2022-23 NCAA/NFHS Major Basketball Rules Differences

NFHS NCAA Men NCAA Women

Administrative Warnings Issued for non-major Only for the head coach being Same as Men plus minor
infractions of coaching-box outside the coaching box conduct violations of
rule, disrespectfully misconduct guidelines by
addressing an official, any bench personnel.
attempting to influence an
official’s decision, inciting
undesirable crowd
reactions, entering the
court without permission,
or standing at the team
bench.

Blood/Contacts Player with blood directed Player with blood may remain Player with blood or
to leave game (may in game if remedied within 20 lost/irritated contacts may
remain in game with seconds or after charged remain in game if remedied
charged timeout); player timeout. Lost/irritated contacts within 20 seconds or
with lost/irritated contacts within reasonable time. If charged timeout to correct
may remain in game with timeout becomes media blood or contacts.
reasonable time to correct. timeout, no charged timeout
to team.

Bonus Free Throws

One-and-One Bonus On the seventh team foul. On the seventh team foul. No one-and-one bonus.

Double Bonus On the 10th team foul. On the 10th team foul. On fifth team foul.

Team Fouls Reset End of the first half. End of the first half End of first, second and third
periods.

Coaching Box Size State option, 28-foot box Extends from 38-foot line to Same as NCAA Men.
maximum. end line.
Loss of Use If head coach is charged No rule. No rule.
with a direct or indirect
technical foul.
Delay-of-Game Warnings One warning for any of the No warnings for One warning for each delay-
four delay-of-game Administrative technical. One of-game situation;
situations; subsequent warning for coach delay and subsequent delay for that
delay for any of four one for player delay. Then, situation results in a
results in a technical foul. Class B technical. technical foul.

Disqualification/Ejection Disqualification – Fifth foul Disqualification – Fifth foul Disqualification – Same as

(personal fouls and (personal fouls and Class A NFHS, includes intentional
Players/Bench Personnel technical fouls). technical fouls) fouls.

Ejection – Single flagrant Ejection – Second Class A or Ejection – Single

foul; second technical foul. third Class B technical foul or disqualifying foul, second
single Flagrant 2 foul. technical foul, second
intentional foul or
combination of one technical
and one intentional foul.

Player Participates After
Disqualification/Ejection
Replacement Interval
Double Foul
Fighting
Types of Fouls
Count Towards
Free-Thrower Injured
NFHS NCAA Men NCAA Women
Direct technical foul Noncontact Flagrant 2 Disqualifying foul charged to
charged to head coach. technical foul charged to offender.
player. Class B to head
coach.
15 seconds. 15 seconds. 15 seconds
Point of interruption for all If differing in severity, both Point of interruption for
double fouls. penalties are assessed with double/simultaneous
most severe last. personal fouls and fouls of
equal gravity by opponents.
When penalties are unequal,
most severe penalty
assessed last.
Ejection. Ejection. One-game Ejection. One-game
suspension followed by suspension followed by
season suspension for season suspension for
second offense (team and second offense (team and
coaches). coaches).
Head coach and any number
Only the head coach may of assistants may enter the
enter court. playing court.
Personal (double, false, Personal (double, false, Personal (double and
multiple and multiple and simultaneous), simultaneous), Intentional,
simultaneous), Technical Technical (administrative, Technical, and Disqualifying
(double, false, multiple and double, false, multiple and fouls.
simultaneous), Intentional simultaneous), Flagrant 1
Personal, Intentional Personal, Contact Dead-Ball
Technical, Flagrant Technical, Flagrant 2
Personal and Flagrant Personal and Flagrant 2
Technical fouls. Technical fouls.
Personal, technical and Personal, Class A technical Personal, intentional, and
intentional (personal and and contact dead-ball technical fouls (excluding
technical) fouls count technical fouls count administrative technicals)
toward team-foul total, toward team-foul total, count toward team-foul total,
disqualification and disqualification and ejection; disqualification and ejection;
ejection; and flagrant and Flagrant 2 (personal and and disqualifying fouls count
(personal and technical) technical) fouls count toward toward team-foul total and
fouls count toward team- team-foul total and ejection, ejection.
foul total and ejection.
Normal substitution Substitute or any player Normal substitution
permitted. shoots free throws when permitted.
injured player cannot as result
of a flagrant foul. If result of
blood, only substitute shoots.
Otherwise, opposing coach
selects from four remaining
players.
 NFHS NCAA Men NCAA Women

Goaltending Player touches the ball
during a try/tap while it is
in its downward flight
entirely above the basket-
ring level and has the
possibility of entering the
basket in flight.
Same as NFHS and includes Same as NCAA Men except
a ball that is touched after it ball must be entirely above
contacts the backboard when the basket-ring level.
any part of the ball is above
the basket-ring level –
considered to be on its
downward flight.

