaced if he/she has the ball.

ART. 8 . . . A player may not use the arms, hands, hips or shoulders to force his/her way through a screen or to hold the screener and then push the screener aside in order to maintain a guarding position on an opponent.

ART. 1 . . . The act of shooting begins simultaneously with the start of the try or tap for field goal and ends when the ball is clearly in flight, and includes the airborne shooter.

ART. 2 . . . A try for field goal is an attempt by a player to score two or three points by throwing the ball into a team’s own basket. A player is trying for goal when the player has the ball and in the official’s judgment is throwing or attempting to throw for goal. It is not essential that the ball leave the player’s hand as a foul could prevent release of the ball.

ART. 3 . . . The try starts when the player begins the motion which habitually precedes the release of the ball.

ART. 4 . . . The try ends when the throw is successful, when it is certain the throw is unsuccessful, when the thrown ball touches the floor or when the ball becomes dead.

ART. 5 . . . A tap for goal is the contacting of the ball with any part of a player’s hand(s) in an attempt to direct the ball into his/her basket.

ART. 6 . . . A tap must be considered the same as a try for field goal, except as in 5-2-5.

ART. 7 . . . The tap or try for field goal starts when the player’s hand(s) touches the ball.

ART. 8 . . . The tap for field goal ends in exactly the same manner as a try.

ART. 1 . . . The thrower is the player who attempts to make a throw-in.

ART. 2 . . . A throw-in is a method of putting the ball in play from out-of-bounds.

ART. 3 . . . The throw-in and the throw-in count begin when the ball is at the disposal of a player of the team entitled to it.

ART. 4 . . . The throw-in count ends when the ball is released by the thrower so the passed ball goes directly into the court.

ART. 5 . . . The throw-in ends when:

a. The passed ball touches or is touched by another player inbounds.
b. The passed ball touches or is touched by another player out-of-bounds, except as in 7-5-7.
c. The throw-in team commits a throw-in violation.

ART. 6 . . . The designated throw-in spot is 3 feet wide with no depth limitation and is established and signaled by the official prior to putting the ball at the thrower’s disposal.

NOTE: The thrower must keep one foot on or over the designated spot until the ball is released. The traveling and dribbling rules are not in effect for a throw-in.

ART. 1 . . . A 60-second time-out charged to a team is a maximum of one minute in length. A 30-second time-out charged to a team is a maximum 30 seconds in length. A warning is sounded 15 seconds prior to the expiration of the 30 or 60 seconds.

ART. 2 . . . A successive time-out is one which is granted to either team before the clock has started following the previous time-out.

Traveling is moving a foot or feet in any direction in excess of prescribed limits while holding the ball. The limits on foot movements are as follows:

ART. 1 . . . A player who catches the ball with both feet on the floor may pivot using either foot. When one foot is lifted, the other is the pivot foot.

ART. 2 . . . A player who catches the ball while moving or dribbling may stop and establish a pivot foot as follows:

a. If both feet are off the floor and the player lands:

1. 1. Simultaneously on both feet, either foot may be the pivot.
   2. On one foot followed by the other, the first foot to touch is the pivot.
   3. On one foot, the player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both. Neither foot can be a pivot in this case.

b. If one foot is on the floor:

1. 1. It is the pivot when the other foot touches in a step.
   2. The player may jump off that foot and simultaneously land on both.

Neither foot can be a pivot in this case.

ART. 3 . . . After coming to a stop and establishing a pivot foot:

a. The pivot foot may be lifted, but not returned to the floor, before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.
b. If the player jumps, neither foot may be returned to the floor before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.
c. The pivot foot may not be lifted before the ball is released to start a dribble.

ART. 4 . . . After coming to a stop when neither foot can be a pivot:

a. One or both feet may be lifted, but may not be returned to the floor before the ball is released on a pass or try for goal.
b. Neither foot may be lifted before the ball is released, to start a dribble.

ART. 5 . . . A player holding the ball:

a. May not touch the floor with a knee or any other part of the body other than hand or foot.
b. After gaining control while on the floor and touching with other than hand or foot, may not attempt to get up or stand.

