MEN'S & WOMEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL RULES CHANGES
2006/2007

Intentionally Kicked Ball. (Men and Women Rule 2-14.6.f, 2-14.7.b). When an intentionally kicked ball occurs with 14 seconds or less, set the shot clock to 15 seconds. When an intentionally kicked ball occurs with 15 seconds or more the clock shall remain as is. Rationale: This simplifies a rule that was made last year.

Substitution. (MEN Rule 3-4.11). When a player is required to be replaced for disqualification, injury or blood, all substitutes who have legally reported into the game shall be allowed to enter. Rationale: Allowing the other substitutes to enter the game would not cause a delay.

Substitution. (WOMEN Rule 5-10.23.a). Requires a bleeding player or a player who has either lost, or has an irritation as a result of a contact lens, be substituted if it cannot be resolved within 20 seconds. Rationale: This will treat bleeding players and players with contacts lens issues the same.

Point of Interruption. (Rule 4.51.a). The ball will be returned to play at the point of interruption after double fouls and simultaneous personal fouls. Rationale: This creates consistency in where the ball will be returned to play after double fouls and simultaneous fouls.

Use of Timeouts. (Rule 5-10.1.a). A timeout request shall not be recognized when an airborne player's momentum is carrying him/her either out-of bounds or into the backcourt. Rationale: Often the player has already committed a violation before the timeout is granted. This play has occurred much too frequently in the game today.

APPAREL

In an effort to maintain the look of uniform uniformity among team players, the rules committee addressed the following:

1. Undergarments. (Rule 3-4.14). Compression pants may not extend below the game pants. Shirt sleeves may not extend below the elbow. Rationale: This will eliminate the use of undergarments that extend to the ankle and long shirt sleeves.

2. Arm Sleeves. (Rule 3-5.7). Arm sleeves are illegal unless worn for medical purposes. Rationale: Sleeves are unnecessary and inappropriate equipment without permission from a trainer or physician.

3. Wristbands and Headbands (3-5.15, 3-5.16). Wristbands and headbands must be either the dominant color of the game jersey or white. The color shall be uniform for the entire team. Rationale: This eliminates the problem of finding headbands the same as the dominant color of the game jersey and requires team uniformity

Screener Position. (Rule 10-22). The normal stance of a screener shall be approximately shoulder width. Rationale: This incorporates a long-time established interpretation into the text of the rules.

New Equipment Requirement. (Men and Women, Rule 1-17). Starting with the 2010 season, Division II and III institutions will be required to have a game clock with a 10th of a second display, a red light or LED lights and shot clocks mounted on the back board. Rationale: It is important that Division II and III are using available technology in the game.

LED Lights. (Men and Women, Rule 1-18). LED lights may be used on the shot clock, but the lights shall only be activated for a shot-clock violation. Rationale: LED lights have been incorporated into the shot clock and can be beneficial to the officials, when available. Early usage has indicated that the lights can also be connected to the game clock and horn. This is not legal.

The women's committee also added teeth to the existing rule for Division I facilities (Rule 1-17). Any Division I institution that is not in compliance with the 10th of a second display on the game clock, red lights or LED lights and the shot clock will be assessed an indirect technical foul to start each home contest. There currently is no penalty for non-compliance


EXPERIMENTAL RULES


The men will experiment with:
  1. Eliminating the first lane space nearest the basket on each side of the lane and using the present, second, third and fourth lane spaces on each side of the lane.
     
  2. Experiment with extending the three-point line to 20 feet, 9 inches.
     
  3. A widened lane to 14 feet and a restricted-area arc. The goal is to better spread the floor to reduce rough play near the basket and to allow periphery players easier access on penetrating to the basket.
     
  4. A restricted-area arc three feet from the basket. With this arc, an offensive player should not be charged with an offensive foul when a defensive player has obtained a position with one foot inside the restricted arc near the basket unless the defensive player is making a legitimate attempt to play defense and not attempting to draw a charge.