Game Clock

Length of Four eight-minute 20-minute halves. Four 10-minute quarters.

Quarter/Period/Half quarters.

Length of Extra Four minutes. Five minutes. Five minutes.

Period/Overtime

Deflection Under a Minute
No rule. No less than 0.3 seconds No less than 0.3 seconds
must expire when ball is must expire when ball is
legally touched and the clock legally touched and the clock
is immediately stopped by an is immediately stopped by an
official with 59.9 seconds or official with 59.9 seconds or
less left in a period or half. less left in a quarter or
overtime.

Stop Clock After No rule. After a made basket with less After a made basket with
Successful Field Goal than one minute in second less than one minute in
half or overtime. fourth quarter or overtime.

Guarding

Airborne Defender No exception. Allowed to move forward No exception.

when clearly will not make
contact on shooter.

Exception: Closely Guarded Holding or dribbling. Holding only. Holding only.

Exception: Legal Position May be established
anywhere on the court.
Secondary defender may not
establish initial legal-guarding
position in four-foot restricted
area under the basket to draw
an offensive foul on
ballhandler or a player who
released the ball on pass or a
try. Does not apply when
secondary defender
establishes legal guarding
position, jumps straight up
with arms in legal verticality
and attempts to block a shot.
Secondary defender may not
establish initial legal-
guarding position in four-foot
restricted area under the
basket to draw an offensive
foul on a ballhandler or a
player who released the ball
on pass or a try. Does not
apply when the drive to the
basket starts inside the LDB
or when a defender within
the restricted area attempts
to block a shot.

Maintaining Legal May move laterally or Same as NFHS except Same as NFHS except a
Position obliquely to maintain secondary defenders cannot defender may not reposition
position, as long as not move sideways to maintain into the path of an airborne
toward opponent when player.
 NFHS NCAA Men NCAA Women

contact occurs and may on an airborne shooter or

turn or duck to absorb passer.
imminent contact.

Jump Ball Re-jump must be by Re-jump by any two players. Re-jump by any two players.
players involved before
team control is
established.

Non-Playing Personnel Not permitted on playing Permitted on the playing court Permitted on the playing
area during a 30-second only during full timeouts and court only during full
or less time-out. Not media timeouts. timeouts and media
permitted to stand in free- timeouts.
throw lane area extended
out of bounds.

Officials on Court – 15 minutes before start 20 minutes before start. 15 minutes before start.
Jurisdiction Begins and remain for duration of
pregame. At least one official must At least one official must
remain on the court when remain on the court when
team members are present. team members are present.

Player Out of Bounds Violation ruled as soon as
player leaves the court for
an unauthorized reason.
Violation ruled when a player Same as NCAA Men.
returns and is the first to
touch the ball inbounds
unless the player’s
momentum carried them out
of bounds.

Post play An extended arm bar is Equal pressure on post player A forearm or one hand is
not allowed. with or without the ball allowed on post player in the
allowed with one forearm lane area with control of the
when at least one of the two ball whose back is to the
players is positioned in the basket.
post area.

Replaced Team Member Next opportunity after Can re-enter when opponent Can re-enter when opponent
clock has properly started commits a violation or foul commits a violation or foul
following his/her before the clock has properly before the clock has properly
replacement. started or substitution results started.
from an officiating or scorer's
error.

Screener

Location No rule. Screener must be inbounds. Same as NCAA Men.

Width Vertical plane with a Inside of screener’s feet no Same as NCAA Men.
stance approximately wider than shoulder width.
shoulder width apart.

Shot Clock Effective 2022-23 by state 30 seconds. Same as NCAA Men.