Verticality applies to a legal position. Following are the basic components of the principle of verticality:

ART. 1 . . . Legal guarding position must be obtained initially and movement thereafter must be legal.

ART. 2 . . . From this position, the defender may rise or jump vertically and occupy the space within his/her vertical plane.

ART. 3 . . . The hands and arms of the defender may be raised within his/her vertical plane while on the floor or in the air.

ART. 4 . . . The defender should not be penalized for leaving the floor – vertically or having his/her hands and arms extended within his/her vertical plane.

ART. 5 . . . The offensive player whether on the floor or airborne, may not “clear out” or cause contact within the defender’s vertical plane, which is a foul.

ART. 6 . . . . The defender may not “belly up” or use the lower part of the body or arms to cause contact outside his/her vertical plane, which is a foul.

ART. 7 . . . The player with the ball is to be given no more protection or consideration than the defender in judging which player has violated the rules.

A violation is one of three types of rule infractions which are listed and the penalty outlined in 9-1 through 13. Following are the types of violations:

ART. 1 . . . Type 1: Floor violations including basket interference by a teammate of the player attempting a field goal or free throw or goaltending a field goal and other violations, which are not connected with a free throw or try or tap for goal.

ART. 2 . . . Type 2: Basket interference or goaltending by a player at the opponent’s basket.

ART. 3 . . . Type 3: Free-throw violations other than those involving basket interference or goaltending.

A warning to a team for delay is an administrative procedure by an official which is recorded in the scorebook by the scorer and reported to the head coach:

ART. 1 . . . For throw-in plane violations, as in 9-2-10, 10-2-1c.

ART. 2 . . . For huddle by either team and contact with the free thrower, as in 10-2-1d.

ART. 3 . . . For interfering with the ball following a goal as in 10-2-1e.

ART. 4 . . . For failure to have the court ready for play following any timeout as in 10-2-1f.

A warning to a head coach/bench personnel for misconduct is an administrative procedure by an official, which is recorded in the scorebook by the scorer and reported to the head coach.

ART. 1 . . . For conduct, such as that described in Rule 10-5, Articles 1 (a, b d, e, f), 2 and 4, the official must warn the head coach unless the offense is judged to be major, in which case a technical foul must be assessed.

NOTE: A warning is not required prior to calling a technical foul.

ART. 2 . . . For the first violation of Rule 10-6-1, the official must warn the head coach unless the offense is judged to be major, in which case a technical foul must be assessed.

NOTE: A warning is not required prior to calling a technical foul.

ART. 1 . . . A goal is made when a live ball enters the basket from above and remains in or passes through. No goal is scored if an untouched throw-in goes through the basket.

ART. 2 . . . Whether the clock is running or stopped has no influence on the counting of a goal. If a player-control foul occurs before or after a goal, the goal is canceled.

ART. 1 . . . A successful try, tap or thrown ball from the field by a player who is located behind the team’s own 19-foot, 9-inch arc counts three points. A ball that touches the floor, a teammate inside the arc, an official, or any other goal from the field counts two points for the team into whose basket the ball is thrown. See 4-5-4.

ART. 2 . . . A goal from a free throw counts one point for the free thrower’s team and is credited to the free thrower. See 4-5-4.

ART. 3 . . . If a player scores a field goal in the opponent’s basket, it is not credited to a player, but is indicated in a footnote. See 4-5-4.

ART. 4 . . . The only infractions for which points are awarded are goaltending by the defense or basket interference at the opponent’s basket.

ART. 5 . . . When play is resumed with a throw-in or free throw and three tenths (.3) of a second or less remains on the clock, a player may not gain control of the ball and try for a field goal. In this situation only a tap could score. NOTE: This rule does not apply if the clock does not display tenths of a second.

The winning team is the one which has accumulated the greater number of points when the game ends as in 2-2-4.

ART. 1 . . . The referee must forfeit the game if a team refuses to play after being instructed to do so by any official. The referee may also forfeit a game if any player, team member, bench personnel or coach fails to comply with any technical-foul penalty, or repeatedly commits technical-foul infractions or other acts which make a travesty of the game. If the team to which the game is forfeited is ahead, the score at the time of forfeiture must stand. If this team is not ahead, the score must be recorded as 2-0 in its favor.

