High school basketball does away with one-and-one foul shots

Last Spring, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) struck the traditional one-and-one foul shots from its basketball rule books. The move was made to speed up games and eliminate rough play during the first foul shot.

Previously, a seventh foul in the half of a high school game meant that the other team got a bonus opportunity at the free throw line for common and non-shooting fouls. The shooter, if they made one foul shot, would get another. The new rule, which comes from college women’s basketball, eliminates one-shot free throws. 

Teams will now be limited to five fouls per quarter before the bonus is awarded. A sixth foul will send a shooter to the foul line for two shots. The foul count is reset at the start of each quarter.

The old one-and-one rule would cause players to converge into the key to try and rebound or screen out opponents on the missed first free throw. Elbows and bodies hitting each other have caused injuries, which is something the NFHS says it is trying to avoid. 

It should also reduce fourth quarters that tend to go on and on when teams reach the bonus early. Officials expect trailing teams to foul less later in games to stretch things out since a rebound after one shot is no longer possible. They hope this results in more flow to games.

Another new rule was added for inbounding the ball. Previously, the ball was inbounded from the one nearest where the ball left the court. Now, only four spots on each side of the midcourt stripe will be used.

In the revised basketball rules, the designated locations for inbounding the ball on the sides of the court will now be the 28-foot marks on each side of the stripe and floor. Additionally, end-of-court inbounding will occur from spots positioned 3 feet on each side of the free-throw lanes at both ends of the court.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is a national organization in the United States that provides leadership and guidance for high school sports and performing arts activities. It establishes rules and regulations for various high school sports and activities and promotes consistency and fairness in their administration across the country. The NFHS works collaboratively with state-level associations to ensure the well-being of student-athletes and participants, emphasizing educational values, sportsmanship, and safety in high school extracurricular programs.