Basketball Rules Changes

Football Rules Changes

Baseball Rules Changes

Softball Rules Changes


2025 Baseball Rules Changes

1-3-2c1 – Modified that resin, pine tar or any other drying agent is permitted on the bat in a specific area.

4-4-1c – Modified the definition of forfeiture.

2026-27 Basketball Rules Changes

Rule 5-9-5 (NEW): In the last 59.9 seconds of each quarter or extra period, if play is resumed by a throw-in or an unsuccessful free throw, a minimum of three-tenths (.3) of a second must expire on the game clock when the ball is legally touched by a player inbounds.

Rationale: When play is resumed with a throw-in or unsuccessful free throw, a player may not gain control and attempt a try without at least .3 seconds expiring from the game clock. This change aligns with existing provisions related to tap attempts found in Rule 5-2-5.

NOTE: This rule does not apply when the game clock is not capable of displaying tenths of a second.

Rule 5-10-2 NOTE (NEW): If the referee determines the game clock malfunctioned, was improperly started or stopped, or failed to run, an official’s visible or silent count, or other official information, may be used to correct the timing error.

Rationale: Officials currently utilize visible counts for backcourt violations, closely guarded situations, and three-second violations. This change permits officials to also maintain silent counts that may be used as definite knowledge in correcting timing mistakes under Rule 5-10-1.

6-4-4g: Deleted language regarding an alternating possession throw-in following a warning for faking being fouled after a released try attempt.

Rationale: The provision is no longer necessary due to the 2025-26 interpretation change modifying procedures for addressing faking being fouled situations.

8-6-4a thru d: When both teams are assessed technical fouls during the same dead-ball period and before the ball becomes live:

a. All technical fouls are considered to have occurred at approximately the same time for offsetting penalty purposes;
b. All fouls are recorded and penalties identified;
c. If an unequal number of technical fouls are committed, play resumes as though the final single technical foul was the only foul committed; and
d. If penalties cancel for equal technical fouls, play resumes at the point of interruption.

Rationale: This proposal clarifies that all technical fouls occurring during the same dead-ball period are treated as occurring at approximately the same time.

9-2 PENALTY (Section 2):The ball becomes dead when the violation or technical foul occurs. The location of the violation is the original throw-in spot.

Rationale: Prior to designated throw-in spots, all throw-in violations were administered from the original throw-in location. Language referencing the original throw-in spot was inadvertently removed following implementation of designated throw-in spots. This change restores that language and clarifies administration procedures.

2026-27 Basketball Editorial Changes

1-19, 2-2-1 EXCEPTION, 4-1-1 EXCEPTION NEW, 4-6-2, 4.11.2 SITUATION, 4-22-1 NOTE NEW, 4-22-2, 4-22-3, 4-40-3, 4-44-5b, 4-44-5c, 4.44.5 SITUATION B, 4-44-5c NEW, 4.44.5 SITUATION C, 6-3-2, 6-3-4, 6-4-6, 6.4.6 SITUATION A, 7-5-6c NEW, 9-2-10 PENALTIES 1, TECHNICAL FOUL PENALTY SUMMARY

2026-27 Basketball Points of Emphasis

  1. UNIFORMS – EDUCATION-BASED ACTIVITIES

  2. TIMING CORRECTIONS AND OFFICIALS’ COUNTS

  3. BENCH DECORUM, SPORTSMANSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

  4. PHYSICAL PLAY AND ILLEGAL CONTACT

  5. TRAVELING, CONTINUOUS MOTION AND LEGAL PLAYER MOVEMENT

  6. PLAYER EQUIPMENT – TOOTH AND MOUTH PROTECTORS

  7. AUTHENTICATING MARK

2026  Football Rules Changes

1-5-3c(9) – The committee has approved the wearing of play cards on both the forearm/wrist and belt areas of the body.

9-4-7 – The committee approved new rules language that no player may use the hand(s) to slap the opponent’s head.

Rules Reminders:
1-5-1d(5)a - 4, 5 (NEW) — Committee clarifies and restricts attachments on tooth and mouth protectors, effective with the 2026 season.

1-5-2d (NEW), 1-5-3c(6) — Arm sleeve specifications developed to guide manufacturers, players and coaches effective with the 2027 season.

2026 Football Editorial Changes

1-1-8; 1-5-1d(5)a - 4, 5; 1-5-3a(2); 2-15-1; 2-32-6; 3-5-7g; 4-1-3; 5-3-1; 8-2-2; 8-2-3; 8-2-4; 8-2-5; 9-4-3p; 9-8 PENALTY; 10-4-2; 10-4-2b; 10-4-4a; 10-5-3; SIX-PLAYER RULES DIFFERENCES; NFHS OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNALS.

2026 Football Points of Emphasis

  1. Flagrant and Unsportsmanlike Fouls

  2. Helping the Runner

  3. Sideline Management and Control

  4. Identification of the NFHS Authenticating Mark on Game Balls

2025 Softball Rules Changes

1-8-6 EXCEPTION & PENALTY: A high school softball coach is now able to use electronic devices in the dugout for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense. The penalty from Rule 3-6-11 was added to Rule 1-8-6 as well, with violators subject to ejection unless the offense is ruled to be of a minor nature.
Rationale: The committee has made these changes to support the use of emerging technology within the sport of softball. Being a permissive rule, the use of this one-way electronic communication will allow those who choose to embrace the technology an additional option to communicate with the catcher while on defense.

3-6-11: This rule change specifies that coaches are prohibited from using the device to communicate with any other team member while on defense or any team member while on offense and the coach cannot use the device outside the dugout/bench area.
Rationale: Clarifies that a coach may us an electronic device for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense.

9-3-2b: When a baserunner who is declared out for being hit by a fair batted ball, the batter-runner is credited with a fielder’s choice in the scorebook.   
Rationale: This change corrects an error in the rules book that awarded a base hit in this instance.  

2025 SOFTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES
Figure 1-1, Figure 1-3, 1-3-4, 1-3-5, 1-6-6, 1-7-1, 2-47, 3-2-3, 3-2-12 NOTE, 3-6-12, 5-1 Table, 5-1-1o, 6-1-2c, 8-1-2a EFFECTS 3, 8-6-4, 10-1-6

2025 SOFTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS

  1. Team’s Role in Pace of Play
  2. Situational Awareness