1. Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

2. GHSA POLICIES, PROCEDURES, & BY-LAW CHANGES
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

3. GHSA WEB SITE Important information at www.ghsa.net
The “White Book” is on line
* Constitution and By-laws
* Sports Specific Procedures
* Appendix B – Contest Brackets
* Appendix F – Fine Schedule
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

4. OFFICIAL STARTING DATES
Date for 1st official practice is October 24, 2011
Date for 1st official game is November 12, 2011
(1) official scrimmage at any time after October 24 and prior to the 1st official game of the competing schools.

5. COACHING & GAME ADMINISTRATION
COACHING – A “Community Coach” may not function as a Head Coach of a varsity level team, or be named by the school as the Varsity Head Coach on publications and in the media.
UNSPORTING ACTS – Such acts committed after the completion of the contest shall be the responsibility of the host school Game Administration. If witnessed by a game official, a Game Report shall be submitted to the GHSA Office.

6. SPORTSMANSHIP
EJECTIONS - GHSA By-Law 2.72 (a) – Ejections are based on judgment calls by an official and are NOT reviewable or reversible.
As such, once a player or coach has been ejected from a contest the ejection CANNOT be rescinded after the fact.

7. EARLY ROUNDS OF PLAYOFFS
When a school is hosting both boys’ and girls’ games. . .
The host school may schedule a “boy/girl” doubleheader on either specified date of the respective round
A revised financial agreement is in effect for a double header, and the form is available in the “Forms Book” or GHSA web site
HALF-TIME POLICY
Teams are NOT allowed to warm-up on the game court in any manner during the halftime intermission of the preceding game.

8. CANCER AWARENESS WEEK
Host teams are approved to wear pink jerseys/uniforms, headbands, wristbands, etc. during the week of January 30, 2012 to promote Cancer Awareness .
NOTE: Pink attire on all players must match.
* At no other time will pink items be allowed to be worn during games, unless pink is an official school color.

9. ONE-DAY EVENTS
All one-day events in which more than two (2) schools are competing must have the following:
A “host School” must be designated for the entire event.
The host school must provide a “Game Manager” for the entire event.
The host school must schedule “contest officials” through the association assigned to their regular season games.
The event must be “sanctioned” through the GHSA Office.
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

10. TOURNAMENT & POST-SEASON CONTESTS
ALL post-season games (play-in games, sub-region games, regions games) played to determine the four (4) teams that will advance to the State Tournament, must be scheduled with a minimum of two (2) games at each site.
Officiating crews are not allowed to work “back-to-back” games during the post-season.
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

11. 2012 STATE TOURNAMENT DATES
1ST Round – February 24 & 25
2nd Round – February 28 & 29
3rd Round – March 2 & 3
Semi Finals – March 7 - 9
Finals – March 9 & 10
Please thoroughly review the notes section of the presentation. Many slides have case plays, actual rules book language and teaching tips included to assist in presenting the material.

12.
NFHS BASKETBALL
RULES CHANGES

13. COURT & EQUIPMENT (Rule 1-3-1)
CENTER RESTRAINING CIRCLE
Now permit a minimum of a ¼ inch-wide single line, but a line no wider than (2”) two-inches to designate the outer edge of the circle.
Rationale: Many existing courts already have a center circle that has a single ¼” line. This change will provide consistency in the rule. (Table 1-1, Supplement to the Basketball Court #3)
Rule :
ART An unsporting foul is a noncontact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

14. TEAM MEMBERS EQUIPMENT, APPAREL Rule 3-5-3 New
The specifications regarding arm compression sleeves are changed to require the item to be; WHITE, BLACK, BEIGE or a single SCHOOL COLOR.
The item MUST be the same color for each team member
The item may have only ONE manufacturers logo that does not exceed 2 ¼” square inches
Compression sleeves MUST be worn for medical purposes
Rationale: This rule change provides clarification and consistency for enforcement by game officials and uniformity among team members
Rule :
ART An unsporting foul is a noncontact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

