Ron Poniewasz: New foul shooting rule in high school was a terrible idea
Dec. 21—A little over two weeks.
That's how far into the high school basketball season the state of Pennsylvania is.
Two weeks to observe and digest how the new rule for team fouls and foul shooting is working.
Survey says: It sucks!
Why do people have to mess with stuff that doesn't need fixed?
No matter how you cut it, people are always looking to adjust things, regardless of what you're talking about. From things like paper towels, to soft drinks, and now, to free throws in a high school basketball game.
"New and improved," that gets me all the time. What were we using or dealing with before? Old and useless?
In May, the National Federation of State High School Associations announced changes to the rules for free throws and foul adjustments for this season.
The one-and-one free-throw scenario is out the window now for teams when they are in the bonus, which in the past started with the seventh team foul and ran through the ninth team foul. Teams are now shooting two free throws for common fouls when in the bonus.
The change to Rule 4-8-1 also sets new foul limits each quarter for awarding the bonus foul shot.
Interesting. What was wrong with the old way that was used for years and years? Why did they feel the need to tamper with something that wasn't broken? People have too much free time on their hands. It wasn't broken, hence, there was no need to attempt to fix it.
Boys and girls teams around the county have played at least five games in most cases already in the young season. That's plenty of time to see how this farce would play out.
The New Castle High boys are 6-1 overall under veteran coach Ralph Blundo. His team is handling the adjustment just fine. But, that doesn't mean he's a fan of the rule change.
"I think it took away an intriguing part of basketball, and that's the one-and-one," he said. "The pressure of a one-and-one at the line is gone. Having to make that first one to get that second.
"It just feels odd committing that fifth foul and they're walking 50 or 60 feet to shoot two free throws. I haven't seen it impact a game yet. I've heard some of the reasons why and I trust that they're valid. But, for the traditionalists, I miss that part of the game."
Indeed. We all do. It doesn't matter if you're a coach, a player, or just a fan. A good chunk of strategy is now gone. Blundo even considered another way the rule could dictate the outcome of a game.
"I think what will be impacted is overtime. It changes some things," he said. "It has taken away some of the intrigue. This is one of the most significant changes made during my time as coach."
On Dec. 9, the Neshannock girls came up just one point shy against Union, falling 50-49. The new rule played a pivotal role in that matchup. And it will in any close game.
"With the old rule, we could have put them on the line with that first foul of the fourth quarter putting us at six team fouls," Neshannock coach Luann Grybowski said after that loss. "We had four fouls to give, though, because the rule changed. They're not going to get to the line and they never did.
"The clock ran out before we got our fifth foul. I didn't like the rule from the beginning. It takes a lot of coaching out of it; I'm not a fan of it."
Lady Scots coach Rob Nogay was on the plus side of the equation in that matchup against Neshannock. He also was on the losing side of it in a 47-39 setback to Avonworth.
"It's a big change," Nogay said. "At the Neshannock game, they needed to foul at the end.
"A similar thing happened to us against Avonworth. We only had one or two team fouls. To get to five, it's a struggle to get there. Normally when you're in the one-and-one, you foul and put them on the line. We had to catch up there and we never got here. I don't know that I have a very concrete opinion on it either way. There are games that it can hurt you and games that it can help you."
Union boys coach Mark Stanley does not favor the rule change.
"I don't like it. I don't know why they felt they had to fix something that wasn't broken," Stanley said. "It didn't make the game better. If anything, it made it worse."
Shenango girls basketball coach Ricci LaRocco has more of a neutral stance on the new rule.
"It really hasn't played a major factor in any game we have played," LaRocco said. "I didn't like it when I first heard of it. I don't see any issues as of now.
"I don't think it's speeding up play any more than it has in the past. It was a rule I would never have changed. I didn't see the logic in changing it. But, it didn't help or hurt us."
There are always ways to coach around rules to your advantage. Major League Baseball teams, for instance, can still manipulate the infield for a shift, and rightfully so.
Basketball coaches can find a way around this farce of a rule as well. Perhaps if you're trailing and concerned about not getting to the bonus in time, start the quarter off with players deep in your rotation. Players that normally wouldn't play, and tell them they are in there mainly to pick up a foul, keeping the regulars out of foul trouble. A couple of minutes later, when there are at least three team fouls, the coach can sub in the typical five players. There, happy to help.
Sounds dumb, right? Yeah, well, about as dumb as that rule. You get what you pay for.
If you play or coach long enough, you will experience both sides of the rule — playing to your advantage and playing a role in a loss.
This rule is probably here for the long haul, regardless of how terrible it is. But, the PIAA should strongly consider removing it sooner rather than later as it is just taking away from a solid product.
(Poniewasz is the sports editor at the New Castle News. Email him at rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com).
