I was rather shocked when I found the link to this article in today’s FIBA Newsletter. Normally, I don’t go that far down in the mail than this time but it was rather worth to do it this time.
Well, if you start reading an article that starts with the following:
International basketball might undergo a significant change if new rules are passed this weekend, according to USA Basketball officials.
You have of course continue to read what it is about. Especially if the article is written by USA Today. So what is this about.
There will be a meeting of the FIBA board this weekend in Beijing where some major rule changes will be discussed and proposed for vote. Two major things would be the adoption of the trapezoidal zone and the three-point line that would move further away from the basket.
In detail, the zone would be the same one that is used in the NBA which means a 16 feet (4m87) large trapezoid instead of the actual triangle like zone that is19ft and 8 inches (5m99) large under the basket. The second rule change would be to move the three point line from 20ft 6inch (6.25m) to 22ft 1inch (6m73). The three point line would however remain at the same distance everywhere on the court and no closer to the basket in the corners like in the NBA.
Currently it is only a proposition, however, this looks really like the change is in the making as these rules were recommended by the technical commission of FIBA and will go for the group’s 20-person central board vote this weekend.
Besides the fact that this will change the European game, this will also be a huge cost factor. So if this decision will be taken, companies that produce court lines will be happy as all basketball arenas in the world (except the US) need some work.
