11 rule changes that will impact Tennessee high school basketball in 2024-25 season, including flopping
The 2024-25 TSSAA basketball season will include several rule changes, including revised penalties for flopping after the National Federation of High Schools approved the rule changes during its basketball rules committee meetings in April.
A new definition and subsequent warning for flopping, which is a player faking being fouled, was one of the rules changes approved by the NFHS.
“The committee approved changes addressing a variety of different areas,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports. “Maintaining a focus on player safety, fairness, balance and rules that officials can effectively adjudicate continue to be the focus of the committee.”
Flopping, by the NFHS rule, is when a player, "simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact." Examples include embellishing the impact of incidental contact on block/charge plays or field goal attempts, using a head bob to simulate illegal contact and using any tactic to create an opinion of being fouled to gain an advantage.
A team warning will be issued on the first instance. Any other instances will now result in a team technical foul. Previously a technical foul on the individual player was assessed.
“(The committee) is hoping to get those dishonest acts out of the game,” said Billy Strickland, the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the Basketball Rules Committee.
Penalties on a player faking being fouled isn't new to Tennessee. It has been an NFHS and TSSAA rule "forever," according to TSSAA assistant executive director Gene Menees, who oversees basketball. It's just a very uncommon foul called.
"I cannot personally remember the last time I saw it called," Menees said. "It probably has come back up because colleges now have a flop rule. They have the luxury of going to a monitor. We don't have that."
TSSAA currently doesn't allow replay for official's review in any sports.
"I don't know," said Menees, when asked if whether TSSAA would consider going to monitors in basketball. "It's a great question. If we ever went to a monitor system, it should only be for the state tournament. That's where facilities have access to that. I still think, at the high school level, whatever is called on the field or court, is what you go for. For me to say it won't change...you know and I know the world of technology."
NFHS basketball rule changes that will affect TSSAA schools
Other rule changes approved by the committee include:
The rule that allowed only lettering on the front of jerseys has been amended, now allowing logos or mascots. However the logo or mascot must be centered above the number in place of the identifying names.
Electronic devices used by teams during games must be limited to recording and tracking stats, reviewing plays or similar contest-related functions. The use of electronic devices for voice or video recording is prohibited.
If two scorers are at the scorer's table, the one not keeping the official book is responsible for comparing with the official scorer, who would then notify a referee immediately of any discrepancy.
If anyone from a team's bench enters the floor to attend to an injured player, that player is subject to removal from the game unless the coach requests a timeout.
If a player is bleeding or has blood on their uniform, they can now remain in the game if the issue can be resolved in 20 seconds.
An exception to the basket interference rule, the net can now be contacted and play continue if the official determines the contact to the net not to have affected the shot attempt.
Officials can now issue a team warning for delay of game when a ball is not immediately passed to an official when the whistle sounds. Any subsequent violations will now result in a team technical foul instead of a player technical.
A player cannot be assisted by a team member or bench personnel outside the boundary line to remain inbounds.
Pregame violations, including scorebook issues, uniform violations, etc., were also addressed. NFHS now makes pregame penalties offset if both teams violate the rules in equal numbers. No free throws would be awarded in that case and the game would begin with a jump ball. Additionally, the head coaches would not lose privilege of the coaching box.
A personal foul is no longer assessed on a player dunking or attempting to dunk during a dead ball. Instead, it is now a team technical and not a bench technical and the coach will not lose coaching box privileges during the game.
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Another rule that was changed, but does not yet affect TSSAA schools, involves states that have approved 35-second shot clocks. Those that do can now choose to eliminate the five-second call on closely-guarded ball-handlers who are dribbling. The five-second rule will still apply (for all states) if the player is holding the ball.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: TSSAA basketball rule changes for 2024-25 season, including flopping
