No more one-and-one!
A big change is coming to high school basketball. The National Federation of State High School Associations, the governing body for high school sports nationwide, has changed the dynamic for free throw shooting. Instead of teams reaching the bonus on the seventh foul each half, the bonus begins with the fifth foul each quarter.
Under the previous rule, a player would shoot one-and-one after the seventh, eighth and ninth fouls of a half — make the first one and get the second — unless it's a foul in the act of shooing resulting in two shots. Beginning with the 10th foul each half, the double bonus gave a player two shots.
The new rule awards two shots beginning with the fifth foul each quarter.
The National Federation said the rule was changed to help lessen possible injuries on rebounds.
It could result in fewer free throws. Under the new rule, a team could commit 16 fouls during a game, four each quarter, with the opposing team not going to the line. The maximum under the previous rule was 12, six each half.
Lindsey Atkinson, director of sports for the National Federation, said “The rules committee studied data that showed high injury rates on rebounding situations and saw this as an opportunity to reduce opportunities for rough play during rebounds. Additionally, resetting the fouls for each quarter will improve game flow and allow teams to adjust their play by not carrying foul totals to quarters two and four.”
Kosciusko boys coach Marquise Bailey agrees. “This will speed up the game and will allow teams to be more aggressive. For me personally, for a team that puts a lot of pressure on you, it will help a lot because I know that each quarter will start over again.”
Under the previous rule, he said if the opposing team is already in the bonus in the first or third quarter the team could not be as aggressive on defense in the second and fourth quarters.
McAdams boys coach Kyesun Jackson also likes the change. “I think it’s going to help the game and cut down on fouls. I’m hoping that’s what the impact will be.”
With the change, high school basketball will be in line with the NBA, but not with college ball where the bonus begins with the seventh foul each half and there is one-and-one.
There is no greater pressure than a player shooting one-and-one late in a close game. “If your team is down by a point and you go to the line for a one-and-one, you know that if you miss the shot you lose,” Bailey said. “With this rule, you get a second shot. The pressure will be on, but it won’t be as much pressure.”
The news release from the National Federation did not address one question — what happens if a game goes into overtime. Under the previous rule, overtime periods were treated as a continuation of the second half. If a team is in the bonus or double bonus, that continues in overtime.
But under the new rule, is overtime a continuation of the fourth quarter, or a brand new quarter with fouls starting from zero?
“That’s a good question. I need to ask somebody,” Bailey said.
Jackson would like to see one other rule change. “I’m waiting for a shot clock.”
