Men moving to 30-second shot clock, women to 4 quarters as NCAA panel approves rules changes

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved today rules changes proposed last month for both men's and women's basketball.

The highlights for the men: a 30-second shot clock, less timeouts, and a four-foot charge arc.

For the women: Four, 10-minute quarters and corresponding changes to team foul limits.

All changes were made with the goal of improving the pace and flow of the game, and for the men's side, to swing advantages back toward the offense.

Changes to men's basketball rules:

• 30 second shot clock
• Elimination of the five-second closely guarded rule
• Restricted area extended to four feet (instead of three)
• Only three team timeouts carry into the second half (down from four)
• Any timeout called within 30 seconds of (or after) a media timeout results in the skipping of that media timeout
• Coaches can no longer call live-ball timeouts
• 10 total seconds to advance the ball past halfcourt, even after calling timeout
• 15 seconds to replace a disqualified player (down from 20)
• Officials allowed to penalize floppers if flopping is discovered during a video review for flagrant fouls
• Made field goals at the shot clock buzzer can result in video review for the entirety of the game
• Class B technical fouls (delay of game, hanging on the rim) result in one free throw, not two

Changes to the women's rules:

• Four 10-minute quarters
• Teams reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul of each quarter
• Teams can advance the ball to the frontcourt using a timeout after made baskets, a defensive rebound, or change of possession with less than 1 minute remaining in the fourth quarter and overtime periods.
• Post defenders are now allowed to put a forearm or open hand on an offensive post player who has her back to the basket.
• Music can now be played during any dead-ball situation, not just timeouts and halftime.