National – NFHS (High School)

• NFHS = National Federation of State High School Associations.
• Publishes the official 2025–26 Basketball Rules Book, annual rule changes, and interpretations.
• Most high school games in the U.S. follow NFHS rules unless changed by a state association.

State – Maryland (MPSSAA)

• MPSSAA = Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
• Maryland public high schools must follow MPSSAA regulations, which adopt NFHS basketball rules.
• MPSSAA may add details on eligibility, playoffs, shot clock, and game administration.

Local – Montgomery County & CYO

• Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Rec leagues: “NFHS rules apply unless modified by local rules.”
• Local Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) leagues also use NFHS as a base, with their own game-length and mercy-rule details.
• Always check your specific league’s rule sheet for small but important differences.

Traveling: Steps, Pivot Foot & Jump Stop

Traveling is moving illegally with the ball. To understand it, you must know when the pivot foot is established and how many steps are allowed after catching the ball or ending the dribble.

Establishing the Pivot Foot

• Catching while standing still: One foot becomes the pivot foot when you lift the other and keep the first down.
• Catching while moving: The first foot to hit the floor after you gain control usually becomes the pivot.
• You may pivot on the pivot foot (spin or turn) as long as it stays on the floor.

Two Steps After a Gather

• After gathering the ball on a drive, you are allowed a two-step sequence to stop or go into a layup.
• If you take an extra step beyond that (or change your pivot illegally), it’s traveling.

Jump Stop

• Jump stop: Player gathers the ball, jumps off one foot, and lands on two feet simultaneously.
• After a legal two-foot jump stop, either foot can become the pivot, or you can go straight up into a shot or pass.
• It’s a violation if you land one foot, then the other (not truly simultaneous), then step again.

Common Traveling Scenarios

• Legal: Catch on the move, gather, step right (1), step left (2), go up for a layup.
• Travel: Catch, step right (1), step left (2), then hop again before shooting.
• Legal pivot: Catch, establish left foot as pivot, step around with right while left stays planted.
• Travel: Lift pivot foot then put it back down before passing or shooting.

Film – Traveling, Steps, Pivot & Jump Stop

• Traveling
• Why The James Harden Step Back Isn't Traveling
• Hight School vs College

Double Dribble & Illegal Dribble

Double dribble covers starting and stopping a dribble illegally, or using both hands at once.

• You may start a dribble one time after catching the ball.
• Once you pick up the dribble (both hands on the ball), you must pass or shoot.
• Double dribble: Dribble → stop → dribble again.
• Illegal dribble: Dribbling with two hands at the same time, or palming/carrying the ball.
• Not a double: If you fumble the ball (never fully controlled it) and then regain and dribble, that is usually legal.

Film – Double Dribble Examples

• The Double Dribble Rule in Basketball

Backcourt Violations

Backcourt rules deal with how and when a team must bring the ball into the frontcourt and what happens if they go back over the line.

• 10-second rule: The offense has a limited time (often 10 seconds in NFHS) to advance from backcourt to frontcourt.
• Team control in frontcourt: Once the ball and both feet of the ball handler are over the midcourt line, the team is in frontcourt.
• Over-and-back: After establishing frontcourt control, the offense cannot be the last to touch the ball in frontcourt and the first to touch it in the backcourt.
• Deflection exception: If the defense deflects the ball into the backcourt, the offense can recover it without a violation.
• Thrown pass exception: If a pass goes off a defender or is tipped into the backcourt by the defense, there is no over-and-back.

Film – Backcourt & Over-and-Back

• Backcourt & Over-and-Back Film

Time & Lane Violations

• 3-second violation (offense): An offensive player cannot remain in the lane (paint) for more than 3 consecutive seconds while their team controls the ball in the frontcourt.
• 5-second closely guarded: A ball handler in the frontcourt who is closely guarded must pass, shoot, or dribble within 5 seconds (as defined by NFHS).
• 5-second throw-in: The inbounder must release the ball within 5 seconds once the official hands them the ball.
• 10-second backcourt: As above, the offense has 10 seconds to bring the ball into the frontcourt (where applicable).

Inbounding – Proper & Improper

Inbounding rules focus on where the inbounder’s feet are, where the ball can go, and how quickly it must be released.

• Inbounder must stay out of bounds and cannot step on the line until after releasing the ball.
• Ball must be passed onto the court; the inbounder may not dribble from out of bounds.
• Teammates cannot grab the ball while still out of bounds unless the rules explicitly allow it on made baskets (baseline running privileges).
• On most violations (travel, double dribble, etc.), the inbound spot is near where the violation occurred.
• If the inbounder moves illegally (when not allowed) or fails to release in 5 seconds, it is a throw-in violation and the other team gets the ball.

Timeouts

• Teams receive a set number of timeouts per game (number and length depend on league rules).
• Timeouts are used to draw up plays, stop momentum, or manage fatigue and substitutions.
• Only certain people can request a timeout (typically the ball handler or head coach) and must follow NFHS/local procedures.

Shot Clock (Maryland)

• MPSSAA competitions use a shot clock in high school games.
• Rules cover when the shot clock starts, resets, and how to handle malfunctions.
• Youth / rec / CYO leagues may or may not use a shot clock; always check your league sheet.

Mercy Rule / Running Clock

• Many Maryland leagues use a running clock once a team leads by a certain margin (for example 30–35 points).
• Running clock usually stops only for timeouts, injuries, or official time-outs.
• Details are defined in each league’s written rules or county bulletin.