Ohio Basketball Rules

Ohio basketball rules are very similar to the rules followed nationwide. High school basketball in the state is regulated by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA). The OHSAA a voluntary, non-profit association of public and private high schools and 7th and 8th grade schools. The OHSAA is governed by the National Federation of High School Associations, which establishes rules nationwide for its members in all 50 states.

  1. Divisions

    • The OHSAA rule book establishes six districts in which member schools are eligible to compete. Each of these districts are run by a Board of Directors who are responsible for conducting sectional and district tournaments for both boys and girls basketball. Each team that advances past the sectional and district tournaments has the opportunity to compete in the state tournament at the end of the season. The six divisions that comprise the OHSAA are the Central District, East District, Northeast District, Northwest District, Southeast District and Southwest District. Each school in a District competes in one of four Divisions depending on the school's individual size. The biggest schools compete in Division I while the smallest schools compete in Division IV. Each school is placed in Division I, II, III or IV based on its student population.

    Rules Interpretation Meeting

    • Although the OHSAA follows the rules set nationally, the association requires that the head varsity coach, assistant coach or athletic administrator of each participating school attend a state rules interpretation meeting. This meeting is mandatory and teams with coaches who do not attend are ineligible to participate in any tournament sponsored by the OHSAA. Junior high coaches and referees are also required to attend.

    Game and Quarter Regulations

    • The maximum number of games allowed by the OHSAA is set at 20 with a maximum number of quarters set at 90 per regular season. Each team is allowed a maximum of five scrimmage games during the season. While varsity quarter lengths are set at the national standard eight minutes, the rule book sets a six minute limit per quarter for freshmen and junior varsity squads. Overtime length is set at four minutes for varsity and three minutes for freshmen and junior varsity contests.

    Instant Replay During Tournament Play

    • The NFHS rule book offers suggestions for rules to be adopted by individual states. Recent additions to the rules in Ohio basketball include the ability of the officials to watch a replay at the end of the game during tournament play to determine whether a player got a basket off on time or whether the basket was worth two or three points.

    Game Play Rules

    • Rules during game play in Ohio follow national standards. The same penalties, violations and fouls are called. Baskets are worth one, two, or three points depending on the type of basket scored. The court regulations also follow the NFHS official rules. Regulation courts are 84 feet long with a foul line 15 feet from the backboard and a three point line 19 feet and nine inches from the backboard.