15. Control, Player and Team
DEFINITIONS
Control, Player and Team
Rules , ,
TEAM CONTROL now exists during a throw-in, while the thrower has the ball at his/her disposal.
This change affects how penalties for fouls committed by the throw-in team will be administered. (Now a “team control foul”)
Rationale: This change to “team control” from “player control” during a throw-in provides greater consistency in the penalty aspect of the infraction, eliminates confusion on rule application, and will eliminate the delays inherent to free throw administration.
Concussion Recognition and Management (continued):
Neither officials, nor coaches, are expected to “diagnose” a concussion; that is the job of an appropriate health-care professional. The previous rule called upon officials to determine “apparently unconscious” which appeared to expect some level of medical judgment. Officials are now being asked to use their best judgment again in observing the signs, symptoms and behaviors, but are no longer being asked to make what could be perceived to be a medical opinion. The well-being of the athlete is of paramount concern during any athletic contest. Officials, coaches and administrators are being asked to make all efforts to ensure that concussed athletes do not continue to participate. Early recognition of concussion and removal of the injured athlete from activity (game or practice) is a shared responsibility. Thus, coaches, players and administrators should also be looking for signs of concussion in all athletes and should immediately remove any suspected concussed athlete from play. 15

16. TEAM CONTROL DURING A THROW-IN (4-12-1, 2, 6)
The change primarily affects how foul penalties will be administered.
By changing the definition of player and team control to include a throw-in, greater consistency in penalty administration for a common foul is achieved.
The contest will also be expedited by eliminating the delay inherent with administering free throws.
The change does NOT affect any of the following rules:
Three seconds in the lane
Traveling/Dribbling
Backcourt
Alternating-possession throw-in rules 16

17. NFHS Basketball 2011-12 Major Editorial Changes17

18. OFFICIALS’ JURISDICTION (2-2-4 New Note)
BASKET-RING ( & 3)
Updated specifications added to basket-ring rules
Basket-rings should be inspected for compliance
OFFICIALS’ JURISDICTION (2-2-4 New Note)
* A new note has been added to clarify the administrative responsibilities of game officials through the completion of the contest, and the administrative duties of documentation of inappropriate actions during the contest. NOTE: Similar to current GHSA Policy. 18

19. UNIFORMS (3-4-1c)
A new note was added recommending that the visiting team’s dark jersey be the darker of the school’s color scheme or black.
Light blue, light gold and light silver visiting uniforms continue to be problematic since they are difficult to differentiate from the home white jerseys.
Many schools believe that a contrasting dark-colored jersey need only be a color other than white. When visiting teams wear light blue, light gold or light silver, it is difficult to differentiate them from the home white jerseys. 19

20. TEAM MEMBER’S EQUIPMENT, APPAREL (3-5-1 New Note )
A new note was added authorizing state associations to grant exceptions to NFHS playing rules for participants with disabilities, special needs and/or extenuating circumstances.
INTENTIONAL FOUL (4-19-3)
Clarifies that an individual state association may authorize exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual participants with disabilities and/or special needs or other unique and extenuating circumstances. Such exceptions are not considered rules modifications since they are not general in nature; rather, they are limited to the circumstances of specific individual participants.
The definition of an intentional foul was clarified and reorganized to assist in identifying specific illegal acts 20

21. RESUMING PLAY DIFFERENCES (8-6-2, 8-6-3 New, 8-7)
Penalty administration was clarified when:
Single fouls occur as part of a multiple free-throw situation, and
A double foul occurs as part of a multiple free-throw situation.
Based on these editorial changes, Section 8-7 became unnecessary and was deleted.
ART If there is a multiple throw and both a single personal and single technical foul are involved, the tries shall be attempted in the order in which the related fouls occurred, and if the last try is for a single technical foul, or intentional or flagrant personal foul, the ball shall be put in play by a throw-in.
ART. 3…If a false double foul involves any type of single foul and any type of double or simultaneous foul, play is resumed with the penalty for only the single foul, as if the double or simultaneous foul had not occurred (see 4-36). 21

22. THROW-IN PROVISIONS (9-2-10 Penalty 4)
Clarified that when an opponent contacts the thrower-in, an intentional foul shall be charged to the offender.
Any type of contact on a thrower is an intentional foul.
The defender does not actually have to break the boundary plane.
This clarification will assist in more consistent enforcement.
Penalty 4. If an opponent(s) contacts the thrower, an intentional personal foul shall be charged to the offender. No warning for delay is required.
This rule is now also referenced in the Intentional Foul editorial change. 22

23. POINTS OF EMPHASIS 2011-12 NFHS BASKETBALL
The Points of Emphasis are:
Concussions
Uniforms
Time-outs
Intentional Fouls
Rules Enforcement/Proper Signal Use

24. REPORTING AREA
Move around the players, not through the players to report to the table
Move quickly to any part of the “reporting area” (Diagram 2-23 in the Officials Manual)
Make sure you have a clear line of vision with the official scorekeeper. 24

