Independent basketball rules & officiating desk

Reset on a free throw

By Dennis Morris · Originally published December 17, 2014 · Reviewed August 2026

Check the current rules. Rule references here reflect the rulebook in force when this was written. Always confirm against the current NFHS rules and your state association’s published interpretations.

While shooting a foul shot, and the ball already being administered to the shooter, the table has blown the horn before the shot, disrupting the game, and the rhythm of the shooter. How should this situation be handled? The intent of the rule is not to penalize a FT shooter for an errant horn. 4-36-2-b would support the notion that you get the issue cleared up at the scorer’s table and then re-administer the entitled FT.

Note: I would NOT allow a sub to enter if that is the reason for the horn. I believe common sense would also support this interpretation of a “re-set.”

Dennis Morris

Wrote this page for the Ohio basketball officiating resource that ran on this domain, published 2014. The credit is preserved as it appeared and describes their role at the time of writing, not a current relationship with this site. Contributors

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