In a week where potential NBL rule changes have dominated discussion, with Tasmania JackJumpers head coach Scott Roth going as far as calling some of the proposed ideas a ‘farce’, a separate set of changes is officially on the way.
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Following reports the NBL had explored introducing concepts such as a four-point shot and three-point dunk during the NBL Blitz, FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, will implement a number of official rule changes from October 1 that will impact the NBL regular season.
In response to the backlash surrounding the proposed Blitz rules, NBL Chief Operating Officer and Head of Basketball Operations Vince Crivelli confirmed those concepts were never being considered for the regular season.
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“We explored a range of new concepts for the Blitz only – they were never on the table for the regular season. We’ve worked closely with Basketball Australia, and we’re grateful for their support and guidance. The only changes for this season will be the FIBA approved rules which were published in June.”
While those proposed Blitz concepts will not go ahead as things stand, the new FIBA rules are a different story, with several changes set to alter how games are officiated from October 1.
The key FIBA rule changes
Unsportsmanlike fouls replaced by ‘disruptive’ and ‘flagrant’ fouls
The traditional unsportsmanlike foul will be split into two classifications. A disruptive foul will cover less severe offences, such as deliberately stopping a transition without making a legitimate play on the ball, while a flagrant foul will be reserved for more serious, reckless, dangerous or excessive contact.
Disruptive fouls will not count towards an automatic ejection, while flagrant fouls will.
Technical fouls split into two categories
Technical fouls will now be separated into Category 1 and Category 2, based on the severity of the offence.
Category 1 will cover more serious behaviour, including disrespect towards officials, taunting, offensive language or gestures and faking being fouled, and will count towards an ejection.
Category 2 will cover less serious or administrative offences, such as delaying the game, and will not count towards an automatic disqualification.
New ejection rules
Players will now be automatically disqualified after receiving two Category 1 technical fouls, two flagrant fouls, or one Category 1 technical and one flagrant foul.
Disruptive fouls and Category 2 technical fouls will not count towards an automatic ejection.
Tighter interpretation of shooting fouls
FIBA has tightened its definition of when a player is considered to be in the act of shooting, specifically citing the increasing number of players attempting to manipulate situations to draw shooting fouls.
On jump shots, the shooting motion will begin when the player starts moving their shoulders and the ball upwards towards the basket, while on drives it begins once the ball has been gathered and the player continues their shooting motion towards the basket.
Passing the ball after contact, or moving it upwards away from the basket in certain situations, will mean the player is no longer considered to be in the act of shooting.
More situations can be reviewed
Instant replay will also be expanded, giving officials more opportunities to review potentially game-changing decisions.
In the final two minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime, officials will be able to review whether the ball had left a thrower’s hands when a defensive foul occurred during a throw-in.
Officials will also be able to review whether a goaltending or basket interference violation occurred after a foul at any stage of the game, with the new provisions also applying to a Head Coach’s Challenge.
While the changes are not as radical as some of the concepts floated for the NBL Blitz, they will still have an impact on how the game is played and officiated, particularly around shooting fouls and the way technical and unsportsmanlike conduct is classified.
The NBL will implement the new FIBA rules from October 1, meaning the Tasmania JackJumpers and Melbourne United will be the first teams to experience them when they face each other at MyState Bank Arena that night.