NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel tweaks rules for men's, women's basketball

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 15, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

When you attend a college basketball game next November, you may either notice or not really pay attention to subtle "tweaks" the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel recently approved.

Defense appeared to be the emphasis last season and the numbers proved it. Scoring among Division I schools decreased to 67.6 points which neared historic lows.

So, the panel decided on a few changes this winter.

They stressed perimeter defense, physical play in the post, stationary screening, block/charge plays and more freedom for players off of the ball. The shot clock has been reduced to 30 seconds.

On block/charge calls, the restricted arc has been moved from three to four feet beyond the basket. The expansion is in effect for Division I schools this season. Division II and III schools will keep the three-foot arc for another year, and switch to four feet in 2016-17.

"I don't really think you will see a big change in the ways teams approach the games with these new rules," UMO head men's basketball coach Joey Higginbotham said. "The four-foot arc will probably just complicate things a little more for everyone when it comes to the block/charge call."

Pace of play, faking fouls and other changes were on the panel's agenda. The group also approved an experimental rule to allow players six personal fouls, instead of five, in 2016 postseason tournaments -- other than the Division I men's basketball championships.

"The experimental sixth foul ... I don't ever see that being a change in the college game, but it will be interesting to see how it is looked at in the preseason games," Higginbotham said.

The 20-minute halves no longer exist in women's basketball.

The NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee received approval from the panel to play four 10-minute quarters. The WBCA hopes the change enhances the flow of the game.

Each team will reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul in each quarter. The team foul count reverts back to zero after the completion of each quarter. Should either team reach the bonus situation in regulation during the fourth quarter, it will continue to shoot free throws if the game goes into overtime.

Committee members also discussed 10-second backcourt exceptions, timeouts and discretion regarding shot-clock violations. The panel adopted a new rule that allows defenders to place either a forearm or an open hand with a bend in the elbow on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is the basket.