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Basketball rules committee targets unsportsmanlike technical fouls

May 13, 2008

The NCAA News

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee at its meeting this week in Indianapolis made recommendations to reorganize the penalties for technical fouls, with the unsportsmanlike variety carrying the most severe consequences. All recommendations made the men’s and women’s basketball rules committees are subject to approval by the Playing Rules and Oversight Panel, which meets June 5 via teleconference. Penalties for unsportsmanlike technical fouls (for example, swearing, taunting) will still consist of two free-throws for the opposing team. The player receiving the technical will also be charged with a personal foul and his team will be assessed a team foul. Where the reorganization comes in is the indirect technical fouls such as hanging on the rim and slapping the backboard. These violations will result only in the player being assessed a technical and the opposing team receiving two foul shots. No personal or team fouls will be assessed. “We want to organize this better so that it is clear for the coaches, players and officials,” said Ed Bilik, the NCAA secretary rules-editor for men’s basketball. “We don’t think if you put your put your hand on the (rim) or the backboard to gain an advantage that you should be disqualified for that. But if you swear at an official or taunt or bait an opponent, that’s unsportsmanlike and will count toward your disqualification.” The men’s rules committee also made a recommendation regarding goaltending. When the ball hits the backboard above the rim and is touched by a defender, it should be called a goaltending violation. Previously, officials had to judge whether the ball was on a downward flight after hitting the backboard before a goaltending violation could be called. The new recommendation removes the judgment on the downward flight of the ball for the officials. Rules recommendations that affect both the men’s and women’s game include: Home teams being required to wear light-colored uniforms. Until now, it was just suggested that home teams wear the lighter-colored uniform. All institutions will be required to have breakaway rims installed by the 2009-10 season. Since the men’s three-point line is moving back a foot to 20 feet, nine inches, and the women’s line is remaining at 19-9, the recommendation is for all courts to have the two three-point lines be contrasting colors. Points of emphasis for women’s officials in 2008-09 are traveling violations, hand-checking the player dribbling the ball and sportsmanship. In the men’s game, officials will emphasize rough play away from the ball, such as impeding cutters and contact on screens. Palming violations will also be a point of emphasis.