The 2026 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Boys and Girls Basketball Playoffs schedule has been released!  We will be keeping the scores updated during the playoffs. 

You can check out the bracket from the link below.  Go to EVENTS link from above, which will update as the games are played.

We have a question from a fellow NCOA official this week about elbows...well swinging elbows that is.

He writes, " I have a question about excessive arm swinging.  If a player is swinging their elbows but haven't made contact with a defender in the area, what do you do?   The rules say even without contact it's a penalty."  

Let's go to the rulebook.  In the very last section of Rule 9 Violations and Penalties we find the relevant rule:

Rule 9 Section 13 Article 1 says, "A player shall not excessively swing a player's arms(s) or elbow(s), even without contacting an opponent."  (Did we just find a typo in the Rules Book?!  The word "arms(s)" seems excessive in its plurality.  Don't worry, we already shot off an e-mail to NFHS Rules Book editorial staff writers.  Your crack writing staff at the Rules Gazette is making big waves. This is the only instance of that error in the Rules Book, we checked.)

The difficulty with this rule is that "excessively" seems to be subjective.  That is, like with beauty, some folks might disagree on it.  Thankfully, the Rules Book clarifies it for us in Article 3 of the same Rule.  Rule 9-13-3 says, "Action of arm(s) and elbow(s) resulting from total body movements as in pivoting or movement of the ball incidental to feinting with it, releasing it, or moving it to prevent a held ball or loss of control shall not be considered excessive."  

Okay so that doesn't help that much.  Feinting means what most people would call a ball fake.  

Some real help with defining excessive comes from a different part of the Rule Book Rule 4 Definitions:

Rule 4-24-8

"It is not legal to swing arms and elbows excessively.  This occurs when: a. Arms and elbows are swung about while using the shoulders as pivot, and the speed of the extended arms and elbows is in excess of the rest of the body as it rotates on the hips or on the pivot foot. b. The aggressiveness with which the arms and elbows are swung could cause injury to another player if contacted.  Using this description as a basis, an official will promptly and unhesitatingly rule such action with arms and elbows a violation."  

There it is.  If you see a player swinging arm(s) and elbow(s) in excess, call a violation and resume play with the opposing teams throw in at one of the four desginated spots closest to where the violation occured.

Here are a few of NFHS Case Book plays for you to consider regarding these excessively swung elbows: 
"9.13.1 SITUATION A: The ball has been released on a try or tap for field goal by A1 towards A's basket: (a) A2, or (b) B1, excessively swings arm(s) or elbow(s) without contacting an opponent. The ball goes through the basket. RULING: In (a), the official will sound the whistle immediately for a violation. The ball is dead, the goal is not scored and Team B is awarded a throw-in at the spot closest to the violation. In (b), the ball is dead when the try ends. The goal is scored and Team A is awarded a throw-in at one of the four designated throw-in spots based on the location of the violation relative to the three-point line. (6-7-9 Exception d, 7-5-3a)
9.13.1 SITUATION B: A1 is trapped in the corner by B1 and B2 in Team A's backcourt, who are in legal guarding position. In an attempt to create space, A1 rapidly swings arms/elbows while using the shoulders as pivots (a) without making contact; (b) making contact with an opponent above the shoulders and elbows are moving faster than the body. RULING: In (a), A1 excessively swinging arms/elbows without contacting the opponent is a violation. Team B is awarded a throw-in at one of the four designated spots based on the location of the violation relative to the three-point line. In (b), this is considered an intentional foul. COMMENT: In (a), Team B will gain possession in its frontcourt and therefore inbound the ball from one of the four designated spots based on the location of the violation relative to the three-point line.

Rules Gazette Staff Writers,

James Frazee

Hey Partner,

First, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

We’ve got a controversy today.

An official recently asked, “So the ball goes through the net and makes the net go up around the rim. My partner was on the baseline and the other team inbounds the ball and goes down court. We come back down court and the net is still stuck. Do we blow the whistle and fix it or play on?”

Another official raised a similar question: “On a three point shot the ball makes the net swing up around the rim, what should we do? In training they told me not to stop play because someone's shoe gets untied, so is it the same?"

Many of us were “trained” by excellent officials—people we respect—who taught us not to stop play, arguing that it gives the defense an unfair chance to set up a press. But the Rules Gazette isn’t here to repeat training mantras. Let’s go to the NFHS 2025–2026 Basketball Rules Book.

And here’s the surprise: there is nothing in the rule book that directly addresses a net getting stuck on the rim.