adoption; 35 seconds.
 NFHS
Reset No rule.
Team Control
Definition Team is in control when a
player is in control, when a
live ball is passed among
teammates, during an
interrupted dribble, when
the ball is at the disposal
of a thrower-in.
Loose Ball No rule
Free Throws Shot Never shot on a team-
control foul.
Technical Fouls Types Team, Player, Substitute,
Bench.
Head Coaches Direct and Indirect
technical fouls
Direct and Indirect
technical fouls-- Direct for
the coach’s behavior.
Indirect for penalty to
bench personnel; includes
pregame or dead-ball
dunking.
NCAA Men NCAA Women
No reset on out-of-bounds No reset on out-of-bounds
violations. Full reset on violations. Full reset on
change of possession unless change of possession.
the throw-in is in the front
court.
20-second reset or time
20-second reset or time remaining on the shot clock,
remaining on the shot clock, whichever is greater, on a
whichever is greater, on a defensive foul or
defensive foul or violation with kicked/fisted-ball violation
play to resume in frontcourt. with play to resume in
20-second reset on offensive frontcourt. 20-second reset
rebound or throw-in in the on offensive rebound.
frontcourt.
Team is in control when a Same as NCAA Men.
player is in control, when a
live ball is passed among
teammates, during an
interrupted dribble, when the
ball is at the disposal of a
thrower-in.
When a player No rule.
holding/dribbling the ball
fumbles, a defender
bats/deflects the ball out of
offensive player’s control or
following a try being released.
When offended team is in the Never shot on an offensive
bonus following a loose-ball foul.
foul.
Administrative, Class A and Administrative, Player/
Class B technical fouls. Substitute and Bench
Technical fouls.
Class A and Class B, no Direct and Indirect technical
penalty for pregame or dead- fouls
ball dunking.
Direct and Indirect technical
fouls-- Direct for the coach’s
behavior.
Indirect for penalty to bench
personnel
 NFHS NCAA Men
One-Shot Technical No rule. Administrative (except
excessive timeouts and more
than five players) and Class B
technical fouls.
Count Toward Team-foul total. Class A technical fouls count
toward team-foul total,
Disqualification – five disqualification and ejection. Disqualification – five
personal fouls (all team Class B technical fouls count personal fouls (all team
members). toward ejection;
administrative technical fouls
Ejection – two technical do not count toward team-foul Ejection – two technical fouls
fouls (all team personnel). totals, disqualification or
ejection.
Resuming Play Throw-in to offended team Point of interruption when the
at division line opposite ball is in the backcourt and is
the scorer’s table. retained by the offense. When
the defense gains
possession, use Rule 7-3.2.
When the ball is in the
frontcourt, use procedures in
Rule 7-3.2.
Ten-Second Rule Must advance from Must advance from
backcourt. Count starts on backcourt. Count starts on
player control. legal touch of a throw-in and
on control for rebounds and
jump balls.
Reset Reset on new throw-in. No count reset when defense
causes out-of-bounds
violation, team in control
retains possession after a
held ball or a technical foul
assessed to the team in
control. Reset on timeout by
team in control.
Three-Second Violation Both feet must be placed One foot out and one in the
on the court outside the air is considered out of the
free-throw lane to avoid a free-throw lane to avoid a
three-second violation. three-second violation.
28-Foot Line Throw-in No rule. No rule.
NCAA Women
No penalty for pregame
dunking
Administrative Technicals for
failure to have proper
division line and center
circle, proper game clock,
red lights/red LED lights, and
properly mounted shot clock.
Team-foul total.
members).
(all team personnel).
Same as NFHS for
player/substitute and bench
technical fouls; point of
interruption for administrative
technical fouls except for
excessive timeout – point of
interruption to offended team
Same as NCAA Men.
No count reset when
defense causes out-of-
bounds violation, team in
control retains possession
after a held ball or an
administrative technical foul
is assessed to the team in
control. No reset on timeout
by team in control.
Both feet must be placed on
the court outside the free-
throw lane to avoid a three-
second violation.
Upon a timeout during the
last 59.9 seconds in the
fourth quarter or overtime
 NFHS NCAA Men
Opponent Crosses Plane May not cross boundary May not cross boundary
plane until ball has been plane until ball has crossed
released by thrower – boundary plane – violation
violation and team Class B technical foul for
warning, followed by repeated violation.
technical foul.
Designated-Spot Nearest spot of Same as NFHS when in
foul/violation when not in backcourt except after
the bonus (either on change of possession. When
sideline or end line). in frontcourt after defensive
foul/violation on same side of
court as foul/violation either at
28-foot line when above
diagonal from corners to
intersections of the free-throw
line and free-throw lane line
(elbows) or three feet from
free-throw lane line extended
along the end line.
Timeout(s)
Excessive Technical foul. Two shots and point of
interruption if in backcourt
and closest of four spots if in
frontcourt.
Number and Length Three 60-second and two Men Media – Three 30-
30-second timeouts. second and one 60-second
team timeouts. A team
granted timeout at or under
30 seconds or an instant
replay occurs at or under 30
seconds of media mark or
when it created the first
stoppage at or below the
NCAA Women
when the ball in the
backcourt is out of bounds
after a made basket, after
securing a rebound (no
dribble or pass) or after a
change of possession (no
dribble or pass), the offense
may choose to advance the
ball to the frontcourt 28-foot
line opposite the table or
tableside for ensuing throw-
in.
May not cross boundary
plane until ball has crossed
boundary plane - team
warning followed by
technical foul.
Same as NFHS, except for a
single personal foul or
intentionally kicked or fisted
ball by the defense in the
offensive frontcourt when the
throw-in is at the nearest 28-
foot mark or lower defensive
box mark.
Two shots and possession to
opponents at the point of
interruption.
Media – Three 30-second
and one 60-second. A team
timeout at any time above
the media mark goes to
media. The first team-
granted timeout of second
half goes to media.
 NFHS NCAA Men NCAA Women

media mark becomes the Non-Media –Three 30-

media timeout. second and two 60-second
timeouts.
Non-Media – Four 75-second
and two 30-second timeouts.

