New Changes to the Rules of Basketball – An Official’s Perspective

Anyone who follows our firm’s blogs on a fairly regular basis will probably recall that in my “free time” I have worked as a college and high-school basketball official. Toward the end of the 2013-14 basketball season, I wrote an article talking about some of the most misunderstood rules in the game. As it turns out, the article was pretty popular among our readers, so you can look for something similar in the coming months. Until then, I thought it might be interesting to provide you with some information about rule changes that you will see at the high school level in the upcoming season.

Each year, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) meets to consider various suggestions to make the game better. Generally, two types of changes can come out of that meeting: specific rule changes or new “points of emphasis.” Despite the fact that most folks believe the rules of the game haven’t changed much since the time of Dr. Naismith and his peach basket, the truth is that in every year I have been in officiating (since 1985), at least one rule change has been made. Players evolve, the game evolves, and so must the rules evolve. This year, there are four changes being made to the rules, the simplest of which providing that players can now enter the lane on a free throw when the shooter releases the ball, instead of when the ball hits the ring.

Aside from rule changes, each year the NFHS also comes out with a list of “points of emphasis” for officials. This is typically a list of four or five areas in which the Rules Committee members feel aren’t being handled very well. In pre-season clinics, officials will be told of the points of emphasis for the coming season, and they will be given specific information about how the Rules Committee wants certain areas of the game to be officiated.

In each of the past four or five seasons, the Rules Committee has made “hand checking the dribbler” a point of emphasis for officials. We have been told that there is too much contact being allowed on the ball handler. We have been told that whenever contact on the dribbler has an effect on his rhythm, speed, balance or quickness, a foul should be called. However, up until now the question of the effect of contact on the dribbler has been a judgment call for the official. Contact which one official rules a foul, may be incidental contact in the eyes of another. Accordingly, enforcement of the rule against hand-checking has been inconsistent. After reviewing what has happened in the past few seasons, the Committee has determined that there is still too much contact being permitted on the perimeter. The fact is that when this type of contact goes up, scoring goes down. And when scoring goes down, the game is less interesting. When the game becomes less interesting, there are fewer fans willing to pay to watch it. That sort of thing hits schools in the wallet, and causes the NFHS to sit up and take notice. It has done just that.

In an effort to bring more consistency to this area of the game, the Rules Committee has implemented a specific rule change. Beginning with the 2014-2015 season, certain types of contact on the dribbler while on the perimeter will result in an automatic foul being called. No longer will the official be required to judge whether or not the contact had an effect on the dribbler. The following acts will result in an automatic whistle:

a. Placing two hands on the dribbler.

b. Placing an extended arm bar on the dribbler.

c. Placing and keeping a hand on the dribbler.

d. Contacting the dribbler more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

As with any other rule change, it’s going to take some time for the players, coaches and fans to adjust. It is likely there is going to be a significant increase in the number of fouls that are called in games, especially early in the season. Star players are going to get into early foul trouble, which always results in an increase in hostility toward the officials. Just remember that coaches have already been made aware of the rule change, so hopefully they will begin teaching their players how to adjust (playing defense with their feet would be a nice start). Until then, please don’t scream at us to “Let ’em play!!!” We’re just doing what the rules tell us we have to do.

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