High school football and girls basketball coaches in Brandon and Goodrich will have to get used to a couple of new rules this season.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) adopted two changes of note in girls basketball and one in football for the 2003-04 season. One significant change is the return of the point differential rule to girls basketball after a one-year absence.
Under the MHSAA rules, after the differential reaches 40 points in the second half, the clock will continue to run until the differential falls below 30 points. The clock is allowed to stop for timeouts, injuries, the end of the period, and free throws shot in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
According to MHSAA Communications Director John Johnson, Michigan and Missouri high schools were chosen for a three-year experiment (ending with the 2001-02 season) with a point differential rule, in which the running clock begins once a certain point differential had been reached anytime after the second half.
After the trial period expired, the Michigan and Missouri state high school athletic associations recommended to the National Federation of High School Associations (an umbrella organization for state high school athletic associations as far as rules are concerned) that each state adopt a point differential rule.
The proposal passed the federation’s basketball committee, but was turned down by its board of directors. ‘There was concern about too many rules being adopted by state athletic associations (instead of from the NFHSA),? Johnson said.
However, several blowouts last season, most notably one in a Michigan district playoff game between Walkerville and Lakeshore Academy in November, persuaded the NFHSA to adopt the provision giving state associations the option to use a point differential rule.
Brandon varsity girls basketball coach Bryan Ray said that rule change will affect smaller schools more than his team. He also said he looks at his team’s own talent level each season when putting together the Blackhawks? schedule.
‘Hopefully, it never has to be used,? he said. ‘We try to get a realistic assessment of our team when scheduling, and try to schedule schools that are a little ahead of us or even with us.?
The other change of note in girls basketball states the number of players along the free throw lane during free throws will be limited to four defensive players and two offensive players (plus the shooter), with the spots closest to the shooter remaining vacant.
Ray said that change will be something the Blackhawks will have to get used to.
‘In the past, you couldn’t come into the lane until the shot hit the rim,? he said. ‘They (the MHSAA) feel it will tip the scales back to the defensive side of basketball.?
In football, the MHSAA has amended a change made last season, in which penalties assessed against the defensive team during a point-after attempt would be assessed during the kickoff.
The rule has been expanded to include touchdowns and field goals. A defensive penalty on a touchdown play would be enforced on the point-after attempt, while a penalty on a successful field-goal attempt would be enforced on the ensuing kickoff.