NCAA Changes Block/Charge Rule and Expands Instant Replay in College Basketball
ByThe NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) decided Monday to change the block/charge rule, effective at the start of the season, according to a press release.
The panel also decided to change a backcourt rule in women's basketball and decided to expand the use of instant replay for referees.
"Under the revised block/charge call in men's basketball, a defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or pass," the release read. "If the defensive player is not in legal guarding position by this time, it is a blocking foul."
The NCAA mentioned the fact that the 67.5 points averaged per game throughout the sport is the lowest figure since 1982. The PROP said the rule changes were made to allow more freedom on offense, to better balance defense and offense and to make it easier on the officials who have to make the difficult call.
The panel also said it will reinforce certain personal fouls with the referees. When a player places two hands on an opponent, when a player repeatedly jabs an opponent with an extended arm, when a player uses an arm bar to stop an opponent and when a player keeps a hand or forearm on player too long will all be called consistently this year.
Since being recognized by the NCAA in the 1981-1982 season, women's basketball has not had any kind of backcourt rule, allowing players to take as much of the 30-second shot clock as they wanted in the backcourt. This year, the PROP is implementing a 10-second rule. Failure to bring the ball out of the backcourt in 10 seconds will result in loss of possession.
The panel also approved the use of instant replay review in the final two minutes of games and throughout overtime. The uses of instant replay will be to look for indisputable evidence for shot clock violations, determining who knocked a ball out of bounds and three-point jump shots.
"In the last four minutes of the game and the entire overtime, officials will go to the monitor immediately to look for indisputable evidence as to how many points should be awarded for a field goal," the release said.