There are specifications about nets. Rule 1-10-1 states, “Art 1...and a white-cord 12-mesh net, 15-18 inches in length, suspended from beneath the ring.” Rule 1-10-3 adds, “Art. 3...The cord of the net shall be not less than 120-thread nor more than 144-thread twine, or plastic material of comparable dimensions with no additional extensions. It shall be constructed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through.”

Helpful? Not really. And no official we know is counting net threads during pregame—if you are, you’re probably missing something else more important.

Appendix A, Duties of Game Management (1-C), mentions “basket nets that are either ragged or tight so as to cause delays.” This section places responsibility on game management, not officials, to maintain proper playing conditions.

Still, regardless of how you handle it during the game, this should be noted in the game report so school officials understand that it causes delays and needs correction.

Since there is no rule—or even a case play—covering a net stuck on the rim, Rule 2-3 (Referee’s Authority) applies: “The referee shall make decisions on any points not specifically covered in the rules.”

During tournament season, we surveyed officials across Sacramento and found no consensus. Some argued play should be stopped because the stuck net can affect shots. Others were just as firm that there is no safety concern and stopping play unfairly benefits the defense. One suggestion (namely mine)—to fix it while running up court by just jumping up and grabing it—was universally rejected.

If you’re looking for a definitive answer, we don’t have one—and that’s part of the beauty of officiating this game. Judgment matters.

Our recommendation: discuss this situation in pregame and agree on a crew-wide approach so everyone is on the same page.

Good luck out there, and see you next year.

The Rules Gazette Staff Writer,
James Frazee, Ph.D.

and

Special Rules Consultant
Dylan Koury

P.S. Thanks to the many members of our association—and at least one from another—who contributed to these discussions. Your passion is evident, and your work is what makes Sacramento the best place to referee basketball.

Hey there partner,

You may have already had your first game this season or maybe it's coming up soon, but the questions are already flying in!  This week's questions were mostly about free throws as such we brought in an additional rules expert to the staff to help us sort it all out properly.  Please, welcome Dylan Koury to the team.  He has an encylopedic knowledge of the rules, and we are blessed to have his expertise, so let's get started.    

Free throw Question # 1:  "A1 is fouled by B1 and both teams are in the bonus.  Before the administration of the free throw, A1 receives their second technical foul and is ejected from the game.  We let the sub for A1 shoot the free throws and then we had team B shoot the tech free throws and then team B got the ball at half court.  Did we get it right?"

Spoiler alert:  You nailed it!  First off, what a great question!?  Secondly, this must have had a very interesting game.  Let's go to the rule book to find the justification for the answer.  There is an entire rule on just free throws (Rule 8) and in the second section we find our answer.  Rule 8-2 states:  "The free throw(s) awarded because of a personal foul shall be attempted by the offended player.  If such player shall withdraw because of an injury or disqualification, the offended player's substitute shall attempt the throw(s) unless no substitute is available, in which case any teammate may attempt the throw(s) as selected by the team captain or head coach."

Great job officiating that one partner!

Rule 8-6-2 helps us to know what to do on resumption of play procedure.  It says, "if there is a multiple throw and both a single personal  and single technical are involved, the tries shall be attempted in the order in which the related fouls occurred, and if the last try is for a signle technical foul...the ball shall be put in play by a throw-in."

Your crew was two for two!  

Free throw Question # 2:  "If a violation occurs on team A while team A is shooting (a free throw) and makes it (the free throw), does it count?"

While you might be tempted to look in that same rule about free throws for the answer to this one, the question is really about a violation during a free throw.  That helps us to locate the answer in the rule on Violations and Penalities, Rule 9.  

Rule 9-1 Penalties: (Section 1): "If the first or only violation is by the free thrower or a teammate, the ball becomes dead when the violation occurs, and no point can be scored by that throw."

How should you adjudicate this play?  You should signal the violation by your whistle and placing a hand in the air indicating violation.   Additionally, following your violation signal, wipe the shot off to indicate to the scorebook and both teams that the free throw was not awarded as a result of the violation.  It might be a good idea to check the scoreboard and ensure the teenager with air pods in running the scoreboard didn't inadvertently give them one more point.

Now it's your turn Rules Gazette fans to answer an interesting scenario from a game last night:

Bonus extra credit free throw scenario:

"I was the lead official during the last free throw attempt for Team A attempting a free throw.  After the ball was at the disposal of the thrower I watched B1 step into the lane prior to the release of the ball.  I marked this violation with a delay violation signal to my partner.  Before the try was attempted, A2 who was standing above the 3 point arc stepped into the space below the arc.  My partner blew his whistle.  What should he have done in this scenario?"

Please use the NFHS Rules Book to justify how you would handle this particular situation.  What would you have done?  Publish your answer in the comments.  

Rules Gazette Staff Writers,

James Frazee

Dylan Koury