INDIANAPOLIS---As practice begins for the 2004-05 basketball season, NCAA coaches and student-athletes will be adjusting to new playing rules.  The most significant of the new rules deals with the use of the courtside television monitor and 10th-of-a-second game clock.

When officials are required to view the monitor before making a final ruling, the determining factor as to whether the ball was released before time expired shall be when the game clock shows 0:00, provided that the game clock is visible on the monitor.  This rule change clarifies game-ending situations.

The use of the reading of 0:00 on the game clock factors out the time lag that occurs when this reading sends an impulse that triggers the mechanisms in the light and the horn.  When the game clock shows 0:00 before the shot leaves the shooter’s hand, the period has ended and the shot shall not count. 

When the clock is not visible, the red or LED light shall be the determining factor, then the sounding of the horn.  If definitive information is not available from the monitor, the original ruling that was based on a call using the red or LED lights and then the sounding of the horn shall stand.

Another addition in this area is that officials can now use the courtside television monitor to determine which player should shoot free throws, when necessary.

To enhance the flow of the game and prevent timeouts from being used in close proximity of each other when possible, electronic media timeouts shall be taken before the administration of free throw(s).  This situation could happen when a foul is committed that causes the ball to become dead after one of the specified time marks on the game clock in an electronic-media game.

A player that steps out of bounds of his or her own volition and then comes back inbounds and becomes the first person to touch the ball after returning to the court shall be charged with a violation rather than an indirect technical foul.  This means that the offended team will be awarded a throw-in, rather than a free throw.

All of the aforementioned rules are for both men’s and women’s basketball.

In certified events and preseason exhibitions, men’s basketball teams will be using experimental rules that could help shape the future of the game, including the use of a collegiate lane, extended three-point line and restricted-area arc.  There will be no experimental rules in the women’s game this year.

The extended three-point line, which is a total of 20 feet, six inches, is nine inches further from the basket than the current line used in NCAA play.  The “collegiate lane,” which was originated by the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee, is 1½ feet wider on either side but angled after the last lane space to preserve the current 12-foot width at the free-throw line (elbow).  Players will not be allowed in the first two lane spaces on each side of the lane to stand on the 12-inch neutral zone or block.

The restricted area arc is to be drawn 2 feet from the center of the basket ring.  An offensive player should not be charged with an offensive foul when a secondary defensive player has established position with one foot inside the restraining arc near the basket unless the defensive player is making a legitimate attempt to play defense and not attempting to draw a charge.

The complete lists of rules changes for men’s and women’s basketball are attached.  For questions about rules changes, please contact NCAA staff liaison, Heather Perry (hperry@ncaa.org or 317/917-6141).

To order rules books, please go to www.ncaa.org or call 888/388-9748.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MAJOR RULES CHANGES

Rule 1-6.2, 1-8.2 (BR-30 & 32)—Free-throw lane space marks and blocks and coaching box lines do not have to be a contrasting color of any other lines on the court as required previously. Rationale:  Allows schools more flexibility when painting courts.  

Rule 2-5.1.b and 2-5.6 (BR-40 & 42)—Officials shall be permitted to use a courtside television monitor when there is uncertainty as to who should shoot an awarded free throw. Rationale:  To get the call correct in these rare situations.  Since the ball is already dead, minimal time will be added to the game.

Rule 2-5.2, 5-7.2 (BR-41 & 96)—For games with a courtside television monitor and a 10th –of-a-second game clock, when officials are required by Rule 2-5.2 to view the monitor before making a final ruling, the determining factor as to whether the ball was released before time expired shall be when the game clock shows 0:00, provided that the game clock is visible on the monitor.  When the game clock shows 0:00 before the shot leaves the shooter’s hand, the period has ended and the shot shall not count.  When the clock is not visible, the red or LED light shall be the determining factor, then the sounding of the horn.  If definitive information is not available from the monitor, the original ruling that was based on a call using the red or LED lights and then the sounding of the horn shall stand. Rationale:  This clarifies game-ending situations.  Using the reading of 0.00, which indicates that the game has ended, factors out the time lag that occurs when this reading sends an impulse that triggers the mechanisms in the light and the horn.

Rule 2-12.13, 5-7 (BR-52 & 96)—For game- or period-ending last-second shots, the red light or LED lights (one of which is required for Division I), when present, shall be used as the indicator for the expiration of playing time.  This signal shall terminate player activity.  The sounding of the horn shall be used as a backup or when the red or LED lights are not available in Division II or III. Rationale:  Using the red light provides a consistent measure that terminates player activity.

Rule 2-13.7.e (BR-54)—For all double personal fouls, return ball to the team that had control at the time of the fouls at a designated spot without the reset of the shot clock. Rationale:  This administers all double personal fouls in a consistent manner because of the inclusion of double flagrant personal fouls and double intentional personal fouls.

