When do I need to get an official's attention?
Rule- USA
- NFHS
- High school
- Grades 9-12
- Varsity
- NFHS rules
- 2026-27 season
- Scorekeepers
Notify the nearer official when:
- A team reaches the bonus (the opponent's fifth team foul in the quarter).
- Any player is charged with a fifth foul (personal and technical combined).
- Any team member or bench personnel gets a second technical foul, the head coach gets a second direct technical, or the head coach gets a third technical of any kind.
- A team has been granted all its allotted timeouts, or an excess timeout.
- The ball is dead, or in control of the offending team, and a player hasn't reported, has changed number, or is illegally in the game.
- The ball is dead and there's a score dispute or doubt about an official's decision.
- A player enters wearing an illegal number.
- The ball is dead (clock stopped or running) and a coach asks for a correctable error, or a timing, scoring or alternating-possession mistake, to be fixed.
If you have any doubt about a call, signal as soon as conditions permit so the official can verify it.
Added 21 Oct 2026