VHSL Basketball Rules

All public Virginia High Schools belong to the Virginia High School League, which oversees rules and regulations for all public interscholastic sporting events the state. The VHSL is a member league of the National Federation of High School Associations with governs high school athletics and activities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The NFHS sets national rules for 16 boys' and girls' sports. The VHSL follows the rules set aside nationally by the NFHS with very few exceptions.

  1. Divisions

    • There are 309 member schools in the Virginia High School League. Schools are divided into groups where they compete against other schools in the same group. At the end of each season, the teams participate in their Group tournament to determine a State Champion in Each Group. Member schools can compete in Group A, Group AA, or Group AAA. In 2007 the VHSL split Group A, made up of the smallest schools based on student attendance in the state, into two divisions to promote equity and give the smallest schools in the state a chance to compete for a state championship. In 2009, Group AA was split into two divisions as well.

    Coaching Requirement Rules

    • The Virginia High School League recently adopted a rule stating that all coaches are to complete an approved course in principles of coaching and an improved course in sports-related first aid. The VHSL requires all athletic coaches to complete a VHSL component which allows the coach to become familiar with the rules and regulations found in the VHSL Rule Book. The course is based on information provided by the NFHS. If a coach does not complete this course and coaches during the scene, that coach will incur a fine of $50.

    Game Play Rules

    • The VHSL Handbook states that "boys' and girls' high school basketball shall be played under the rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations." The VHSL abides by the same rules followed by other state public high school basketball associations throughout the country. Court specifications, scoring rules, violations and penalties during game play are consistent with the national standard.

    Eligibility Rules

    • Recruiting is strictly prohibited by the VHSL as it is in all public high school sports throughout the country. A player must play in the school district in which he or she lives and cannot transfer schools simply to participate in basketball. A student cannot be more than 20 years of age or older prior to or on the date of the State Championship games for each Group. All players are required to pass a physical prior to participating in practices and must have attended a set number of practices before being eligible to participate in games. Athletes are also not permitted to accept awards not sanctioned by the VHSL. Any violation of the eligibility rule will result in suspension of the individual player and may result in forfeiture of games by the school.