Rule 3-4.7 (BR-59)—With 59.9 seconds remaining in the game, substitutions will only be allowed for a timeout, violation or foul. Rationale:  This eliminates all the other things that can happen to allow substitution, i.e. ball rolls under the bleachers and official blows whistle.

Rule 4-33 (BR-80 & 81)—The following definition for guarding shall be added:

Guarding shall be the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent.  The guarding position shall be initially established and then maintained in bounds on the playing court.  To maintain a legal guarding position after the initial position has been attained, the guard

1. is not required to continue having the torso face the opponent.

2. is required to have either one foot or both feet on the playing court (cannot be out of bounds).

Rule 4-42 (BR-84)—The following definition shall be added:  A jump stop is executed when a player catches the ball while moving or dribbling with

1. one foot on the playing court, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).

2. two feet off the playing court, lands on one foot, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).

3. may shift to maintain guarding position in the path of the dribbler, provided that the guard does not charge into the dribbler or otherwise cause contact as in Rules 2-21.2 and 10-21.3.

4. may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position provided such a move is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.

5. may raise the hands or may jump within his or her own vertical plane.

6. may turn or duck to absorb shock when contact by the dribbler is imminent.  In such a case, the dribbler shall not be absolved from the responsibility of the contact. 

A jump stop may also be executed when the dribbler has one foot on the playing court, initiates a jump off that foot while the dribble is in the air, ends the dribble with both feet off the playing court and lands simultaneously on both feet (either foot can be established as the pivot foot.

Rationale:  Adds clarity to a commonly misunderstood term.

Rule 5-10.6 (BR-103)—In games involving electronic media, when the foul is committed that causes the ball to become dead after one of the specified time marks on the game clock for an electronic-media timeout, that electronic-media timeout shall be taken, then the free throw(s) shall be taken after that electronic-media timeout.

Rationale:  Allows for better flow by requiring electronic media to use their timeouts at the specified marks and preventing timeouts from being used in close proximity of each other. 

Rule 7-5.11 (BR-117)—After any technical foul or double-technical foul, the ball will be put back into play at the point of interruption.  One exception to the rule is that for a single flagrant technical foul, the ball will be put back into play at half court.

Rationale:  Will help to create consistency for putting the ball back into play on technical fouls.

Rule 9-4.1, 10-3.16 (BR-128 & 139)—A player who steps out of bounds of her own volition and then comes back inbounds and becomes the first person to touch the ball after returning to the court shall be charged with a violation rather than an indirect technical foul.

Rationale: This places a more consistent penalty of the offended team being awarded a throw-in rather than free throws for this rules infraction.

Points of Emphasis—Displacement, as it relates to post play, the ball handler or dribbler, cutting, rebounding and screening will be emphasized during the upcoming season.  The principle of verticality will also be a point of emphasis for 2004-05.

Experimental Rules—There will be no rules experimented with for 2004-05.

2004-05 MEN’S BASKETBALL RULES CHANGES

Rule 1-6.2, 1-8.2 (BR-30 and 32)—Free-throw lane space marks and blocks and coaching box lines do not have to be a contrasting color of any other lines on the court as required previously.

Rationale: Allows schools more flexibility when painting courts.

Rule 2-5.1, 2-5.6 (BR-40, 42)—Officials shall be permitted to use a courtside television monitor, when there is uncertainty as to who should shoot an awarded free throw.

Rationale: To get the call correct in these rare situations. Since the ball is already dead, minimal time will be added to the game.

Rule 2-5.2 (BR-41)—For games with a courtside television monitor and a 10th-of-a-second game clock, when officials are required by Rule 2-5.2 to view the monitor before making a final ruling, the determining factor as to whether the ball was released before time expired shall be when the game clock shows 0:00, provided that the game clock is visible on the monitor. When the game clock shows 0:00 before the shot leaves the shooter’s hand, the period has ended and the shot shall not count. When the clock is not visible, the red or LED light shall be the determining factor, then the sounding of the horn. When definitive information is not available from the monitor, the original ruling that was based on a call using the red or LED lights and then the sounding of the horn shall stand.

 Rationale: This clarifies game-ending situations. Using the reading of 0:00, which indicates that the game has ended, factors out the time lag that occurs when this reading sends an impulse that triggers the mechanisms in the light and the horn.

Rule 2-12.13, 5-7.2 (BR-52)—For game- or period-ending last-second shots, the red light or LED lights (one of which is required for Division I), when present, shall be used as the indicator for the expiration of playing time. This signal shall terminate player activity. The sounding of the horn shall be used as a backup or when the red or LED lights are not available in Division II or III.

