So this night, FIBA has approved some rules changes of which we have already mentioned some a few days ago. Here is complete overview of all the changes that will come into effect in the next years.
All below-mentioned rules will come into effect as of 1st October 2008, i.e. after the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Art. 4.3 Uniforms
The provision that T-shirts may be worn by players under their game uniforms is not valid anymore.
Good decision, was a stupid rule in my opinion. Well, apparently, this means that it is now officially forbidden that T-shirts may be worn. I misunderstood the rule as I thought the T-shirts were already prohibited this season.
Art. 25.2.3 Player falling on the floor
It is legal when a player falls and slides on the floor while holding the ball.
Finally a clear decision in this area. The divers will get the ball and not see themselves robbed by the referee who calls a traveling.
Art. 28.1.3 Ball goes into team’s frontcourt
The ball goes to the teams’ frontcourt when, during the dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, both feet of the dribbler and the ball are in contact with the frontcourt.
Also here we have a clarification now. Good decision in my opinion.
Art. 30.1.2 Ball returned to the backcourt
It will not be a violation anymore if a player, who jumps from his frontcourt, establishes a new team control while still airborne and then lands in his team’s backcourt.
Also a good decision at first look.
Art. 31 Goaltending and interference
If a player reaches through the basket from below and touches the ball, it is an interference (and not a simple violation) with all the relevant rule consequences.
Can somebody explain me what’s the difference here?
Art. 36.1.4 Unsportsmanlike foul
If a defensive player causes contact with an opponent from behind or laterally in an attempt to stop a fast break and there is no opponent between the offensive player and the opponents’ basket, then the contact shall be judged to be unsportsmanlike.
That’s a difficult choice in my opinion. If the rule is applied in a consequent form all the time, this can be good. But still, in a fastbreak, if a player steals the ball and there is a clear 3 on 1 situation for example and the defender makes a hard foul at the three-point line; will it be a unsportsmanlike foul or not? Has to be clarified even more in my opinion.
Art. 38.3.1 Technical foul
A technical foul can be called on a player for excessive swinging of elbows (without contact).
Good choice but this remains highly arbitrary as decision and will probably be called a lot in the beginning and then anymore.
The below mentioned rule amendments will come into effect as follows:
- For high level competitions/Level 1 (main FIBA official competitions: i.e. Olympic Tournaments, World Championships for Men and Women, U19 and U17 World Championships for Men and Women and Zone/Continental Championships for Men and Women): as of 1st October 2010, i.e. after the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
- For medium level competitions/Level 2 (i.e. all other FIBA official competitions and the high level competitions of the national federations): as of 1st October 2012, i.e. after the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Art. 2.2.3 Free-throw lines and restricted areas
The restricted areas shall be the floor rectangle areas marked on the playing court.
The restricted (three-second) area shall be a rectangle (not anymore a trapezoid).
The new zone area will be a trapezoid. So this means less parking area violations as the big guys can put up their tent now even closer to the basket. I still don’t get it what this will help.
Art. 2.2.4 Three-point field goal area
The distance of the three-point line shall be 6,75 m (and not 6,25 m as present).
This is ok for me if the NBA does the same.
Art. 2.2.6 Throw-in side lines
The two (2) small lines shall be marked outside the court, on the opposite side of the scorer’s table and the team bench areas, with the outer edge at the distance of 8,325 m from the inside edge of the end lines; in other words, level to the top of the three-point line.
During the last two (2) minutes of the game and of the extra period, following the time-out granted to the team that has been entitled to the possession of the ball from its backcourt, the subsequent throw-in will be taken on the opposite side of the scorer’s table from the “throw-in side line” and not as presently from the centre line extended.
Interesting but not a big changer in my opinion.
Art. 2.2.7 No-charge semicircles
The no-charge semicircles shall be marked on the playing court, under the baskets. The distance of the inner edge of the semicircles shall be 1,25 m from the centre of the basket (on the floor).
A charging (offensive) foul should never be called if the contact by the offensive player is with the defensive player standing within the no-charge semicircle.
This is one of the rules I don’t like. I agree that basketball should be spectacular and that In-your-face dunks are spectacular. But I also like the crazy dude who takes a charge in this area. This will not work anymore then. Unfortunately.
Art. 29 Twenty-four seconds
If the throw-in is to be administered in the backcourt, if required by the respective rules, the 24 second device shall be reset to 24 seconds.
If the throw-in is to be administered in the frontcourt, if required by the respective rules, the 24-second device shall be reset as follows:
– If 14 seconds or more are displayed on the 24-second device at the time the game was stopped, the 24-second device shall not be reset and shall remain the same.
– If 13 seconds or less are displayed on the 24-second device at the time the game was stopped, the 24-second device shall be reset to 14 seconds.
What is this? You get new 24 (I mean 14) seconds when the ball goes out of bounds with less than 13 seconds on the shot clock? That is a strange rule because it penalizes the defense and gives a second chance to the offense. So if you see the clock running down, it is better to throw the ball on somebody’s leg that it goes out because you get back the 14 seconds? Strange rule. The same counts for press defenses.
These rules count also for women basketball.
