NOTE FROM BILLY MARTIN, NJSIAA STATE BASKETBALL RULES INTERPRETER

NJSIAA Basketball Officials,

Please read the following memo regarding an updated interpretation from NFHS and IAABO:

Substitution Confusion (10.4.2B, IAABO Plays 16-10-4, 19-3-8)

The NFHS has approved a change to a long-standing interpretation for when a player who is on the bench should be on the court after a “lengthy” substitution process. 

Previously, when a team had only four players on the court, it was legal for a coach to direct a player (who was mistakenly in the bench area) to directly enter the court without penalty as long as the player did not gain an advantage.

Beginning this season, if a player in this situation enters the court directly, the TEAM will be charged with a TECHNICAL FOUL for failing to have all players return to the court at approximately the same time.

This change is accurately reflected in NFHS Case Book Play 10.4.2B on page 83 as well as in the IAABO Rules Guide Play 19-3-8 on pages 236-237.  This was also accurately reflected in the IAABO Game Simulator too.

Unfortunately, this play was also located in the IAABO Rules Guide at Play 16-10-4, and the ruling on this is incorrect. 
 
**IAABO Rule Guide, Page 214 Play 16-10–4
This play is slated to be deleted in next year’s IAABO Rules Guide.  Please DO NOT use this ruling on p 214 going forward. 

As always, reach out to your local chapter Rules Interpreter if you have any questions on this play or any others.

I hope this helps in your preparation for the year.

Yours in Officiating,
Billy Martin
NJSIAA State Basketball Rules Interpreter

Good Wednesday Board 33 family, there’s something special that happens when the game of basketball goes beyond the hardwood. 

This past spring, our Board 33 referees once again stepped up in a big way, lending their time, energy, and love for the game to the 2025 Special Olympics season. 

According to a statement released by my Board 33 colleague and Special Olympics Chairman Mr. Al Taliaferro, over the course of the season, more than 50 of our officials volunteered, many working game after game, week after week, to make sure these athletes had a fair, safe, and unforgettable experience. 

From Clifton to Old Bridge, and all the way down to Wildwood for the Spring Festival of Sports, Board 33 was there. Alongside officials from Boards 34, 193, 194, and 196, our team helped cover seven courts and seventy-five games in one weekend alone, capping off an incredible twelve-week season. 

What stood out most wasn’t just the hustle on the floor, it was the joy. Athletes handed out hugs and high-fives. Parents stopped to shake hands and thank us for being there. 

The Special Olympics of New Jersey treated our referees like family, even providing dinner and small tokens of appreciation in Wildwood. But truth be told, the biggest reward was being a part of these moments, watching young people compete with heart and determination. 

This year, I personally wasn’t able to get down there, and I’ll admit, YES, it stung. Hearing the stories, seeing the pictures, and knowing the difference our officials made, it hit me that I missed something bigger than basketball. 

So, I’m making it my business to be on that floor next year, and I hope more of our brothers and sisters from Board 33 will do the same. Committee Chair Al Taliaferro put it best, these athletes, their families, and their coaches pour everything into this. 

All they ask of us is a little time, a whistle, and a commitment to fairness. In return, they give us a reminder of why we fell in love with this game in the first place.

Recognizing the dedication and commitment of our members is an essential part of celebrating our organization’s success. Each year, we proudly honor individuals who have reached significant service milestones, acknowledging their hard work, loyalty, and invaluable contributions.

Below is the list of this year’s award recipients, each of whom has demonstrated unwavering commitment and excellence. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for their dedication and the positive impact they continue to make.

A new definition and subsequent warning for faking being fouled (flopping) has been added to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book for the 2024-25 season.

This revision to high school basketball rules was one of 12 changes approved by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee at its April 9-11 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“The committee approved changes addressing a variety of different areas,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports. “Maintaining a focus on player safety, fairness, balance and rules that officials can effectively adjudicate continue to be the focus of the committee.”

 Faking being fouled is defined in Rule 4-49-1 as when a player simulates being fouled or makes theatrical or exaggerated movements when there is no illegal contact. Examples include, but are not limited to, embellishing the impact of incidental contact on block/charge plays or field goal attempts, using a “head bob” to simulate illegal contact and using any tactic to create an opinion of being fouled to gain an advantage.

The new language also establishes a procedure for officials to issue a team warning on the first instance of faking being fouled. The warning is recorded in the scorebook and reported to the head coach. Any additional instances will result in a team technical foul and not a player technical foul, which was previously the case.

“(The committee) is hoping to get those dishonest acts out of the game,” said Billy Strickland, the executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the Basketball Rules Committee.