NFHS resets team foul rules, eliminates one-and-one free throws

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

The National Federation of State High School Associations Basketball Rules Committee voted to reset the team foul total after each quarter and eliminate the one-and-one free throws at its April 24-26 meeting in Indianapolis.

Teams will reach the bonus when their opponent committed five team fouls in a quarter, and all common fouls will result in two free throws.

Previously, a team reached the one-and-one bonus when their opponent reached seven team fouls for the half and the two-shot bonus (also known as the double bonus) for 10 team fouls, and foul totals carried over from the first to the second quarter and from the third to the fourth quarter.

The rule change will take effect for the 2023-24 season.

“The rules committee studied data that showed higher injury rates on rebounding situations and saw this as an opportunity to reduce opportunities for rough play during rebounds,” NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee Lindsey Atkinson said in a statement released on the federation website. “Additionally, resetting the fouls each quarter will improve game flow and allow teams to adjust their play by not carrying foul totals to quarters two and four.”