1. 2003-04 Basketball Rules On-Line Review
1661 Ramblewood Drive
East Lansing, MI 48823
517.332.5046
Nate Hampton, Assistant Director
nhampton@mhsaa.com
www.mhsaa.com

2. High School Sports: It’s About TEAM!
Visit the MHSAA Web site to view this new video about the
true mission of high school sports and other related resources

3. Head Coaches Requested To Attend Rules Meetings
Coaches of all levels and positions are requested to
!
attend.
Head coaches who do not attend must pass an
!
examination.
Schools are required to have a representative
!
attend at least every other year to be eligible for the
MHSAA tournament.
MHSAA registered and qualified officials
!
interested in working the tournament are required
to attend rules meetings.

4. Point of Emphasis
! Michigan Public Law 187
Public school employees and volunteers are
–
prohibited from promoting or supplying dietary
supplements which carry claims of enhanced
athletic performance. The law covers
androstenedione, creatine and any compound
labeled as performance enhancing.

5. Point of Emphasis
! Michigan Public Law 187
– Don’t recommend
– Don’t provide
– Don’t permit
– …any performance enhancing drugs or
products
! Learn and follow your school’s Drug Policy
! MHSAA Handbook, p. 88

6. Player Unconscious or Apparently Unconscious
!A player may not return to participate in
that game without written authorization
from a physician

7. Handling Body Fluids

8. Handling Body Fluids
! Be prepared with know how - district policy
! Appropriate first-aid supplies
! Extra uniforms/equipment

9. Back Side of Officials Identification Card

10. Coaches Box
! Officials
and coaches are expected to enforce
and abide by the regulations as written

11. Coaches Box
! Officials
and coaches are expected to enforce
and abide by the regulations as written

12. Coaches Box

13. Coaches Box

14. MHSAA/Member School HANDBOOK Regulations
Awards: Regulation I, Section 11
Section 11(A) - A student may accept, for participation in
!
athletics, a symbolic or merchandise award which does not
have a fair market value or cost in excess of $25.
Section 11(B) - Awards for athletic participation in the form
!
of cash, merchandise certificates, or any other type of
negotiable documents are never allowed.
Section 11(E) - A student violating this Regulation shall be
!
ineligible for interscholastic competition for a period of not
less than one full semester from the date of the student’s last
violation.

15. MHSAA/Member School HANDBOOK Regulations
Awards: Regulation I, Section 11
Interpretation # 107 - Acceptance of game balls
!
from contests in which the student participated
does not violate the Awards Regulation.
Interpretation # 110 – Prior to graduation, senior
!
athletes may accept monetary awards designated
for continuing education after their graduation
without loss of high school eligibility as long as the
award is based wholly or in part on academic
achievement.

16. MHSAA/Member School HANDBOOK Regulations:
All Star Contests: Regulation I
Section 13(B) - A student shall not compete at any
!
time in any MHSAA Tournament sport in any of
the following events:
(1) Any event which is or purports to be an “All-Star”
•
contest, regardless of the method of selection;
(2) “All-Star” fund-raising events or similar exhibitions
•
if they involve contestants other than the student and
faculty of that student’s school;
(3) Any event which is or purports to be a national high
•
school championship, or the qualification thereto.

17. MHSAA/Member School HANDBOOK Regulations
All-Star Contests: Interpretation 144
If based on performance during a camp open to all
!
students, then students may be selected for and
compete in feature contests at the end of that camp.
However, it is a violation of the all-star regulation
to invite a limited number of students to a camp on
the basis of their demonstrated interscholastic
ability, place them on teams and play games
between those teams.

18. MHSAA/Member School HANDBOOK Regulations
Open Gym: Regulation II, Section 11(G) 2c
Any coach of a sport under MHSAA jurisdiction
!
who is present shall not coach, instruct, critique,
direct, evaluate or participate in a sport he/she
coaches.

19. Taunting/Unsportsmanlike Conduct

20. Taunting/Unsportsmanlike Conduct
! Coaches and officials shall be responsible for
the conduct of both players and non-players.
Officials shall penalize any unsportsmanlike
acts once they have assumed authority of the
contest.

21. Taunting/Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The NFHS, the MHSAA, local conferences and school
districts disapprove of any form of taunting which is
intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule or demean
others under any circumstances including on the basis of
race, religion, gender or national origin; including but not
limited to:
Baiting or taunting acts or words or insignia worn which
!
engenders ill will
Using profanity, insulting or vulgar language or gestures
!
Any delayed or excessive or prolonged act by which a player
!
attempts to focus attention upon oneself
Refusing to comply with an official’s request
!

