NFHS Basketball Rules | National Federation
of State High School Associations
Section I: General Rules & Definitions (Questions 1–25)
1. A1 ends a dribble by landing on both feet simultaneously (a jump stop), then
lifts the right foot to shoot. Under NFHS traveling rules, this is:
A. Traveling — once either foot leaves the floor, it is a violation
B. Legal — after a simultaneous two-foot landing, either foot may serve as
the pivot, and the non-pivot foot may be lifted to attempt a shot or make a throw
C. Legal only if the left foot remains planted as the pivot
D. Traveling unless A1 releases the ball before lifting any foot
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-44, a player who catches the ball while
landing simultaneously on both feet may pivot with either foot. The player may
lift the non-pivot foot to shoot or throw, but traveling occurs only if the pivot foot
is lifted and returned to the floor before the ball is released.
2. A1 picks up his dribble, places the ball on the floor, and then begins dribbling
the same ball again. The correct ruling is:
A. An illegal dribble (double dribble) violation — the dribble ended when
he caught or held the ball, so dribbling again is a violation
B. A technical foul for delay of game
C. A traveling violation rather than a dribble violation
D. Legal play because the ball touched the floor between dribbles
Rationale: A dribble ends when the ball comes to rest in one or both
hands or when the player otherwise terminates control of the dribble. Beginning
a second dribble after the first has legally ended is the illegal dribble violation of
Rule 9-5, and the ball is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in nearby.
3. Which of the following is true regarding contact with the ball by the leg or foot
in NFHS basketball?
,A. Accidentally striking the ball with the foot or leg is legal; intentionally
kicking it is a violation
B. Any contact with the foot is always a violation
C. Kicking the ball is legal on defense but not on offense
D. Only punching the ball with a fist is illegal
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-29, accidentally striking the ball with the
foot or leg is not a violation. Intentionally kicking the ball is a violation, and the
ball is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at the spot of the violation.
4. A player shall not, while closely guarded in his/her frontcourt:
A. Hold the ball for five seconds
B. Dribble the ball for five seconds
C. Combine holding and dribbling the ball for five seconds
D. All of the above
Rationale: NFHS Rule 9-10-1 states that a player shall not, while closely
guarded in his/her frontcourt, hold the ball for five seconds or dribble the ball for
five seconds. The count begins when the player is closely guarded (within six feet)
in the frontcourt.
5. The ball is dead, or remains dead, in all of the following situations EXCEPT:
A. When a goal is made
B. When a held ball occurs
C. When a free throw violation occurs by the throwing team
D. When time expires while A1's try is in flight
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 5-1-1, when time expires while a try is in
flight, the ball remains live until the try ends (makes or misses). The other options
all result in a dead ball.
,6. A situation in which there are fouls by both teams, the second of which occurs
before the clock is started following the first, and such that at least one of the
attributes of a double foul is absent, is known as:
A. A multiple foul
B. A double foul
C. A simultaneous foul
D. A false double foul
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-19-9 defines a false double foul as a situation
where there are fouls by both teams, the second of which occurs before the clock
is started following the first, and at least one of the attributes of a double foul is
absent.
7. If play is started by a jump ball, the clock shall start when the tossed ball is:
A. Touched
B. Legally touched
C. Strikes the floor
D. All of the above
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 5-9-1, the game clock shall start when the ball
is legally touched by a player on the court after the jump ball toss.
8. When a player catches the ball with both feet on the floor and one foot is
lifted:
A. The other foot is the pivot foot
B. Either foot may be the pivot foot
C. Neither foot may be the pivot foot
D. None of the above
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-44-2 states that when a player catches the ball
with both feet on the floor and one foot is lifted, the other foot becomes the
pivot foot.
, 9. A ball is at the disposal of a player in all of the following situations EXCEPT:
A. Handed to a thrower or free thrower
B. Caught by a player after it is bounced to him/her
C. Placed on the floor at the spot
D. Available to a player after a goal and the official begins the throw-in count
E. All are considered at the disposal of the player
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-4-7 defines all four scenarios as situations where
the ball is at the disposal of a player. Therefore, all options are correct.
10. Depending on the location of the throw-in, except outside the end line after a
successful goal, the official shall:
A. Hand the ball to the thrower
B. Toss the ball to the thrower
C. Bounce the ball to the thrower
D. Both A and C
Rationale: NFHS Rule 7-5-1 specifies that the official shall hand the ball to
the thrower on most throw-ins. Behind the end line after a goal, the ball may be
bounced or tossed.
