As the high school basketball season gets ready to tip off Friday night all over the state, how about a rules and points of emphasis update.

The National Federation of State High School Associations will go to a 28-foot coaches box. That's up from 14 feet in the past.

There is now a 'warning' that can be given by officials to a head coach or bench personnel.

Maine's basketball commissioner Peter Webb check in with changes and clarifications below...

NFHS 2017-18: Rules Changes, Points of Emphasis, Clarifications/Reminders

COACHING BOX

Rule allows, by individual state decision, extension of the Coaching Box to a maximum of 28 feet (to the end line).

BEHAVIORIAL WARNING

Previously a Warning was not permitted.

The behavior/conduct rules have NOT BEEN CHANGED, sportsmanship expectations remain as is.

Now, a Warning to a Head Coach or Bench Personnel, for non-major behavior MAY BE ISSUED.

This new MAY WARN rule does not apply to players on the court.

Only one Warning, per team, is allowed.

A Warning is NOT REQUIRED, prior to assessing a Technical Foul.

Should a Technical Foul occur prior to a Warning being issued, the Warning opportunity is eliminated.

The Warning will be reported to the Official Scorer, just as fouls and time-out are reported.

NOTE: This Warning is not to be confused with the 4 Delay of Game Warnings…water on the floor; delay within the free throw lane; deflecting the ball away following a goal; during a throw-in, breaking the plane of the boundary line.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

INTENTIONAL FOULS

Enforcement, especially at the end of the game. There are TWO TEAMS! It MATTERS!

Contact specifically to stop the clock without a genuine attempt to play the ball.

Contact occurring clearly away from where the ball is located.

Contact that neutralizes an opponent’s obvious advantage.

Contact could be slight or somewhat severe.

CONTACT – DEFENSIVE & OFFENSIVE CONTACT

Offensive contact must be monitored and enforced just as Defensive contact is monitored and enforced.

Arm bars; Body bumping with chest, belly, hips, legs; Holding; Pushing; Hand checking & Feeling.

Block or Charge – Guard must Obtain legal guarding position, both feet on floor and a frontal facing.

Guard then may Maintain what he/she has Maintained – may move, jump, turn, etc

Until the Guard is BEATEN – opponent gets head and both shoulders past the front

plane of the Guard’s body.

Verticality – Jump Shooter & Defender; Shooter may not follow through into the Defender.

Defender may not jump forward into the Shooter.

Rebounding; Inside Rebounder is already in legal position and may not “box out” by

Backing into the opponent, basically a duplicate of Block or Charge rule content.

Outside/Behind opponent, may not move/jump into the Inside Rebounder.

CLARIFICATIONS & REMNDERS

Traveling – Receiving/catching the ball while moving/running, the ball must be released

to begin a dribble prior to lifting the pivot foot off the floor.

“Spin Move”, “Euro Step”, etc. is about whether or not the pivot foot is

used legally or illegally.

Dribble Behind the Back – Attempting to dribble behind the back does not allow for the

hand to be facing upwards (under the ball), doing so ends the dribble. To

continue is a new dribble (double dribble) which is a violation.

Dunking – To “dunk: is legal. To grasp the basket ring is illegal and a Technical Foul.

NOTE:  Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket / 929theticket.com / The new 'Ticket App' brings you opening night coverage Friday night at 7pm. The feature game is a schoolboy matchup in Class A, Messalonskee at Hampden.

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