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A new season brings new change heading into the 2023-24 basketball season. We highlight new changes that are taking place that include rule changes, a team changing district and new teams heading into their maiden journey as a UIL program, along with small details that involve officials that you may not notice when you head to a basketball game this season.
- The “one-and-one” foul situation is gone.
The game will have a faster pace with the elimination of the “one-and-one” foul situation for teams who are in a bonus situation. The team foul count to award teams to be in a bonus situation will not change, but teams that are on seven fouls in the half will be awarded two free throws. There is no change to the double-bonus situation.
- Teams changing districts
Haltom City is the only team that will change district heading into the new season. Completing in a tough 4-6A district with Southlake Carroll and Keller, the Lady Buffs join Arlington ISD along with Grand Prairie and South Grand Prairie to complete the now, eight-team district.
- New teams joining UIL play
New programs join the fray of UIL play as their maiden voyage of an established UIL program begins this coming season.
Walnut Grove has opened its doors, joining 10-5A and is already receiving lots of buzz with their arena and campus setup.
Two charter schools in El Paso will be joining UIL play with Harmony school of Innovation joining 1-4A and Young Women’s Leadership Academy being a part of 2-4A entering the new season. New Caney West Fork is also the latest addition in the Houston area and will compete in a district with Hardin-Jefferson in 20-4A.
A new Lubbock-Cooper school opened its doors for the first time as Liberty High School will join perennial powers Shallowater and Idalou in 2-3A play for its maiden season.
- New officials guidelines
We’ve seen a fair-share of mistakes made by officials and many have vocalized their mistakes in some way or form.
A new rule passed by the NFHS back in May allows officials to correct a mistake involving a throw-in before the first dead ball after the ball becomes live, unless their is a change of possession during play. This new rule allows reasonable time for officials to correct their mistakes during games.
New throw-in spots have also been established to improve the flow of the game, which include the 28-foot mark along each sideline or the nearest spot three feet outside the lane on the end line. This new change has been made to simplify the throw-in procedure when a team gains/retains possession or when the ball lands out of play.