25. USING PROPER SIGNALS (Signal Chart)
Signals are the verbal and non-verbal means of communication by officials to scorers, timers, players, coaches, as well as spectators.
Each time the whistle is sounded, it should be accompanied by the proper signal.
Know the official signals and give them promptly and decisively. Avoid using unauthorized signals.
Officials should be professional in the use of signals, and should not attempt to draw attention to themselves by the use of unapproved, emotional, or theatrical signals. 25

26. SUBSTITUTIONS
It is the responsibility of the coach to have a substitute(s) at the official table within the proper time to allow a substitution.
Officials should be aware of legal substitutes waiting to be beckoned onto the court, but should NOT allow substitutes to report “on the fly”.
Multiple substitutes shall all have reported to the official table to be beckoned onto the court. Do not allow a “chorus line” of substitutes.
State association administrators should review this POE carefully. Some states have experienced minimal problems in this area and may feel the suggestions are too restrictive. Other states have had major problems in this area and may want to turn the “suggestions” into “requirements.”
If a team’s entrance is on the opponent’s end of the court, they should take the shortest path to their own end of the court. 26

27. GAME AWARENESS
The officiating crew should not find themselves in situations in which they are surprised by elements of the game.
1. A-typical situations on the court
2. Timing/scoring issues
3. Incidents effecting the flow of the game
4. End of period/game procedures
5. Free throw administration
6. Substitutions/time out requests
NOTE: Good communication among crew members provides a higher level of “Game Awareness”.
The center court area, particularly if a team mascot/emblem is painted on the floor, has become an area causing a great deal of problems with sportsmanship. Visiting teams believe if they meet on the home team’s mascot and perform their pre- or post-game rituals, it will provide motivation or vindication. Again, states may want to give explicit instructions regarding mascots and center-court gatherings if problems have been encountered. 27

28. PREGAME SITUATIONS
Gatherings intended to motivate a team after the warm-up period, during or following player introductions and post-game celebrations should be performed in the area directly in front of the team bench.
If during the pregame or halftime warm-up period one team leaves the floor, the other team should not use the entire court; teams should only warm-up on their half of the court. 28

29. TAUNTING/SELF PROMOTION
Players are increasingly directing their celebratory actions toward opponents, which should be interpreted as taunting and baiting, and penalized accordingly.
Further, the committee is concerned with the trend toward players "playing to the crowd," attempting to increase attention and praise for their own individual accomplishments rather than toward the game itself and team achievements.
Officials should remind captains and head coaches at the pregame conference that all actions and reactions should demonstrate appropriate sporting behavior. 29

30. This particular act should likely not automatically be assessed a technical foul, especially if directed toward a player’s own teammates or bench. However, if this act is directed toward an opponent, a technical foul should be assessed. 30

31. HANDCHECKING/BODY FOULS
Tactics using the hands, arms or body that permit any player (offense or defense) to "control" (hold, impede, push, divert, slow or prevent) the movement of an opposing player is a foul.
When an offensive player uses the hands/body to push off to gain position or spacing, it is a foul.
“Hooking" by an offensive player to gain a distinct advantage, is a foul.
Any illegal use of hands, arms or body (offense or defense) that slows, prevents, impedes the progress or displaces an opposing player due to the contact, is a foul and must be called.
NOTE: Incidental contact is contact with an opponent which is permitted and which does not constitute a foul. This includes but is not limited to contact which does not hinder the opponent from participating from normal offensive or defensive movements. 31

32. SCREENING
A legal screener must be stationary prior to contact with hands and arms close to the body.
When these two requirements are not met, and when there is sufficient contact delivered by the screener to bump, slow or displace, it is a foul on the screener.
When screening a stationary opponent from behind (outside the visual field), the screener must allow the opponent one normal step backward without contact.
When screening a moving opponent, the screener must allow the opponent time and distance to avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. 32

33. POST PLAY
The offense may "shape up" to receive a pass or to force the defense to assume a legal guarding position at the side, in front or behind the offensive post player.
When the offensive player then uses the "swim stroke," pushes, pins, elbows, forearms, holds, clears with the body, or just generally demonstrates rough physical movements or tactics, this is a foul on the offensive player and must be called without warning.
The defense can assume a legal, vertical stance or position on the side, front or behind the offensive post player. 33

