RULES REVISIONS FOR 2004-2005
Effective with the 2007-08 high school basketball season, home team jerseys are required to be white, while visiting jerseys remain a dark color. Rule 3-4-6 previously stated that "light colored home team jerseys should be worn." However, with new styles and colors becoming more prevalent and teams beginning to show more creativity with fashion and light colors, greater liberties have been taken with this regulation.
Rule 10-4-4 which speaks to penalties for bench personnel was addressed with stricter scrutiny. Formerly, any bench personnel who left the confines of the bench area during a fight were subject to ejection. A fight was defined solely on the principle that a "punch" had taken place. The rule has now been narrowed in scope (tightened) to include any activity that may lead to a fight. Therefore, any person who leaves the bench for a fight or potential fight will be subject to ejection from the game.
IAABO has been steadfast in its position that coaches have a responsibility and must be held accountable when fights or potential fights occur or become imminent. The NFHS Rules Committee has made an initial step in pursuance of that objective.
Other changes made by the NFHS basketball rules committee included:
10-3-7d:
Involves purposely obstructing an opponents vision by waving or placing one's hands near the eyes. While in the past only the person with the ball could be treated in such a manner, this change prohibits any player from purposely obstructing another player's vision, whether or not he or she has the ball.
4-29:
Extends the kicking rule from the original requirement that a kick was intentional only if it was an affirmative act that occurred at the knee or below. The rule has now been expanded to include the entire leg.
1-6-2 and 1-13-2:
Were amended to reflect what has become common practice. These changes permit the lane space lines and neutral zone blocks to be the same color as the lane lines and end lines. Further, the coaching box line is no longer required to be of a contrasting color to the side and end lines.
A change to be reflected in the next edition (2005-07) of the NFHS Basketball Officials Manual was also made at the meeting. In a game officiated by a crew of three, the foul calling official will take a position tableside after reporting a foul to aid in "more meaningful dialogue and communication" with coaches and the scorer's table.
NCAA Rule Change Recommendations to Clarify the Jump Stop and Guarding
Rule 4-42, page 76: The following definition shall be added:
A jump stop is executed when a player catches the ball while moving or dribbling with ...
1. One foot on the playing court, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).
2. Two feet off the playing court, lands on one foot, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).
A jump stop may also be executed when the dribbler has one foot on the playing court, initiates a jump off that foot, ends the dribble with both feet off the playing court and lands simultaneously on both feet (either foot can be established as the pivot foot).
Rationale: Adds clarity to a commonly misunderstood term.
Rule 4-33, page 72: The following definition for guarding shall be added:
Guarding shall be the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. The guarding position shall be initially established and then maintained in bounds on the playing court.
To maintain a legal guarding position after the initial position has been attained, the guard ...
1. Is not required to continue having the torso face the opponent.
2. Is required to have either one foot or both feet on the playing court.
3. May shift to maintain guarding position in the path of the dribbler, provided that the guard does not charge into the dribbler or otherwise cause contact as in Rules 2-21.2 and 10-21.3.
4. May move laterally or obliquely to maintain position provided such a move is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.
5. May raise the hands or may jump within his or her own vertical plane.
6. May turn or duck to absorb shock when contact by the dribbler is imminent. In such a case, the dribbler shall not be absolved from the responsibility of the contact.
Rationale: The current rule does not describe how a player may maintain guarding position. The definition provides clarity.