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May 1, 2008

Rule change for free throws in high school basketball

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Rebounders on free-throw attempts will be positioned along the foul lane three feet farther from the basket during high school basketball games next season.

The National Federation of State High School Associations, the umbrella organization for more than 18,500 U.S. high schools, approved a rule change vacating the two marked lane spaces closest to the basket to reduce rough play and fouls while rebounding missed free throws.

Starting this fall, players will move back one lane space during a free-throw attempt. A new mark also will be applied to the lane line nearest the free-throw line to designate the last lane space. There is no change in the distance from the basket for the shooter.

The change was recommended by the federation's basketball rules committee after it was tested last season by the Georgia High School Association.

"According to data from the experiment, the number of fouls during free-throw rebounding action was reduced," NFHS assistant director Mary Struckhoff said Thursday. "At the same time, defensive rebounding percentages fell within an acceptable range. This data was the most compelling the committee had seen to date."

Another proposal to use instant replay to review certain situations in state tournaments was defeated. Struckhoff said the issue arose after three states had last-second shots in championship games.

"The committee discussed the issue extensively, but there was very little support for implementing video review," Struckhoff said. "Some felt the use of video to review officials' decisions is against the philosophy of high school sports. Others said that video review doesn't always provide a conclusive decision, and the equipment would not be consistently available in facilities throughout the country," she said.

The federation also approved a proposal to assess a technical foul to the head coach, rather than the player, if the player's uniform does not comply with NFHS design specifications. It also clarified an existing rule on headbands and added black and beige to the list of approved colors.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:09 PM | Permalink

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