34. POST PLAY
When a player pushes a leg or knee into the rear of an opponent, it is a foul.
When a player dislodges an opponent from an established position by pushing or "backing in," it is a foul.
When a player uses hands, forearms or elbows to prevent an opponent from maintaining a legal position, it is a foul.
When the defense undercuts (initiates lower-body non-vertical contact), slaps, pushes, holds, elbows, forearms or just generally demonstrates rough, physical movements or tactics, this is a foul on the defense and must be called without warning. 34

35. REBOUNDING
To obtain or maintain a legal rebounding position a player may NOT:
Displace, charge or push an opponent.
Extend shoulders, hips or knees, or extend the arms or elbows fully or partially in a position other than vertical, so that the opponent's freedom of movement is hindered when contact occurs.
Bend his or her body in an abnormal position to hold or displace an opponent.
Violate the principle of verticality.
Better his or her position by other than legal means. 35

36. INJURY PREVENTION
While the rules of the game can’t always prevent injuries from occurring, coaches, players and officials all have an important role to play in keeping the risk of injury to a minimum.
To assist in preventing injuries, the committee has addressed the following areas of concern:
Coaches and officials must be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and be well versed in and follow NFHS and the respective state association concussion guidelines. 36

37. INJURY PREVENTION
There are several aspects of the game where injuries may be more likely to occur, but rebounding and defending were specifically noted in the injury data.
Officials must adjudicate all rules as written, especially regarding illegal contact in those two areas.
An airborne player is especially vulnerable to sustaining a serious injury with the slightest contact.
Officials should not hesitate to rule a flagrant foul when “violent” contact occurs against an opponent, especially to the head. 37

38. OFFICIALS MECHANICAL CHANGES
NFHS BASKETBALL
OFFICIALS MECHANICAL CHANGES
The Points of Emphasis are:
Concussions
Uniforms
Time-outs
Intentional Fouls
Rules Enforcement/Proper Signal Use

39. OFFICIALS MANUAL “SIGNALS”
2.2.2.C.6 New – Crew of Two – The “trail” official will mirror the “lead” officials stop-and-start signal. (chop the clock)
2.4.4.B.4 – A visible signal (point directly to the official timer) is added to indicate when the clock should be started on a time-out, or interval to replace a player (disqualified, injured, bleeding, uniform issue, etc.) 39

