How do I track team fouls and the bonus?
Rule- USA
- NFHS
- High school
- Grades 9-12
- Varsity
- NFHS rules
- 2026-27 season
- Scorekeepers
- Count team fouls by quarter. They reset to zero at the end of the first, second and third quarters. Fourth-quarter fouls carry into overtime, because overtime is an extension of the fourth quarter.
- Personal, technical and intentional fouls all count toward the team total.
- From the opponent's fifth team foul in a quarter, the team is in the bonus: two free throws for every common foul except a player-control (or team-control) foul. There is no one-and-one.
- Display the bonus indicator (for example "H" for home or "V" for visitor) after the penalty for the fourth team foul has been administered, so the officials know the next common foul is a bonus foul. Another method is a light or device nearest the basket of the team that will receive the bonus.
- Notify the nearer official when the bonus comes into effect.
Track each player's fouls too. When there is more than one scorer, exchange the name and number of the player charged and that player's foul total each time.
Updated 21 Oct 2026