The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has updated rules related to flopping in high school basketball, which now results in a team warning on the first instance and any additional instances resulting in team technical fouls.
Flopping is defined in the NFHS Basketball Rules Book 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 create an advantage.”
There were 11 other rule changes for high school basketball approved at the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee meeting from April 9-11 in Indianapolis.
One change removes the restriction of only lettering being allowed on the front of team jerseys, which now allows schools to have a logo centered on the front of its jersey.
Also, if a player is bleeding or has blood on their uniform, they can remain in the game if the issue can be resolved in 20 seconds.
For states that use a 35-second shot clock, an update allows those states to choose to eliminate the five-second closely guarded violation for a player dribbling the ball. The 5-second closely guarded violation remains in effect when the player is holding the ball.
IHSA associate executive director Kurt Gibson told WRMJ in March that the association is targeting the 2026-27 school year to fully implement a 35-second shot clock in Illinois.