How will new free throw, foul rules affect high school basketball?

New rules aimed at improving game flow and reducing injuries will change the way high school basketball is played across the country.

Beginning in 2023-24, the one-and-one scenario will be eliminated and all common fouls will result in two free throws, teams will reach the bonus after five fouls and foul counts will reset after each quarter.

The rule updates were among many introduced by the National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Committee and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Data showed higher injury rates in rebounding situations, according to NFHS Director of Sports Lindsey Atkinson, and enacting the double-bonus at five fouls could sway teams away from committing loose ball fouls.

Previously, a one-and-one was awarded when a team reached seven shooting or non-shooting fouls over the course of a half. Free throw shooters could earn a second foul shot by making their first, and the double-bonus (two guaranteed free throws) went into effect at 10 fouls in a half.

We want to hear from you: How will the new foul and free throw rules affect high school basketball around the country?

The changes, which mirror similar rules updates in women's college basketball in 2016, sparked an immediate and lively reaction from high school basketball coaches and fans Monday morning. 

"Been wanting this change for awhile now," Montgomery County (Missouri) varsity girls coach Joe Basinger said in a Tweet. "Too many games are shooting (free throws) the entire second and fourth quarter. Games will have a chance to have way better flow."

"Excited to see what this does for the game moving forward," Indianola (Iowa) coach Jeff Janssen said.

Dakota Neisen, JV girls basketball coach at Morton High School in Illinois, is in favor of the rule after watching its implementation into the women's college game.

"Logic behind it is interesting but the flow of the game was better in my opinion," Neisen said in a Tweet.

For some coaches, the rule changes brought to light the need for a shot clock, which the NFHS does not mandate but the majority of states require (and the list of those that don't is shrinking).

"I will be more motivated to stall knowing a two-shot foul is headed our way instead of a one-and-one," said Jason Tatkenhorst, head girls varsity coach at Basehor-Linwood High School in Kansas.

Kansas high school basketball does not play with shot clocks.

"Really hurts teams playing from behind until shot clock is implemented with it.," Hinckley-Big Rock (Illinois) girls varsity coach said.

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Lead photo by Vince Miller