40. 40

41. 2011-13 MECHANICS POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Reporting Area & Signaling
Substitutions
Game Awareness
Fighting Situations
MECHANICS POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Reporting Area & Signaling. Just like your signaling sequence at the spot of the foul, your signals and sequence at the table speak a language. Using signals to report to the scorer is just like talking to the scorer, only you’re using signals instead of words.
Delay momentarily after signaling the foul at the spot to ensure there is no continuing action or unsporting behaviors among players. There is no need to go all the way over to the scorer’s table. Go to the spot within the foul-reporting area that will allow you to properly report the foul and then get the resulting throw-in or free throws started as soon as possible. One of your duties while reporting is watching both benches for bench decorum and substitutes. If you’re too close to the table, you lose that perspective.
After moving to the reporting area, stop and square up to the scorer. Stopping is critical. If you’re moving while reporting, you increase chances of the scorer missing something. Use one hand to signal the number of the player that fouled. Verbalize the numbers at the same time. When verbalizing a two-digit number, say the full number, not the two parts. For example, a foul on No. 24 should be said, “Blue, twenty-four,” not “blue, two-four.” When giving a number combination like 22, give a distinct pause between the numbers so the scorer doesn’t get confused. Do not spin your hand when giving the second number. That turn can cause confusion.
Slow down when reporting. The game can’t restart without you. And when giving the nature or signal of the foul, make sure it’s the same preliminary signal you used at the spot of the foul.
Substitutions. The referee should review substitutions prior to the game in a pregame conference with the scorer. Alert the scorer to hold substitutes at the table until those entering players have been properly beckoned into the game. Report any foul before beckoning substitutes.
The official beckoning the substitutes into the game will sound his/her whistle along with a motion allowing that substitute to enter. The whistle, along with the stop sign lets your partner(s) know you’ve got a substitute and not to resume play until all players have been counted. Keep the stop sign high and visible for your partner(s) to see. If you anticipate that your partner may resume play too quickly, sound your whistle again to make sure the game is not started until all exiting players have gotten off the court.
Game Awareness. Much of adequately managing a game has to do with the prevention techniques that minimize the likelihood of “bad stuff” happening later on in the game. For example, getting teams out of huddles, being approachable, answering the coaches’ questions, recognizing a rise in player emotions and stepping in so players know you are aware and watching for any signs of escalation are situations that can be hard to identify unless you make a concerted effort to look for them. It’s an area where more experienced officials can mentor and teach younger officials the cues to look for and some strategies to use to defuse those situations.        Officials must be aware of game escalators such as hard fouls, chest bumps, trash talking, bench decorum and behaviors of coaches and players. Prevent those types of situations from becoming more serious by using good communication skills and preventive officiating. Know when they happen and deal with them accordingly. A classic example occurs when you take a proactive role in getting into the fray and talking with players after an aggressive held-ball “scrum.” Being aggressive in making your vocal and physical presence known to the players involved prevents a potentially volatile situation from occurring.         “Managing” the game is less defined in the rules books and affords officials some latitude to handle those dead-ball situations. That permission and ability to use more discretion to manage those scenarios will improve the game and overall experience for all those involved. Rather than intuitively reacting to live-ball calls, you can take more time to think about how to take care of the situation during dead-ball periods because time does not have to be an issue. Managing those dead-ball situations can be handled in many different ways by each official and is largely based on experience. Veteran officials usually have learned how to manage the game very well when the clock is stopped. Although you can take the time necessary to make sure you handle dead-ball periods, taking too much time can draw undue attention to your crew and may actually counteract what you are trying to accomplish. There is a fine line that you need to be aware of — address the issue appropriately but do not belabor the point so it detracts from your efforts.
Fighting Situations. In recent years there has been an alarming rate of game incident reports citing “fighting” during basketball games. This document will serve as the protocol for game officials. The scenario shall be covered in every official’s pregame meeting prior to taking the court.
Knowledge of the rules in reference to a fight situation is critical for three reasons: identification of individuals participating, knowledge of subsequent penalties and knowledge of how play is ultimately resumed.
Fighting can be categorized into two groups: One, the ten players legally on the court who participate in a fight situation. Two, all bench personnel leaving the team bench area during a fight or when a fight may break out.
Penalties: Flagrant fouls (technical or personal) and disqualification to each offender, plus one or more indirect technical fouls to the coach when bench personnel are involved. Each foul counts toward the team-foul count, with the exception of the indirect technical foul(s) assessed to the head coach.
Preventive officiating — Maintain a high degree of focus so you are not surprised when a fight may break out on the court.
Be a peacemaker — Step in between opposing players prior to a confrontation escalating into a fight.
Find a friend — Solicit the captains of each respective team to assist in addressing unacceptable behavior of teammates.
Let’s Get It On – When all else fails to prevent a fight from occurring, use the following procedures:
The official nearest the fight should attempt to keep all other players from participating.
The official(s) away from the area on the court where the fight is occurring should focus their attention to the bench areas.
Head Coaches may be beckoned onto the court to assist in ending the fight and keeping his/her players from participating in the fight.
Officials should not attempt to physically separate the combatants. That is a liability matter. It is the responsibility of host game management to administer crowd control.
When the fracas has ended, direct all players and coaches to their respective bench area.
Meet as a crew to exchange information, address penalties and discuss resuming play procedure.
The referee will then meet with both head coaches at the division line to explain the action to be taken.
The referee will then go to the scorer’s table to report and ensure that all penalties are accurately documented in the official scorebook.
After the conclusion of the game, file a game report with your appropriate state or local jurisdiction and contact your supervisor immediately. 41

42. UNIFORMS
Committee still concerned with uniforms being worn in an unacceptable manner.
Officials must strictly enforce the uniform standards.
Uniforms must be worn as the manufacturer designed them to be worn
Jerseys MUST be tucked in the shorts
Shorts MUST be kept above the hips
Undershirts must meet specified standards
When a player(s) are guilty of a uniform violation officials shall remove them from the game.

43. ON-COURT FIGHT PROTOCOL
When a fight involving players occurs –
* The official nearest the fight should attempt to prevent other players from getting involved
* The other official(s) shall focus attention to the team bench areas
* Head Coaches may be beckoned onto the court to assist in separating the combatants. (Officials shall NOT attempt to physically separate combatants.)
* When the fight is stopped direct players/coaches to their respective team bench area 43

44. ON-COURT FIGHT PROTOCOL
Meet as a crew to exchange information, address penalties, and determine the resuming play procedure
The “referee” will meet with both head coaches to explain the action/penalties to be administered
The “referee” will then meet with the official scorekeeper to insure documentation of infractions and resulting penalties.
The crew will then administer penalties and the resuming play procedure
The “referee” will submit a Game Report to the GHSA Office within 24 hours of the incident. 44

45. 2011-12 NFHS/GHSA BASKETBALL RULES