11. To establish the alternating possession procedure, control may be gained as a
result of a violation or foul.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-3-1, alternating-possession control is
established when a player secures control of the ball, including after a violation or
foul that results in a throw-in.
of State High School Associations
Section I: General Rules & Definitions (Questions 1–25)
1. A1 ends a dribble by landing on both feet simultaneously (a jump stop), then
lifts the right foot to shoot. Under NFHS traveling rules, this is:
A. Traveling — once either foot leaves the floor, it is a violation
B. Legal — after a simultaneous two-foot landing, either foot may serve as
the pivot, and the non-pivot foot may be lifted to attempt a shot or make a throw
C. Legal only if the left foot remains planted as the pivot
D. Traveling unless A1 releases the ball before lifting any foot
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-44, a player who catches the ball while
landing simultaneously on both feet may pivot with either foot. The player may
lift the non-pivot foot to shoot or throw, but traveling occurs only if the pivot foot
is lifted and returned to the floor before the ball is released.
2. A1 picks up his dribble, places the ball on the floor, and then begins dribbling
the same ball again. The correct ruling is:
A. An illegal dribble (double dribble) violation — the dribble ended when
he caught or held the ball, so dribbling again is a violation
B. A technical foul for delay of game
C. A traveling violation rather than a dribble violation
D. Legal play because the ball touched the floor between dribbles
Rationale: A dribble ends when the ball comes to rest in one or both
hands or when the player otherwise terminates control of the dribble. Beginning
a second dribble after the first has legally ended is the illegal dribble violation of
Rule 9-5, and the ball is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in nearby.
3. Which of the following is true regarding contact with the ball by the leg or foot
in NFHS basketball?
,A. Accidentally striking the ball with the foot or leg is legal; intentionally
kicking it is a violation
B. Any contact with the foot is always a violation
C. Kicking the ball is legal on defense but not on offense
D. Only punching the ball with a fist is illegal
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-29, accidentally striking the ball with the
foot or leg is not a violation. Intentionally kicking the ball is a violation, and the
ball is awarded to the opponents for a throw-in at the spot of the violation.
4. A player shall not, while closely guarded in his/her frontcourt:
A. Hold the ball for five seconds
B. Dribble the ball for five seconds
C. Combine holding and dribbling the ball for five seconds
D. All of the above
Rationale: NFHS Rule 9-10-1 states that a player shall not, while closely
guarded in his/her frontcourt, hold the ball for five seconds or dribble the ball for
five seconds. The count begins when the player is closely guarded (within six feet)
in the frontcourt.
5. The ball is dead, or remains dead, in all of the following situations EXCEPT:
A. When a goal is made
B. When a held ball occurs
C. When a free throw violation occurs by the throwing team
D. When time expires while A1's try is in flight
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 5-1-1, when time expires while a try is in
flight, the ball remains live until the try ends (makes or misses). The other options
all result in a dead ball.
,6. A situation in which there are fouls by both teams, the second of which occurs
before the clock is started following the first, and such that at least one of the
attributes of a double foul is absent, is known as:
A. A multiple foul
B. A double foul
C. A simultaneous foul
D. A false double foul
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-19-9 defines a false double foul as a situation
where there are fouls by both teams, the second of which occurs before the clock
is started following the first, and at least one of the attributes of a double foul is
absent.
7. If play is started by a jump ball, the clock shall start when the tossed ball is:
A. Touched
B. Legally touched
C. Strikes the floor
D. All of the above
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 5-9-1, the game clock shall start when the ball
is legally touched by a player on the court after the jump ball toss.
8. When a player catches the ball with both feet on the floor and one foot is
lifted:
A. The other foot is the pivot foot
B. Either foot may be the pivot foot
C. Neither foot may be the pivot foot
D. None of the above
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-44-2 states that when a player catches the ball
with both feet on the floor and one foot is lifted, the other foot becomes the
pivot foot.
, 9. A ball is at the disposal of a player in all of the following situations EXCEPT:
A. Handed to a thrower or free thrower
B. Caught by a player after it is bounced to him/her
C. Placed on the floor at the spot
D. Available to a player after a goal and the official begins the throw-in count
E. All are considered at the disposal of the player
Rationale: NFHS Rule 4-4-7 defines all four scenarios as situations where
the ball is at the disposal of a player. Therefore, all options are correct.
10. Depending on the location of the throw-in, except outside the end line after a
successful goal, the official shall:
A. Hand the ball to the thrower
B. Toss the ball to the thrower
C. Bounce the ball to the thrower
D. Both A and C
Rationale: NFHS Rule 7-5-1 specifies that the official shall hand the ball to
the thrower on most throw-ins. Behind the end line after a goal, the ball may be
bounced or tossed.
11. To establish the alternating possession procedure, control may be gained as a
result of a violation or foul.
A. True
B. False
Rationale: Under NFHS Rule 4-3-1, alternating-possession control is
established when a player secures control of the ball, including after a violation or
foul that results in a throw-in.
