What is considered a personal foul in high school basketball?

A personal foul in high school basketball is defined as illegal physical contact with an opposing player. This can encompass a variety of actions, including pushing, holding, blocking, or hitting another player during play. The purpose of identifying and penalizing personal fouls is to maintain fair play and ensure the safety of all participants on the court. When a player commits a personal foul, it often results in free throws for the opposing team, particularly if the foul occurs during a shooting attempt or if the fouled team is in the bonus situation.

The other options listed do not fall under the category of personal fouls. For instance, a traveling violation pertains to a player moving with the basketball without properly dribbling it, which is a rules infraction but not a personal foul. Exceeding the shot clock involves not getting a shot off within the allotted time and is also a rules violation but does not involve contact between players. Dribbling the ball out of bounds is related to ball possession and control and is not classified as a personal foul.