22. Sportsmanship
! All
indoor MHSAA Tournament venues will
require spectators to wear shirts – even over
painted bodies.

23. Tobacco & Alcohol Policy
! Coaches & Officials - Use of tobacco
products of any kind within sight of players
and/or spectators and use of alcohol during a
contest or at any time before it on the day of
the contest is prohibited

24. Videotaping Or Filming A Game
! Member schools may prohibit filming and/or
videotaping of practice sessions and
intrasquad scrimmages.

25. MHSAA/NFHS Ball Information

26. MHSAA/NFHS Ball Information
! The MHSAA will use the Rawlings
Compmich 285 B for girls and Compmich B
for boys in Semifinals and Finals
Tournament play.
! IMPORTANT: The National Federation
authenticating mark IS be required on balls
used in varsity contests.

27. Boys & Girls Finals Tournament Format
Girls at Rose Arena - Mt. Pleasant – Dec. 4-Dec. 6
Boys at Breslin Center - East Lansing - March 25-27
Semifinals (Same order for both tournaments):
! Thursday: 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m. Class C
6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m. Class D
! Friday: 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m. Class A
6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m. Class B

28. Boys & Girls Finals Tournament Format
Girls at Rose Arena - Mt. Pleasant – Dec. 4-Dec. 6
Boys at Breslin Center - East Lansing - March 25-27
Girls Finals - Saturday:
! 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m: Classes D & A
5 & 7:30 p.m: Classes C & B
!

29. Boys & Girls Finals Tournament Format
Girls at Rose Arena - Mt. Pleasant – Dec. 4-Dec. 6
Boys at Breslin Center - East Lansing - March 25-27
Boys Finals - Saturday:
! 10 a.m. & Noon: Classes D & C
4 p.m: Class A
!
8 p.m: Class B
!

30. More Basketball Tournament Notes
District draws may occur not sooner than three
!
Mondays prior to the start of the tournament, but
not later than the Monday preceding the
tournament.
Three-person official crews will be used starting
!
with the Regional level of competition in 2003-04.
MHSAA Basketball Tournament officials must be
!
members in good standing with local officials
association beginning in 2005-06.

31. Girls Basketball Tournament
! GirlsBasketball Semifinals & Finals to
remain at CMU for one more year -- 2003
! Move to MSU for December 2004 and
December 2005 Semifinals and Finals

32. Boys & Girls Tournament Format:
The MHSAA has developed and has published a
!
Tournament Policy for pre-game handshakes and
team positions during team introductions.
At all levels of competition during the regular
!
season and MHSAA tournaments after the first
half when one team has a lead of 40 points a
running clock will be established. The clock will
revert to regular time schemes should the score be
reduced to a 30-point lead. During any running
clock mode the clock will be stopped as normal for
all timeouts and between quarters, and for free
throws during the last two (2) minutes of the game.

33. Boys & Girls Tournament Format
2003 girls basketball tournament sites were selected
!
in May and 2004 boys basketball tournament sites
will be selected in September.
Semifinals and Finals Only - Pep bands of
!
participating teams will be allowed to perform
before their team’s game and during timeouts and
breaks of Semifinal and Final games of the
MHSAA tournament.

34. Junior High/Middle School Information
Junior high/middle school basketball teams and
!
individuals may participate in a maximum of three
(3) games Monday through Sunday, but only two of
the three games may occur on a day or night before
a school day; and teams or individuals shall be
limited to five (5) games during any 14-day period
Monday through Sunday.

35. 2003-04 NFHS Basketball Information

36. 2003-04 NFHS
BASKETBALL
RULES CHANGES

37. REQUIRED NUMBER OF BALL
PANELS DELETED (1-12-1c)
quot; Change deletes the required number
of panels on a legal basketball.
quot; New product may help players to
control the ball better.
quot; Teams now have other options for
practice and competition.

38. WARNING SIGNAL FOR
REPLACING A DISQUALIFIED
PLAYER ADDED (2-12-5)
quot; Warning signal now sounded at 20
seconds of 30-second interval for
replacing a disqualified/injured
player.
quot; Communicates to head coach that
substitution interval is about to end.

39. EXPANDED DEFINITION OF
BASKET INTERFERENCE
(4-6-4, 9-11-4)
quot; Situation not previously covered was
added to basket interference:
quot; When a player pulls down a movable
ring so that it contacts the ball before
the ring returns to its original
position.