The women will experiment with:
  1. A three-point line extended to 20 feet, 6 inches.
     
  2. A 10-second backcourt rule.


POINTS OF EMPHASIS


Points of Emphasis. (MEN & WOMEN)

1. Loose Ball Situations

Addressing concerns about the safety of players during a loose ball, the committee is also emphasizing proper adjudication of the loose-ball pile-ups that occur during the game. This includes calling personal fouls and also ensuring the possession of the ball before granting a timeout.


Points of Emphasis. (MEN) Rough Play and Palming will remain as points of emphasis for Men during the 2006-07 season.

1. Rough Physical Play and Illegal Contact.

This is the tenth consecutive year rough play is a point of emphasis. This should demonstrate to each official the rules committee's consistent concern that rough play has not been properly addressed. Motivated by the premise that the collegiate game is a game of skill, it is the rules committee's belief that more attention must be directed toward eliminating rough play and illegal contact in the low post, off the ball, in cutting and screening situations and during hand checking anywhere on the playing court. Additional attention and emphasis must be directed toward play without the ball in the low post.
  1. Offensive players who dislodge, displace or push a defensive player from an established position shall be called for a personal foul. An offensive post player using hands, forearms or elbows to prevent a defensive player from obtaining or maintaining a legal guarding position shall also be charged with a personal foul. The player using the "swim stroke" movement to lower the arm of an opponent shall be charged with a personal foul.
     
  2. Defensive Players in the low post who use hands, forearms, legs, or elbows to displace or prevent an opponent from obtaining or maintaining a legal offensive position, shall be charged with a personal foul. Furthermore, it shall be a personal foul when a defensive player pushes with his leg or knee into the rear of the offensive player.


TO SUMMARIZE:

When illegal contact occurs in the low post without the ball, and said contact results in a player realizing an unequal favorable position, a performance advantage has been gained by that player. It is important to observe the "match-ups" of the offensive and defensive players in the low post from the beginning of any play phase as rough play and illegal maneuvers may cause and affect subsequent physicality.

2. Palming (Illegal Dribble).

Since there has been no significant reduction in the frequency of illegal movements while dribbling the ball, palming the ball is once again a point of emphasis.
  1. "Palming" or "carrying" the ball places the defensive player at a distinct disadvantage while according the dribbler a sizeable advantage inconsistent with the spirit and intent of the rules. The dribbler, who during a high or hesitation dribble, causes the ball to come to rest and then pushes or pulls the ball either to the side or in front of him commits an indefensible violation which must be called.
     
  2. "Palming" is an illegal maneuver. When the ball comes to rest in the dribblers’ hand, by rule, the dribble has ended. Continuing to dribble after the ball has come to rest in the hand is a violation and must be called.


Points of Emphasis. (WOMEN) Displacement and Sportsmanship will remain as points of emphasis for Women's game during the 2006-07 season.

  1. "Sportsmanship is more than a buzz word". The women's committee has expressed concern over the behavior seen in the game. The committee emphasized their resolve to not tolerate coaches out of the coaching box or taunting by players. There are plenty of opportunities for team communication within the lines of the coaching box. There is no excuse for players being derogatory toward opponents or officials.
     
  2. Displacement
     
    1. Offensive players who dislodge, displace or push a defensive player from an established position shall be called for a personal foul. An offensive post player using hands, forearms or elbows to prevent a defensive player from obtaining or maintaining a legal guarding position shall also be charged with a personal foul. The player using the "swim stroke" movement to lower the arm of an opponent shall be charged with a personal foul.
       
    2. Defensive Players in the low post who use hands, forearms, legs, or elbows to displace or prevent an opponent from obtaining or maintaining a legal offensive position, shall be charged with a personal foul. Furthermore, it shall be a personal foul when a defensive player pushes with his leg or knee into the rear of the offensive player.