Rationale: Using the red light provides a consistent measure that terminates player activity.

Rule 2-13.7.e (BR-54)—For all double personal fouls, return ball to the team that had control at the time of the fouls at a designated spot without a reset of the shot clock.

Rationale: This administers all double personal fouls in a consistent manner because of the inclusion of double flagrant personal fouls and double intentional personal fouls.

Rule 4-33 (BR-80-81)— The following definition for guarding shall be added:

Guarding shall be the act of legally placing the body in the path of an offensive opponent. The guarding position shall be initially established and then maintained in bounds on the playing court.

To maintain a legal guarding position after the initial position has been attained, the guard

1. is not required to continue having the torso face the opponent.

2. is required to have either one foot or both feet on the playing court.

3. may raise the hands or may jump within his or her own vertical plane.

4. may shift to maintain guarding position in the path of the dribbler, provided that the guard does not charge into the dribbler or otherwise cause contact as in Rules 2-21.2 and 10-21.3.

5. may move laterally or obliquely to maintain position provided such a move is not toward the opponent when contact occurs.

6. may turn or duck to absorb shock when contact by the dribbler is imminent. In such a case, the dribbler shall not be absolved from the responsibility of the contact.

Rationale: The current rule does not describe how a player may maintain guarding position. The definition provides clarity.

Rule 4-42 (BR-84)—The following definition shall be added: A jump stop is executed when a player catches the ball while moving or dribbling with …

1. One foot on the playing court, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).

2. Two feet off the playing court, lands on one foot, jumps off that foot and lands simultaneously on both feet (no pivot foot).

A jump stop may also be executed when the dribbler has one foot on the playing court, initiates a jump off that foot while the dribble is in the air, ends the dribble with both feet off the playing court and lands simultaneously on both feet (either foot can be established as the pivot foot).

Rationale: Adds clarity to a commonly misunderstood term.

Rule 5-6.1 (BR-95)—For men’s NCAA championship tournament games, halftimes may be extended to 20 minutes in length for first- and second-round games and for all regional games.

Rationale: Previous rule permitted this only for regional finals and Final Four games. The change would allow consistency for the participant.

Rule 5-10.4 (BR-103)—The electronic-media format may be used for all Division II men’s championship tournament games, regardless of the presence of media.

Rationale: This allows for consistency for the tournament participants.

Rule 5-10.6 (BR-103)—In games involving electronic media, when a foul is committed that causes the ball to become dead after one of the specified time marks on the game clock for an electronic-media timeout, that electronic-media timeout shall be taken, then the free throw(s) shall be taken after that electronic-media timeout. 

Rationale: Allows for better flow by requiring electronic media to use their timeouts at the specified marks and preventing timeouts from being used in close proximity of each other.

Rule 9-4.1 (BR-128)—A player who steps out of bounds of his own volition and then becomes the first person to touch the ball after returning to the court shall be charged with a violation rather than an indirect technical foul.

Rationale: This places a more consistent penalty of the offended team being awarded a throw-in rather than free throws for this rules infraction.

Equipment Rules Supplement (BR-24)—Change the dates for compliance with Division I men’s ring-testing requirement from “once before the season and once before the postseason” to “once after July 1 and, when postseason games are being held at a site, once after March 1 but before any initial postseason game.” Division I coaches would be required to sign off that this has happened on the form that tracks viewing of the required video clinic and game management would be required to certify with conference offices that testing has occurred.

Rationale: To better track compliance with the Division I men’s ring-testing requirement, which was approved last year and becomes effective in 2004-05.

Experimental Rules (BR-11)— Move the three-point line back 9 inches to 20’6” and employ an “experimental or collegiate lane,” which would be 1 ½ feet wider on either side, but angled after the last lane space to preserve the current 12-foot width at the free-throw line (elbow). Players will not be allowed in the first two lane spaces on each side of the lane to stand on the 12-inch neutral zone or block. This rule must be used in all certified games occurring before January 1 and could be used in any exhibition games occurring before January 1 for Division I, II and III.

Rationale: Rules questionnaire results show a trend of growing support for widening the lane in some fashion and extending the three-point line. This experiment allows for game experience using dimensions that may be best suited for the collegiate men’s game.

Employ an arc on the court underneath the basket a length of 2 feet from the center of the ring. An offensive player should not be charged with an offensive foul when a secondary defensive player has established position with one foot inside the restraining arc near the basket unless the defensive player is making a legitimate attempt to play defense and not attempting to draw a charge. This rule must be used in all certified games occurring before January 1 in Divisions I, II and III.

Rationale: The arc may give the officials a clear point of reference to assist with such calls. This experimental rule would have to be used in all certified games occurring before January 1 and could be used in any exhibition games occurring before January 1