Reduction Reduced if both teams are Reduced if granted team Reduced if granted team
ready. notifies official unless timeout notifies official unless
becomes an electronic-media timeout becomes an
timeout. electronic-media timeout.

Request Recognized when a player Recognized when a player is Recognized when a player is
is in control. in control, except shall not be in control, except shall not be
recognized when an airborne recognized when an airborne
Player or coach can player’s momentum carries player’s momentum carries
request. out-of-bounds or into the out-of-bounds or into the
backcourt. backcourt.

Coaches shall not be granted Player or coach can request.

a timeout during live-ball play.
Exception: The coach whose
team is in control on a throw-
in before the ball is released
or in the last two minutes of
the second period or the last
two minutes of any overtime
period.

Resuming Play Resumption-of-play Team warning, followed by Team warning, followed by

procedure. Class A technical foul for resumption-of-play
repeat of same delay. procedure.

Uniforms

Jersey Color Home shall wear white Home shall wear light and Same as NCAA Men.
and visitor a contrasting visitor a contrasting dark
dark color. color, except altered by
mutual consent.

Jersey Design Torso defined by area Neutral zone measured five Same as NCAA Men.
from base of neckline to inches from top of shoulder to
bottom of jersey and from bottom of jersey and 12
side insert to side insert; inches in width from center of
no design restrictions neckline (front and back); only
outside torso. name/number and 15 percent
tonal color shift permitted in
neutral zone; no design
restrictions outside neutral
zone.

Worn Jerseys designed to be Jerseys worn outside the Same as NCAA Men.
worn outside the pants game pants prohibited; no
permitted; jerseys/pants rule regarding removal.
 NFHS
may not be removed within
visual confines of playing
area.
Penalty for Illegal Jersey Direct technical foul
Number charged to head coach.
Pants/Shorts No rule.
Undergarments Black, white, beige or the
predominant color of the
jersey.
Undershirt Individual player must Individual player must have
have same length sleeves. same length sleeves. Long
Long sleeves permitted. sleeves permitted. One visible
One visible manufacturer’s
logo/trademark/reference logo/trademark/reference is
is permitted. Same color
as jersey, if visible.
Arm Sleeves White, black, beige or the
predominant color of the
jersey.
Headbands/Wristbands, White, black, beige or the
predominant color of the
jersey.
Leg/Knee Sleeves, White, black, beige or the
predominant color of the
jersey.
Compression Shorts and White, black, beige or the
Tights predominant color of the
jersey.
Teammates Matching All headbands, wristbands,
sleeves and tights worn
must be same color.
NCAA Men NCAA Women
Administrative technical foul Same as NCAA Men.
for illegal number and non-
contrasting uniform.
The perceptible majority of Same as NCAA Men.
shorts must be the same
color of the neutral zone.
Undershirt- similar to that of Garments worn under the
jersey. Under game shorts- shorts must be white, black,
Black, white beige or color of beige, or any color contained
game shorts. in the fabric of the game
jersey. Individual player must
have same length on both
legs.
Same as NCAA men.
manufacturer’s
permitted. Same color as
jersey, if visible.
Arm sleeve - Solid color - Arm sleeve - Solid color -
White, black, beige or any White, black, beige or any
color contained in game color contained in fabric of
jersey. the game jersey.
White, black, beige or similar Solid color - White, black,
to the dominant color of the beige or any color contained
game jersey. in fabric of the game jersey.
White, black, beige or the Solid color - White, black,
predominant color of the beige or any color contained
shorts in fabric of the game jersey.
White, black, beige or the Solid color - White, black,
predominant color of the beige or any color contained
shorts in fabric of the game jersey.
Headband and wristbands Same as NCAA Men.
must match.
Arm sleeves do not have to
match leg/knee sleeves, nor
do they need to match
headbands/wristbands.
 NFHS NCAA Men
Video Legal to use during the Illegal to use at courtside
game or intermission for except under experimental
coaching. rules authorized by NCAA
Men’s Basketball Rules
Committee.
NCAA Women
Preloaded video is permitted.
Illegal to transmit live video
to courtside except under
experimental rules
authorized by NCAA
Women’s Basketball Rules
Committee.