As written in the 2025-26 NFHS Basketball Rules Book:
A player shall not travel with the ball, as in Rule 4-44, intentionally kick it, as in Rule 4-29, strike it with the fist or cause it to enter and pass through the basket from below.
NOTE: Kicking the ball is a violation only when it is an intentional act; accidentally striking the ball with the foot or leg is not a violation.
PENALTIES: The ball is dead when the violation occurs.
- When the opponent is awarded team control in its frontcourt, the throw-in will be at one of the four designated spots based on the location of the violation relative to the three-point line where the violation occurred. (Diagram 5)
- When the opponent is awarded team control in its backcourt, the throw-in will be from the designated out-of-bounds spot based on the location of the violation relative to the three-point line where the violation occurred.
9-2-12 & 9-3-4 (NEW): This rule change addresses situations where a thrower purposely and/or deceitfully delays returning inbounds after legally stepping out of bounds and then becomes the first player to touch the ball upon re-entering the court. Previously penalized as a technical foul, this action is now treated as a violation, aligning it with similar out-of-bounds scenarios. The change reduces the severity of the penalty to encourage more consistent enforcement by officials and prevents players from gaining an unfair advantage through deceptive re-entry tactics.
Rationale: This change lessens the penalty for players who delay their return after being out of bounds, shifting the penalty from a technical foul to a less severe violation. This rule aligns with the penalty structure of similar violations, such as Rule 9-3-3 (where a player steps out of bounds on their own volition). The change is intended to make it easier for officials to recognize and penalize these actions consistently while reducing the severity of the penalty, encouraging more accurate enforcement.