Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and high school basketball is no exception. With millions of high school students participating in the sport, it’s important to understand the rules and regulations that are in place to ensure the game is played safely and fairly. One of these rules is the length of the game’s periods. The length of the periods can vary between different levels of play and even between different states.
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Rules
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the governing body for high school athletics in the United States and sets the rules for high school basketball. According to NFHS rules, high school basketball games are played in four eight-minute periods. Each team is allowed two timeouts per half, plus one additional timeout if the game goes into overtime. The clock is stopped during the last two minutes of each half, unless there is a foul or a timeout called.
State Rules
Although the NFHS sets the general rules for high school basketball, some states have their own rules as well. For example, in California, high school basketball games are played in four eight-minute quarters instead of four eight-minute periods. In Texas, the periods are 10 minutes instead of eight minutes. Additionally, some states may allow more timeouts or allow the clock to be stopped during the last two minutes of the game.
Youth League Rules
Youth leagues may also have different rules for the length of the periods. In many cases, the length of the periods will depend on the age of the participants. For example, in a youth basketball league for children ages 9-10, the periods may only be six minutes long. For older children, the periods may be eight minutes long.
Middle School Rules
In most cases, middle school basketball games are played in four eight-minute periods, just like high school. However, some middle schools may have different rules, such as playing in four six-minute periods or playing in two 16-minute halves.
Overtime
If a high school basketball game is tied at the end of the fourth period, the game will go into overtime. In high school, overtime periods are four minutes long. However, in some states, overtime periods may be two minutes long. Additionally, some states may allow for multiple overtime periods until a winner is determined.
Conclusion
High school basketball games are typically played in four eight-minute periods. However, some states may have different rules, such as playing in four quarters or 10-minute periods. Additionally, youth leagues and middle school games may have different rules as well. If a high school basketball game is tied at the end of the fourth period, the game will go into overtime. In most cases, the overtime period is four minutes long, though some states may have different rules.