College Sports

High school basketball: New rules in play for 2025-26 season

We’re still a year away from Colorado adopting a shot clock for high school basketball. The rule kicks in for the 2026-27 season, with a 35-second timer for all classifications. However, some changes are coming ahead of the 2025-26 season also. The National Federation of High Schools adopted new rules and procedures changes for the […]

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We’re still a year away from Colorado adopting a shot clock for high school basketball. The rule kicks in for the 2026-27 season, with a 35-second timer for all classifications. However, some changes are coming ahead of the 2025-26 season also.

The National Federation of High Schools adopted new rules and procedures changes for the coming high-school basketball season.

Goaltending/basket interference

A main focus is on dealing with goaltending and basket interference. The goaltending rule says a ball is on its downward arc toward the basket once the shot hits the backboard. If a defender touches the ball after it hits the backboard, it’s two/three points for the shooter’s team.

Before this rule change, it was up to officials to determine whether the ball was still climbing toward the goal before any potential goaltending call.

“By establishing that a ball is considered to be on its downward flight upon contacting the backboard, this rule change introduces a clear and objective standard,” said Monica Maxwell, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee, in a statement posted to CHSAANow.com. “It significantly reduces the need for officials to make subjective judgments regarding the trajectory of a shot, thereby enhancing consistency and accuracy in goaltending calls.”

The rule regarding basket interference has also changed.

stock photo of a shot clock. The Colorado High School Activities Association’s board of directors officially recommended the use of a 35-second shot clock, effective in the 2026-2027 school year.
The Colorado High School Activities Association’s board of directors officially approved the use of a 35-second shot clock, effective in the 2026-2027 school year. Credit: File photo

Now, only a defensive player can commit goaltending. The NFHS statement said the rule change disposes of the need to determine whether the ball in flight is a field-goal attempt or a pass.

“Any alliteration of a shot attempt with contact to the basket or backboard by an offensive player would be considered basket interference,” the statement said.

Also, intentionally slapping or striking the backboard during a field-goal try becomes basket interference and not a technical foul.

Also, incidents in which players who intentionally delay returning to the court after being out of bounds and then become the first to touch the ball will result in an infraction and not a technical foul.

Bench rules

The NFHS also changed a rule related to time-outs.

Players on the floor when officials call for a timeout are now “bench personnel.” The NFHS statement said the switch “ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by allowing officials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs.”

Before the change, game officials had to determine whether a player who warranted a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was actually on the floor or the bench at the time.

“One of the points of emphasis this year will be bench decorum,” said Billy Strickland, executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, in the NFHS statement. “How can we help coaches and officials know that communication is a two-way street? It just needs to be done in a proper manner.”

Keep up with all rule changes and sports at CHSAANow.com.



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