High School Federation Allows Hoops Replays

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 11, 2009) - Replay equipment may be used in state high school basketball championships next year to determine the final outcome of games.

In its April 13-15 meeting in Indianapolis, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Basketball Rules Committee voted to permit state high school associations to use a replay monitor to review field-goal attempts at the expiration of time in the fourth quarter or any overtime period, but only in games when the last-second attempt would affect the outcome of the game.

The 2008 AAAA state championship was decided in controversial fashion after what-appeared to be a game-winning, nearly full-court shot by Spartanburg's Zicorian Robinson was waived-off and Summerville was awarded the victory. The new ruling will now give game officials the option to review video tape of such plays.

This addition to Rule 2-2-1 was one of two major rules changes and five major editorial revisions approved by the Basketball Rules Committee. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In response to end-of-game situations in three state championships during the 2007-08 season (South Carolina, Michigan, Ohio), the committee decided to give state associations the opportunity to use technology, if available, to assist in making sure that the correct team is awarded the state championship. Replay or game officials will be able to determine if the attempt occurred before time expired (0:00 on clock), and whether the shot was a two-point or three-point attempt.

"Coaches, participants, spectators and media now hold game officials to a higher, almost impossible standard," said Mary Struckhoff, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee. "When available, technology should be used to assist game officials and administrators in making the correct call when the outcome of the game hangs in the balance and a team has no further opportunity to overcome a critical error. This change provides state associations that opportunity."

Although not directly linked to the replay change, the other rule change approved by the committee could enhance the reviews of end-of-game situations. Beginning with the 2009-10 season, if a red light behind the backboard or an LED light on the backboard is present, it is permitted to signal the expiration of time in the quarter/extra period. If no red light/LED light is present, the audible timer's signal will continue to signal the expiration of time. In the past, use of the red light/LED light was not permitted even in those facilities that had one.

"This change allows the technology to be used if it's available, and in those situations when replay officials are reviewing end-of-game attempts, the red light/LED light should be helpful," Struckhoff said. "All other end-of-period rules remain intact."

Two of the five editorial changes were approved in response to last year's major rule change in which all players moved up one lane space during a free-throw attempt, thereby leaving the two marked lane spaces closest to the end line vacant.

New language in Rule 9-1-3d states that a player leaves a marked lane space when he or she contacts any part of the court outside the marked lane space (3 feet by 3 feet). A clarification to Rule 9-1-3g indicates that a player occupying a marked lane space must have one foot positioned near the outer edge of the free-throw lane line with the other positioned anywhere within the designated 36-inch lane space.

Struckhoff said these changes were necessitated by players attempting to leave their positions too early to gain a rebound advantage.

The remaining editorial changes are as follows:

Rules 1-13-3, 5-12-5: Clarified that the imaginary rectangle designated the area to be used for time-outs.

Rule 2-12-5NOTE: Clarified when the 20-second interval begins to replace an injured player.

Rule 3-7: Clarified that any item, in the referee's judgment, that constitutes a safety concern is not permitted.

The committee also adopted five points of emphasis for the upcoming season. The identified topics include traveling, closely guarded, three-seconds, block/charge and free-throw administration.

According to the 2007-08 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS, basketball is the most popular sport for girls with 449,450 participants in 17,564 schools. For boys, basketball is first in school sponsorship with 17,861 and second to football with 552,935 participants.