ART. 2 . . . The NFHS Basketball Rules Committee does not recognize protests.

ART. 3 . . . Whenever a game is interrupted because of events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authorities, it must be continued from the point of interruption unless the teams agree to terminate the game with the existing score, or there are conference, league or state association rules to cover the situation.

ART. 1 . . . Playing time for teams of high school age must be four quarters of eight minutes each with intermissions of one minute after the first and third quarters, and 10 minutes between halves. The halftime intermission may be extended to a maximum of 15 minutes for special activities, provided home management has properly notified the visiting team prior to the start of the game.

ART. 2 . . . Games involving only students below the ninth grade must be played in six-minute quarters with intermissions as in Article 1. An organization sponsoring games involving teams which combine ninth-grade students with students in the eighth and/or seventh grades, may play those games in quarters of eight minutes.

ART. 3 . . . A quarter(s) may be shortened in an emergency or at any time by mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. Playing time and number of quarters for non-varsity game quarters may be reduced by mutual agreement of opposing coaches.

NOTE: A state association by adoption may institute a running clock when a specified point differential is reached at a specified time in the game.

ART. 1 . . . Each quarter or extra period begins when the ball first becomes live.

ART. 2 . . . Each quarter or extra period ends when the signal illuminates or sounds indicating time has expired, as in 1-14.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. If the ball is in flight during a try or tap for field goal, the quarter or extra period ends when the try or tap ends.

2. If a held ball or violation occurs so near the expiration of time that the clock is not stopped before time expires, the quarter or extra period ends with the held ball or violation.

3. If a foul occurs so near the expiration of time that the timer cannot get the clock stopped before time expires or after time expires, but while the ball is in flight during a try or tap for field goal, the quarter or extra period ends when the free throw(s) and all related activity have been completed. No penalty or part of a penalty carries over from one quarter or extra period to the next, except when a correctable error, as in 2-10, is rectified. No free throw(s) must be attempted after time has expired for the fourth quarter or any extra period, unless the point(s) would affect the outcome of the game.

4. If a technical foul occurs after the ball has become dead to end a quarter or extra period, the next quarter or extra period is started by administering the free throws. This applies when the foul occurs after any quarter has ended, including the fourth quarter, provided there is to be an extra period. If there is no way to determine whether there will be an extra period until the free throws are administered, the free throws are attempted immediately, as if the foul had been part of the preceding quarter.

ART. 1 . . . If the score is tied at the end of the fourth quarter, play must continue without change of baskets for one or more extra periods with a one-minute intermission before each extra period.

ART. 2 . . . The game ends if, at the end of any extra period, the score is not tied.

ART. 3 . . . The length of each extra period must be four minutes (or half the time of a regulation quarter for non-varsity contests). As many such periods as are necessary to break the tie must be played. Extra periods are an extension of the fourth quarter.

ART. 4 . . . Once the ball becomes live in the extra period, it will be played even though a correction in the fourth quarter score is made.

Time-out occurs and the clock, if running, must be stopped when an official:
ART. 1 . . . Signals:

a. A foul.
b. A held ball.
c. A violation.
d. A time-out.

ART. 2 . . . Stops play:

a. Because of an injury as in 3-3-6, 7.
b. To confer with the scorer or timer.
c. Because of unusual delay in getting a dead ball live.
d. For any other situations or any emergency.

NOTE: When a player is injured as in Art. 2(a), the official may suspend play after the ball is dead or is in control of the injured player’s team or when the opponents complete a play. A play is completed when a team loses control (including throwing for goal) or withholds the ball from play by ceasing to attempt to score or advance the ball to a scoring position. When necessary to protect an injured player, the official may immediately stop play.

ART. 3 . . . Grants and signals a player’s/head coach’s oral or visual request for a time-out, such request being granted only when:

a. The ball is at the disposal or in control of a player of his/her team.
b. The ball is dead, unless replacement of a disqualified, or injured player(s), or a player directed to leave the game is pending, and a substitute(s) is available and required.

