High school basketball rule changes address goaltending and basket interference

The National Federation of State High School Associations introduced some rule changes to high school basketball for the 2025-26 season. The NFHS Board of Directors approved these modifications upon the recommendation of the Basketball Rules Committee during their April meeting. These revisions, which are now part of the NFHS Basketball Rule Book, will address matters regarding goaltending and basketball interference.

According to the NFHS website, “Rule 4-22-3 has been added to indicate that a ball is considered to be on its downward flight once it contacts the backboard on a legitimate shot attempt. Therefore, it is goaltending if a defensive player touches the ball after it contacts the backboard. Prior to this change, an official determined if a shot attempt was still ascending and out of the cylinder before goaltending could be called.”

Likewise, “Rules 4-22-1 and 4-22-2 were amended to indicate that only a defensive player can commit goaltending, eliminating the possibility of an offensive goaltending violation. The change removes the need to determine whether a ball in flight is a field-goal attempt or a pass. Any alteration of a shot attempt with contact to the basket or backboard by an offensive player would be considered basket interference.”

NFHS revised high school basketball rules for basket interference, proper bench decorum and throw-ins

The NFHS also introduced Rule 4-6-2 in high school basketball, stating that slapping the backboard during a shot amounts to basket interference.

Furthermore, the new rules state that “it is a violation for a player to purposely or deceitfully delay a return to the court after being out of bounds and be the first to touch the ball in new language added in Rules 9-2-12 and 9-3-4. This change removes the act from Rule 10-4-2, which called for a technical foul and lessens the penalty to a violation.”

The NFHS also introduced a change in the high school basketball Rule 4-34-1, stating that all players inside the court become bench personnel once an official signals for a time out. That way, game officials can remain consistent in handing technical fouls to bench personnel, including players.

Finally, regarding throw-ins after stoppage of play, the NFHS adjusted Rule 7-5-4, which states, “If a violation occurs on or within the three-point line, the designated spot will be on the end line. A throw-in will be on the sideline if the violation occurs outside the three-point line. This rule change eliminates the use of the imaginary line to determine a throw-in spot. Therefore, if there is a violation in the frontcourt or backcourt, the violation is administered, and the ball is made available for a throw-in at one of the four designated spots based on the location of the throw-in violation in relative to the 3-point arc.”