Start of basketball season brings numerous NCAA rules changes
With the 2015-16 college basketball regular season kicking off this weekend, there are a variety of rules changes that fans will notice while attending or watching games this year.
NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Changes (PDF)
Women's Basketball Options to Advance the Ball (PDF)
NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Changes (PDF)
With the 2015-16 college basketball regular season kicking off this weekend, there are a variety of rules changes that fans will notice while attending or watching games this year.
Below are a selection of the key changes for this season for each sport. Above you can download PDF documents that go into more specifics on the changes.
Key 2015-16 NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Changes
• Changed from a 35 to 30-second shot clock.
• Teams now have 3 30-second timeouts and 1 60-second timeout per game (down from 4 and 1 last year).
• If a team timeout is granted 30 seconds or less prior to a scheduled media timeout (i.e. 16:29), that timeout becomes the media timeout.
• Coaches can only call timeouts during a dead ball situation.
• Restricted arc expanded from three to four feet.
• Elimination of the 5-second closely guarded count on a dribble.
• Airborne shooter charge plays cannot score a basket.
• Arm bar allowed in post area when offense has back to basket with or without the ball.
• 10-second backcourt count resets EXCEPT when (1) defender causes ball to go out of bounds, (2) offense retains possession on a held ball and (3) a technical foul is called on the offensive team.
• Points of emphasis include: (1) hand checking/body bumping the ball handler, (2) physical post play and rebounding, (3) freedom of movement for players without the ball/cutters, (4) screening/stationary screens required and (5) offense initiated contact with legal defenders.
Key 2015-16 NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Changes
• The game is now played in four 10-minute periods (instead of two 20-minute halves).
• Teams are awarded 2 free throws after the 5th team foul of each period (no more 1-and-1's).
• Fouls reset after each period (overtime is considered an extension of the fourth period).
• Teams now have 3 30-second timeouts and 1 60-second timeout per game (down from 4 and 1 last year).
• Media timeouts now occur at first deadball at or below the 5-minute mark of each period. If a team calls a timeout before the media break for a period, that timeout becomes the media timeout break. There is one additional media timeout in the second half (on the first called team timeout).
• During the last 59.9 seconds of the game (4th period or overtime) when the team in control of the ball is granted a timeout, the team will have the option to move the throw-in to the 28-foot line in the frontcourt. If the team advances the ball by pass or dribble before the timeout, it will no longer have the option to advance the ball.
• 10-second backcourt count resets EXCEPT when (1) defender causes ball to go out of bounds, (2) offense retains possession on a held ball and (3) a technical foul is called on the offensive team.
Click here to view a rules change video from the NCAA
