High school basketball rules emphasize the fundamentals of the game. The rules are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and there are several key differences from the rules used in NCAA competition and in the NBA.
Length of Game; Court Dimensions
A high school basketball game consists of four eight-minutes quarters, compared with two 20-minute halves in NCAA games and four 12-minute quarters in the NBA. The recommended court size is 84 feet long by 50 feet wide, and the baskets at each end of the court are 10 feet off the floor. The 3-point arc is 19 feet, 9 inches from the center of the rim.
Fouls
A foul is defined as illegal contact with an opponent that hinders an opponent from performing normal offensive and defensive movements. A player cannot, for instance, use his hands to prevent an opponent from moving around the court. A player fouled in the act of shooting the ball is awarded free throws. If the shot is missed, the fouled player receives two or three free throws, depending on whether the shot came from inside or outside the 3-point line. If the player made the shot despite the foul, the basket is counted and one free throw is awarded.
Violations
A violation is a type of rules infraction that results in a penalty; typically, the opponent gets possession of the basketball following a team's violation. Among violations are traveling, palming the ball, double dribble, out of bounds and three seconds in the lane. Players in possession of the ball are entitled to take one and a half steps when going to the basket for a shot but otherwise cannot move with the without dribbling.
Entering the Game
All players must enter the game legally. Coaches must report the starting lineup and list of substitutes to the official scorer prior to the start of the game. Substitutes must report to the scorer before entering the game. A player must tell the scorer his number. If the player reports legally, a referee will beckon the substitute into the game at the next stoppage of play. A player who does not enter the game legally will be called for a technical foul, resulting in the opponent receiving two free throws and possession of the ball.
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