Prep School Basketball Rules

Prep school basketball leagues follow the rules outlined in the National Federation of State High School Athletic Association rule book. All players, even those who transfer to a prep school from other types of schools, are subject to these rules.

  1. Court

    • The basketball court for high school play is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. The free-throw line is 15 feet from the rim, and the lane area is 12 feet wide by 19 feet long. The rim sits 10 feet above the floor. The high school three-point arc is 19 feet 9 inches from the rim all the way around.

    Timing Rules

    • Prep school games are played in four eight-minute quarters. The clock stops each time the ball goes out of bounds or the game officials blow the whistle to stop play. There is a 35-second shot clock that restarts each time possession of the ball changes hands. Offensive players are allowed to remain in the free-throw lane for just three seconds at a time or they must turn the ball over.

    Carrying the Ball

    • Players at the prep school level are often on the edge when it comes to traveling violations. Rules require that a player dribble the ball and limit him to just one step after picking up his dribble. Offensive players making a move to the basket like to shuffle their feet as they try to get the defender off balance. If that move requires the offensive player to move both his free foot and his pivot foot, he can be penalized for traveling. The dribbler must also keep his hand on top of the ball while dribbling it or he is guilty of palming the ball. Players who slide their hand under the ball to increase their ability to control it as they dribble can be called for palming the ball.

    Alternate Possession

    • Prep school basketball uses the alternate-possession rule instead of having players do a jump ball each time there is a shared possession. The only times in a game that there will be a jump ball, with the referee throwing the ball in the air for opposing players to try to control, is at the start of the game and the start of overtime. All other situations in which the teams have joint possession, as well as the start of each quarter, are managed by alternating the right to in-bound the ball between the teams.