November 9, 2005 TO: Basketball Officials SUBJECT: Pre-season Basketball Memo 2005-06 PRE-SEASON BASKETBALL MEMORANDUM Several significant changes have been made regarding basketball rules since last season. We have reduced the Iowa Adaptations from eleven to five---hopefully eliminating several of the differences between girls’ and boys’ rules without detracting from the prominence of our game. 2005-06 Iowa Adaptations 1. Home uniforms shall be white in color and shall have even numbers. Away uniforms shall be a color other than white and shall have odd numbers (Required for varsity and recommended for sub-varsity) 2. In addition to the numbers allowed by the National Federation rule book, the numbers 01, 02, 03, 04, and 05 are legal. The numbers 0 and 00 are considered as the even number alternative to 1 and 01. 3. All headbands worn by a team must be the same single, solid color. It is legal to have a manufacturer’s logo. Sweatbands must also be a single, solid color and if worn by more than one teammate, they must all be the same color. Sweatbands may have a manufacturer’s logo. If worn, a sweatband must be located on the WRIST only. It is permissible to wear a headband or one color and sweatbands of a different color. All hair devices must be soft and shall be unadorned. 4. Free Throws---The lane spaces below the block shall remain open. The next lane space immediately above the block shall be occupied by an opponent of the free thrower. Only three land spaces are available on each side of the lane. If the offensive team does not choose to fill the second space or the defensive team does not choose to fill the third space, the opposing team may legally occupy those spaces. 5. Bench Decorum---The coach must remain in an area bounded by either end of the team bench at all times during the game except for time outs, intermissions, being beckoned onto the floor by an official for an injury, or to confer with personnel at the scorer’s bench. When not seated on the bench, the coach shall be fully standing at all times. Kneeling is illegal and the violator shall be assessed with a direct technical foul. Only one coach per team is permitted off the bench at a time. If any member of the team bench, including the coach, receives a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct, this adaptation becomes invalid and the coaching rule 10-5 of the National Federation rule book shall apply. ADAPTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DELETED---National Federation rules now apply: NF STAMP ON THE BALL---This is recommended for the 2005-06 season, but will be required by 2006-07 season. UNCONSCIOUS PLAYER---Previously this was left entirely up to the coach or school to decide on whether this player could continue. Now if the official deems the player to be unconscious, that player may not return to play that day without written authorization from a physician. CORRECTABLE ERROR---Rule 2-10-2 In order to correct an official’s error as identified in 2-10-1, such error must be recognized by an official during the first dead ball after the clock has properly started. COIN FLIP---The coin flip has been eliminated and a jump ball will be used to start the game and each extra period between any two opponents in the center restraining circle. POSSESSION ARROW CHANGES---Previously the alternate possession arrow was switched when the ball was placed at the disposal of the player making the throw-in. Now the direction of the possession arrow is reversed when the ball is legally touched in-bounds or the team making the throw-in commits a violation. TECHNICAL FOULS---A technical foul charged directly against the head coach is considered a “direct technical foul”. Two direct technical fouls result in ejection. Any other technical foul charged against anyone else on the team bench for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be charged directly to that offender and also charged as an “INDIRECT TECHNICAL FOUL” against the head coach. A third technical foul involving indirect and/or direct technical fouls also results in ejection of the head coach. OTHER RULE CHANGES: The head coach of the level being played is now required to attend the pre-game conference with the captains and officials. Hope fully this will permit the officials to emphasize proper sportsmanship and offer some clarification on how the game will be called that evening. The official shall also discuss the importance of good sportsmanship during that conference! Players shall not be permitted to pull their jersey out of their trunks, over their head, etc. in an attempt to display their frustration or disapproval of a call. This is considered as unsporting conduct and shall result in a technical foul being called. Any player control and team control foul is now penalized by awarding the opposing team the ball for a throw in. No free throws will be shot, even if in the penalty situation. If a double foul is called, the ball remains in possession of the team in control when the fouls were called. A player leaving the court for an unauthorized reason is now penalized as a violation. Pre-Game Protocol---Officials shall stand on the side of the floor opposite the scorer’s bench during pre-game warm-up. It is not necessary for officials to remain on the floor between games of a girls’ doubleheader. POINTS OF EMPHASIS: Not allowing non-playing team members to charge onto the court during a time out---coaches need to make sure their bench personnel remains on the bench area. Rough Play---Don’t allow a post player to back into the defensive player and displace her. Eventually the defensive player will stand her ground and stick a knee into the post player or a forearm across her back. If necessary, call a double foul and get this cleaned up early. Disconcerting Acts on Free Throws---Defensive players many times employ tactics which serve no other purpose than to disconcert the free thrower. Waving their hands, raising or dropping their arms as the free thrower attempts the shot, making verbal comments, etc. need to be penalized by awarding an additional free throw if missed. Mike Dick |