41. POINT-DIFFERENTIAL RULE
ESTABLISHED (5-5 Note)
quot; Several states wanted the option of a
running clock because large point
differentials were occurring in an
increasing number of contests.
quot; Unsporting behavior has also
become more prevalent in these
games.

42. POINT-DIFFERENTIAL RULE
ESTABLISHED (5-5 Note)
quot; The committee believed it was
appropriate for the sport of basketball
to permit states to adopt a rule.
quot; Precedent had been set in other NFHS
rules codes for states to adopt a
“mercy rule” and to determine the
guidelines for such a rule.

43. POINT-DIFFERENTIAL RULE
ESTABLISHED (5-5 Note)
quot; Therefore, state associations may now
adopt a “running clock” (not stopping
the clock when required by rule) when
a specified point differential is reached
at a specified time in the game.
quot; States will determine the specific
guidelines for the rule.

44. NUMBER OF LANE-LINE
PLAYERS REDUCED FOR FREE
THROWS (8-1-3)
quot; Number of players permitted on marked
lane-spaces during free throws reduced.
quot; Four (4) defensive and two (2) offensive
players (not including the free-thrower).
quot; Lane spaces closest to the free-throw
line (and the shooter) must remain
vacant.

45. NUMBER OF LANE-LINE
PLAYERS REDUCED FOR FREE
THROWS (8-1-3)
quot; May provide defense a rebounding
advantage (may have been diminished
with the return to the “rim” restrictions).
quot; Will help reduce amount of rough play
during free throws.
quot; Fewer players on the lane should also
make the free throw easier to officiate.

47. HEAD COACH DIRECTLY
PENALIZED (10-5-3)
quot; New article added indicating the head
coach shall not permit a player to
participate after being disqualified.
quot; Change merely removes the provision
as a player technical and places it
under the head coach’s responsibility
in 10-5-3.

48. HEAD COACH DIRECTLY
PENALIZED (10-5-3)
quot; A head coach should be aware that a
player has been disqualified because
he/she has been notified by an official.
quot; Penalty still results in two free throws
and the ball to the offended team.
quot; Now a direct technical foul is assessed
to the head coach (rather than indirect).

49. HEAD COACH DIRECTLY
PENALIZED (10-5-3)
quot; If a coach receives (or has received)
another direct or two indirect technical
fouls, he/she would be ejected.
quot; In states that utilize the coaching box,
the privilege would still be lost, as last
year when an indirect technical was
assessed.

50. NEW SIGNAL FOR KICKING
VIOLATION (Signal Chart)
quot; A new signal for this violation has
been added to the signal chart.
quot; Allows officials to better
communicate with players,
coaches, team benches and the
scorer’s table.

51. NEW SIGNAL FOR KICKING
VIOLATION (Signal Chart)
quot; Signal:
quot; straight-leg, kicking motion
quot; straightforward about one
foot

53. 2003-04 NFHS
BASKETBALL
MAJOR
EDITORIAL
CHANGES

54. “BENCH AREA” DEFINED
(1-13-3)
quot; New article added defining the
“bench area.”
quot; Gives imaginary bench area
boundaries for time-out purposes.
quot; Previous Section 13 divided into
two separate articles.

56. DEFENSIVE MATCH-UP
REQUEST (3-3-1e)
quot; New item “e” added.
quot; Permits a captain to request a
defensive match up when three or
more substitutes enter the game.
quot; Formerly in 1995-96 Rules Book
as a question, but subsequently
omitted.

57. KNEE AND ANKLE
BRACES FURTHER
CLARIFIED (3-5-1)
quot; Clarified and updated to keep
pace with modern medical
equipment.
quot; If a knee or ankle brace has
exposed hinges, they must be
covered.

58. KNEE AND ANKLE
BRACES FURTHER
CLARIFIED (3-5-1)
quot; Hard items on the shoulder or
upper arm must be padded.
quot; This was the interpretation, but
it was missing from the Rules
Book.

59. ESTABLISHING LEGAL
GUARDING POSITION
(4-23)
quot; Further clarifies that the guard
must have both feet on the
“playing court” (rather than
floor) to establish legal
guarding position.

60. ESTABLISHING LEGAL
GUARDING POSITION
(4-23)
quot; Clarifies that a defender who
sets up with one foot in bounds
and one foot outside a
boundary line has not
established a legal guarding
position.

61. TIME-OUT CHARGED
WHEN NO CORRECTION
MADE (5-11-3)
quot; If a coach requests a time-out to
correct or prevent an error and no
correction is made, a time-out shall
be charged.
quot; Change clarifies that a 30-second
time-out can be charged to a team
if that is the only type of time-out
remaining.

