For the upcoming basketball season, high school basketball coaches will be awarded more freedom on the sideline.

Upon recommendations from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa High School Athletic Association Advisory Committees, with support of the IGHSAU Board of Directors and contingent upon approval from the IHSAA Board of Control and the Joint Committee this week, the head basketball coach will be allowed to stand within the designated coaches box. This rule would take the place of the “seatbelt rule” as it was referred to by most coaches, that required coaches to remain seated for the most part during game play.

This rule change affects all levels of basketball from seventh grade through varsity. The first technical foul charged directly or indirectly to the head coach results in a loss of coaching box privileges, requiring the head coach to remain seated for the duration of the game. The coaching box will be designated on the floor. The coaches box will measure 14 feet long and is placed in the middle of the 42 feet on their teams side of the court.