NCAA Men’s Basketball
2009-10 RULES CHANGES
Proposed May 2009 by the Men’s Basketball Rules committee; approved June 2009 by the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.
Prepared by Ed Bilik, NCAA Men’s Basketball Secretary-Rules Editor
(The rule references below are taken from the 2008-09 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Book.)
Rule 1-15. The ball shall be spherical which is defined as a round body whose surface at all points is equidistant from the center except at the approved black rubber ribs. The ball’s color shall be an approved PMS color of orange. The ball shall have a deeply pebbled leather or composite cover, have traditionally shaped eight panels defined by two channels. The width of the black rib shall not exceed � inch.
Rationale: The rule on the basketball was clarified.
Rule 2-13.5. Permit officials to use the monitor to determine whether a flagrant foul has occurred. When it is determined that a flagrant foul did not occur but an intentional personal or a (men) contact technical foul or (women) player/substitute technical foul for dead ball contact did occur, those fouls shall be penalized accordingly. However, no other infractions may be penalized.
Rationale: Properly penalizes unsporting or egregious contact.
Rule 3-3.2. Assess a maximum of one administrative technical foul for any changes made to the scorebook, except when the changes are necessitated by obvious injury or illness, blood on the uniform or to replace a designated starter to shoot a technical foul free throw after the 10-minute time limit prior to the start of the game and until the game has ended.
Rationale: To further discourage changes in the book after the 10-minute time limit and to clarify 10-2 Penalty, thus creating consistency in how the rule is applied.
Rule 3-5. The rule on uniforms was rewritten to allow more freedom of design while protecting the integrity of the number. In summary, an area designated as the Neutral Zone will house only the player’s number and two identifying names (e.g., player name and school name). There will be no color or design restrictions outside the Neutral Zone. The game shorts must be a color similar to that of the Neutral Zone.
Rationale: To update the uniform rule to allow more color and design possibilities.
Rule 3-5.14.b. Allow a headband or hair control device to be beige in color.
Rationale : Consistency with permissible headband colors.
Rule 3-7.6. The addition of mouth guard protectors to the list of appropriate basketball equipment.
Rationale: To add mouth guard protectors to a list of appropriate basketball equipment.
Rule 4-23.3.f. Contact Technical Foul, dead ball. A contact technical foul occurs when the ball is dead and involves contact that is unnecessary, unacceptable and excessive.
Rationale: Better defines contact fouls when the ball is dead. (Intentional technical foul is nondescript.)
Rule 6-2.2. After an initial jump ball or a jump ball for the start of an extra period(s) when possession is not gained by either team which would establish the alternating-possession procedure, a jump ball shall take place between any two players.
Rationale: Having any two players involved in the jump ball creates an equitable way to establish the alternating-possession procedure since possession was never gained by either team.
New Rule. When a player is injured and is unable to attempt his free throw attempt(s), the coach from the opposing team shall select one of the four remaining players on the playing court to attempt the free throw(s). When the foul is intentional or flagrant and the injured player is unable to attempt the free throw(s), the injured player’s coach shall select any player or team member to attempt the free throw attempt(s).
Rationale: This rules change makes the selection procedure as to who will shoot the free throw for an injured player more equitable.
New Rule. A secondary defender may not establish initial legal guarding position under the basket when playing a player who is in control of the ball (i.e., dribbling or shooting) or who has released the ball for a pass or try for goal. A secondary defender is a teammate who has helped a primary defender who has been beaten by an opponent because he failed to establish or maintain a guarding position. “Under the basket�? is defined as from the front and side of the ring to the front of the backboard. A player is considered under the basket when any part of either foot is in this area. ( Note: An approved ruling will indicate that a player straddling this area is considered to be under the basket.)
In establishing position in any outnumbering fast break situation, a player may not establish initial legal guarding position under the basket since there is no primary defender.
In both cases, when illegal contact occurs, such contact shall be called a blocking foul, unless the contact is intentional or flagrant.
Rationale: The committee is responding to overwhelming concern from the membership regarding contact under the basket. After some consideration of a restricted arc, the committee decided that court markings were not needed, but changed its rule in reference to secondary player establishing initial guarding position under the basket.
Rules Supplements: Add as a recommendation that a standard collegiate score book/score sheet be used for all NCAA basketball games.
Rationale: The high school and college score books are different and cause confusion and errors by scorers, officials, coaches and media.