62. SIMULTANEOUS FOUL
THROW-IN SPOT
(7-5-9 NOTE)
quot; Note added to clarify the throw-in
spot when simultaneous fouls
occur at different spots on the
court.
quot; Spot nearest foul of the team not
entitled to the alternating-
possession throw-in.

64. 2003-04 NFHS
BASKETBALL
POINTS OF
EMPHASIS

65. SPORTING BEHAVIOR –
TAUNTING/
SELF-PROMOTION
quot; Players are increasingly directing
their celebratory actions toward
opponents.
quot; These actions should be
interpreted as taunting and
baiting, and penalized
accordingly.

66. SPORTING BEHAVIOR –
TAUNTING/
SELF-PROMOTION
quot; Further, the committee is concerned
with the trend toward players
“playing to the crowd.”
quot; Attempting to increase attention and
praise for their own individual
accomplishments rather than toward
the game itself and team
achievements.

68. SPORTING BEHAVIOR –
TAUNTING/
SELF-PROMOTION
quot; While many of these self-promoting
actions are not specifically illegal by rule,
extreme behaviors could and should be
considered taunting and baiting of the
opponents.
quot; Officials should remind captains and
coaches at the pregame conference that
all actions and reactions should
demonstrate appropriate sporting
behavior.

69. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
quot; Committee concerned with increasing
rough play over the years during free
throws.
quot; Rules changes and Points of Emphasis
were instituted to address these concerns.
quot; In 1997, a return to the restrictions on
lane-line players to be in effect until the
ball hit the rim or backboard.

70. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
quot; The “rim” restriction has greatly
reduced rough play.
quot; To further reduce rough play, the
number of players permitted in marked
lane spaces has been reduced.
quot; May also help the defense regain
some rebounding advantage.

71. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
The following items are to be
emphasized during free throws:
1. Lane-Space Requirements
2. Simultaneous Violation
3. Disconcertion

72. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
1. Lane-Space Requirements
quot; 4 defensive & 2 offensive players
quot; Defense MUST be in the first two
spaces
quot; Other spaces alternate, if desired
quot; Fourth spaces (near thrower) MUST
be vacant

73. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
quot; All officials responsible for ensuring
proper alignment
quot; Administering official (Lead) should
check each space for proper
alignment before bouncing the ball to
the shooter
quot; Infractions penalized according to
9-1-9 Penalty

74. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
2. Simultaneous Violation
quot; Offense erroneously permitted to
occupy the first two lane spaces and
the defense is erroneously permitted
to occupy the second two lane
spaces
quot; Offense has 3 players in marked
spaces and a defensive player is in
the fourth spot.

76. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
3. Disconcertion
quot; Disconcerting the free-throw shooter
is a violation (9-1-5).
quot; Officials should pay particular
attention to situations in which the
free throw will become dead (first of
two or first two of three).

77. FREE-THROW
ADMINISTRATION
quot; Defensive players frequently employ
tactics which serve no other purpose
than to disconcert the shooter
(instructing players to box out, waving
arms, etc.).
quot; With the spaces closest to the
shooter remaining vacant,
disconcertion should be minimized.

78. TIME-OUT
ADMINISTRATION
quot; Several concerns have arisen
regarding time-outs being called by
the head coach during a live ball.
quot; Officials should verify that it is indeed
the head coach requesting the time-
out and that the ball is in possession
of the calling team.

79. TIME-OUT
ADMINISTRATION
quot; Just because a time-out has been
requested, doesn’t guarantee it will be
granted.
quot; Officials have other responsibilities that
may require their immediate attention.
quot; If the ball is loose or is not “clearly” in
team control, the request should not be
granted.

81. TIME-OUT
ADMINISTRATION
quot; Officials should be aware of “runs” or
situations when coaches typically want
time-outs, so as not to be taken by
surprise when the request is made.
quot; Teams should remain in the “bench area”
(defined in 1-13-3) during 60- and 30-
second time-outs and players should
remain standing during 30-second time-
outs.

82. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
quot; The 30-second period permitted for
replacing a disqualified player has
been given much attention in the past
several years.
quot; Because of numerous abuses and
attempts to circumvent this rule, there
have been rules proposals submitted
ranging from -

83. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
quot; doing away with the 30-second interval
resulting in coaches having to make an
immediate substitution,
to…
quot; not permitting the remaining four
players near the team bench during
this time frame.

84. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
quot; Rather than make a change that could
negatively impact programs that are not
abusing the situation, the committee felt it
best to address the concerns through a
Point of Emphasis before initiating any
further rules changes (20-second warning
horn added this year).
quot; Coaches, officials and table officials
should be mindful of the following:

85. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
1. The official should first notify the head
coach and then the player of the
disqualification and then start the 30-
second interval.
2. This is NOT a time-out period; it is for
making a required substitution.
3. No time-outs may be granted to either
team during this 30-second interval.

86. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
4. When the required substitute has
reported to the table, the 30-second
interval has ended and play shall
resume immediately.
5. If the four players remaining in the
game head toward the bench for
instruction, they are to remain on the
playing court.

88. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
6. Only the head coach is permitted to
be standing during this interval.
7. When a substitute approaches the
scorer’s table from the offending team,
the administering official (and/or the
official scorer) should ask the player if
he/she is intending to replace the
disqualified player.

89. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
8. If a substitute from the non-
offending team or a substitute from
the offending team (other than the
disqualified player’s substitute)
reports to the scorer during the wait
for the required substitute, they may
enter the game.

90. SUBSTITUTING – PLAYER
DISQUALIFICATION
9. A warning horn is now sounded at 20
seconds if the required substitute has
not reported. This signals to the coach
a substitute should report immediately.
10. If the head coach fails to make the
substitution by the end of the 30
seconds, a direct technical foul is
assessed.

92. END-OF-GAME SITUATIONS/
INTENTIONAL FOULS
quot; Officials must be aware of game
situations in the closing moments
of a contest.
quot; Communication between officials
on last second shots must take
place.

93. END OF GAME SITUATIONS/
INTENTIONAL FOULS
quot; Game-ending procedures must be
reviewed and discussed in
pregame conferences.
quot; When a player fouls an opponent
and is clearly not playing the ball,
an intentional foul must be called.

96. 2003-04 NFHS
BASKETBALL
MAJOR MANUAL
CHANGES

97. END OF FIRST HALF (109a)
quot; Officials should assemble in an area
approximately halfway between the
center circle and the sideline opposite
the table and remain until teams and
coaches have exited.
quot; Gets officials away from the path of
most coaches/teams when they exit
the floor.

99. DISQUALIFIED PLAYER
NOTIFICATION (118)
quot; When a player fouls out,
– the non-calling official (2) or
– the new Trail official (3)
quot; Notifies the coach, the player and
then signals to start the 30-second
timer.

101. “BIRD DOG” FOR
CLARIFICATION ONLY
(230b, 240b)
quot; The “bird-dog” mechanic should be
used for clarification only.
quot; The player fouling is usually fairly
obvious.
quot; The mechanic has been viewed as
redundant and degrading.

103. (2) LEAD’S BALL-SIDE
COVERAGE (204)
quot; Officials should consult their state
association for guidelines
regarding the use of this
mechanic.
quot; If this mechanic is authorized, it
should be thoroughly discussed in
pregame.

104. (2) LEAD’S BALL-SIDE
COVERAGE (204)
quot; Lead should only move ball side,
when
– the majority of players are on
Trail’s side, or
– post play dictates.

105. (2) LEAD’S BALL-SIDE
COVERAGE (204)
quot; Lead’s primary on-ball coverage is
the area between the arc and the
closest lane line, below the free-
throw line extended.
quot; New diagrams placed in the
Manual.

107. (2) TIME-OUT/INTERMISSION
POSITIONS (273,275)
quot; Now similar to the positions used in
three-person.
quot; 60-second time-outs and
intermission - officials will stand on
the nearest block opposite the
benches
quot; 30-second time-outs - at the top of
the near arc

108. (2) TIME-OUT/INTERMISSION
POSITIONS (273,275)
quot; The administering official should
secure the ball and place it on the
hip to indicate direction of play.
quot; While in position, he/she should be
prepared to indicate to either coach
the throw-in spot when play
resumes.

110. (3) PRIMARY COURT
COVERAGE
quot; The “dual” area has been
eliminated.
quot; The area inside the arc, below
the free-throw line extended
becomes primary area for the
Lead.

112. (3) LEAD INITIATES
ROTATION (314a)
quot; Clarified that the Lead should
wait until all three officials are in
the frontcourt to rotate.

114. (3) NO LONG SWITCH
ELIMINTATED (343)
quot; The official who calls the foul will
go opposite table.
quot; This mechanic is easier to teach
officials transitioning to three-
person.
quot; New diagrams and examples were
added to the manual.

116. 1661 Ramblewood Drive
East Lansing, MI 48823
517.332.5046
Nate Hampton, Assistant Director
nhampton@mhsaa.com
www.mhsaa.com