Four rule changes approved for 2014-15 basketball season

Players in marked lane spaces will be able to move into the lane when the ball is released by the free-throw shooter instead of waiting until the ball touches the rim or backboard under a prep basketball rule change approved for the 2014-15 season by the National Federation of State High School Assns.

In an effort to eliminate excessive contact on ball handlers outside the lane area, the following acts will constitute a foul: Placing two hands on the player; placing an extended arm bar on the player; placing and keeping a hand on the player; contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands.

The rules committee also expanded the definition of an intentional foul, which now states that an intentional foul is “excessive contact with an opponent while the ball is live or until an airbone shooter returns to the floor.”

Another rule change involves anything worn on the arm and/or leg as a sleeve, except a knee brace. The items, including tights, will be permitted but must meet the color and logo restrictions in Rule 3-5-3. Previously, the rule permitted only arm sleeves and leg-compression sleeves.

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