ART. 4 . . . Responds to the scorer’s signal to grant a coach’s request that a correctable error, as in 2-10, or a timing, scoring or alternating-possession mistake be prevented or rectified. The appeal to the official must be presented at the scorer’s table where a coach of each team may be present.

ART. 1 . . . After time has been out, the clock must be started when the official signals the clock to start. If the official neglects to signal, the timer is authorized to start the clock as per rule, unless an official specifically signals continued time-out.

ART. 2 . . . If play is started or resumed by a jump ball, the clock must be started when the tossed ball is legally touched.

ART. 3 . . . If a free throw is not successful and the ball is to remain live, the clock must be started when the ball touches or is touched by a player on the court.

ART. 4 . . . If play is resumed by a throw-in, the clock must be started when the ball touches, or is legally touched by, a player on the court after it is released by the thrower.

ART. 1 . . . The referee may correct an obvious mistake by the timer to start or stop the clock properly only when he/she has definite information relative to the time involved. The exact time observed by the official may be placed on the clock.

ART. 2 . . . If the referee determines that the clock malfunctioned or was not started/stopped properly, or if the clock did not run, an official’s count or other official information may be used to make a correction.

ART. 1 . . . Three 60-second and two 30-second time-outs may be charged to each team during a regulation game. Each team is entitled to one additional 60-second time-out during each extra period. Unused time-outs accumulate and may be used at any time.

NOTE: State associations may determine the number of electronic media time-outs for games which are transmitted and may reduce the number of charged time-outs.

ART. 2 . . . A single 60-second time-out charged to a team must not exceed one minute and must be conducted within the confines of the time-out area. A warning signal for the teams to prepare to resume play is sounded with 15 seconds remaining. Such a time-out must not be reduced in length unless both teams are ready to play before the time-out is over.

ART. 3 . . . A single 30-second charged time-out must not exceed 30 seconds and players must remain standing within the time-out area. A warning signal for teams to prepare to resume play is sounded with 15 seconds remaining. No on-court entertainment should occur during this time.

ART. 4 . . . Only one 60-second time-out is charged (or one 30-second time-out, if that is the only type of time-out remaining) in 5-8-4 regardless of the amount of time consumed when no correction is made.

EXCEPTION: No time-out is charged:

a. If, in 5-8-3, the player’s request results from displaced eyeglasses or lens.
b. If, in 5-8-4, the error or mistake is prevented or rectified.

ART. 5. . . A time-out must not be granted until after the ball has become live to start the game. The additional 60-second time-out provided for each extra period(s) must not be granted until after the ball has become live to start the extra period(s).

ART. 6 . . . Time-outs in excess of the allotted number may be requested and must be granted during regulation playing time or any extra period at the expense of a technical foul for each, as in 10-2-3.

ART. 7 . . . Successive time-outs, as in 4-43-2, must not be granted after the expiration of playing time for the fourth quarter or any extra period. In all other instances, they must be administered in the order in which they were requested.

ART. 8 . . . Time-outs simultaneously requested by opposing teams or those requested to keep players in the game that were directed to leave for injury/blood, as in 3-3-6 and 3-3-7 Notes, must be granted, charged to the respective team and administered concurrently. When one team is charged with a 30-second time-out and the other a 60-second time-out, the duration must be 60 seconds.

ART. 1 . . . The game and each extra period must be started by a jump ball in the center restraining circle. After any subsequent dead ball, the only way to get the ball live is to resume play by a jump ball in the center restraining circle, by a throw-in or by a free throw. The dribble and traveling rules are not in effect in these situations.

ART. 2 . . . The ball becomes live when:

a. On a jump ball, the tossed ball leaves the official’s hand(s).
b. On a throw-in, it is at the disposal of the thrower.
c. On a free throw, it is at the disposal of the free thrower.

NOTE: Any rules statement is made on the assumption that no infraction is involved unless mentioned or implied. If such infraction occurs, the rule governing it is followed. For example, a game or extra period will not start with a jump ball if a foul occurs before the ball becomes live.