High School Basketball Rules Changes for 2024-25

Here are some of the basketball rules changes for the 2024-25 season:

–Warnings will now be issued if a player flops, or fakes being fouled. This includes theatrical movements when there is no illegal contact. A violation means a team warning. Additional violations mean a team technical foul.

–If a defensive player contacts the net, play will continue if the official judges that the contact does not affect a shot attempt.

–Officials can now issue a team warning for delay of game when the ball is not immediately passed to an official when a whistle sounds. Continued violations now result in a team technical. This will prevent situations where players take the ball during a break in the action and throw it at opposing players while the officials are not paying attention.

–Auxiliary scorers are now responsible for notifying the official scorer in the event of a scoring discrepancy. The scorekeeper will then notify the referee. This will prevent situations like the one in King City that happened two years ago when the scorekeeper failed to add a point to the Northeast Nodaway girls score, which could have affected the outcome of the game. Northeast got a stop at the end to preserve a 26-24 win.

–If bench personnel are beckoned to attend to an injured player, the player is subject to removal unless the coach requests a timeout.

–If a player is bleeding or has blood on the uniform, the player can remain in the game if the issue can be resolved in 20 seconds.

–Players who are out of bounds cannot assist a teammate to remain inbounds.

Softball Rules Now Allow Pitchers to Disengage Both Feet

On Monday, Northwest Mo Info reported that next year, pitchers in high school softball will now be allowed to disengage both feet from the playing surface if the pivot foot is not replanted prior to the delivery of the pitch. Previously, the pivot foot was required to remain in contact with the ground. The rules committee says it allows for the exploration of different styles of pitching.

Video recordings can now be transmitted to the dugout from anywhere outside of the live ball area. Electronic devices still have to be used in the dugout.

Wristbands with a playbook can only be worn on a player’s wrist or arm, and pitchers must wear it on their non-pitching arm, not the belt.

Dirt is no longer considered a foreign substance, and does not have to be wiped from the hand prior to pitching the ball. Legal drying agents include powdered rosin or any comparable drying agent listed on USA Softball’s certified equipment website. 

High School Baseball to Allow Communication Devices

The use of a one way communication device between a coach and a team’s catcher for the purpose of calling pitches will be permitted in high school baseball starting next season, Northwest Mo Info reported Friday. Coaches cannot communicate with any other player besides the catcher on defense, and must be in the dugout while using such a device.

Umpires will no longer be allowed to consider spectator behavior when deciding to forfeit a contest. Behavior by spectators under the rules will be handled by game administration. Infractions by players, coaches, or team bench personnel will remain under the umpire’s jurisdiction.

Wristbands with defensive shifts, pitching choices, or game directions will be designated as non-electronic equipment, must be a single solid color, and must be worn on the forearm. Pitchers’ cards must not be white, gray, or a distracting color and must be worn on their non-pitching arm.