Rule changes for 2013-14

Gotta get moving!

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight panel has approved the following changes for Division I Women's Basketball in 2013-14.

10-second backcourt rule

Women's basketball finally joins the rest of the basketball world by declaring it a violation when a team, having gained control of the ball in its own backcourt, fails to bring it across the center line within ten seconds.

Closely guarded rule

The closely guarded rule in the backcourt has been eliminated.

The closely guarded rule in the frontcourt now declares it a violation when a player with a defender within six feet holds the ball for more than five seconds. Previously, the defender had to be within three feet.

Media timeouts

When a team-called timeout occurs within 30 seconds of the scheduled media timeout (first dead ball under the 16-, 12-, eight- and four-minute marks), it becomes the subsequent media timeout with the exception of the first team-called timeout in the second half.

Restricted area rule

When a player with the ball starts her move outside the lower defensive box area, a secondary defender must be outside the restricted area (the arc under the basket) to draw a charge.

When a player starts her move from inside the lower-defensive box area, a secondary defender can draw a charge and the restricted area is not in effect.

Elbow rule

Regarding elbow contact above the shoulders, officials may use the monitor to determine if a flagrant foul has been committed. Officials will determine if the contact was a flagrant 2, flagrant 1, common foul or no call.

The rules committees felt the original intent of the elbow rules (to protect players) have caused too many flagrant fouls being called when they weren’t appropriate.

Monitor usage

In the last two minutes of regulation and overtime, officials can review a shot-clock violation and determine who caused the ball to go out of bounds on deflections involving two or more players.

If officials are unsure if a shot was a two-point or a three-point field goal, they can signal to the scorer's table to review it during the next media timeout. However, in the last four minutes of regulation and all of overtime, officials will go to the monitor immediately in such situations, rather than waiting for a timeout.

The monitor can be used to determine who committed a foul if there is uncertainty. Previously, officials could only use the monitor for determining the free throw shooter.

(See the Rules Committee Report for more information about the above changes.)