FIBA the sports governing body released the new Official Basketball Rules which came into effect on October 1, 2014. There are some significant changes to the rules that will apply to the Waratah League.

A short summary of the rule changes in the 2014 FIBA Official Basketball Rules are:

• The No-charge semi-circle line is now part of the no-charge semi-circle area. The significance of this is that the defender must have both feet outside the line (and not touching the line) to be able to take a charge.
• Each team is only allowed a maximum of (2) time-outs in the last 2 minutes of the final quarter. This does not apply in an overtime period because each team has only 1 timeout in each overtime period.
• Following an offensive rebound after a shot for a field goal or free throw, the shot clock shall be re-set to fourteen (14) seconds.
• The penalty for a Technical Foul (on a player, coach or the bench) has been reduced to one (1) free throw followed by possession from half way.
• A player is disqualified when charged with two (2) technical fouls, even if they have less than 5 personal fouls.
• There are some new/changed signals for the Officials to use.

Art. 2.4.7

There are no additional lines added to the court for the 2014 rule changes but the no- charge semi-circle lines are now part of the no-charge semi-circle areas. This is explained in more detail in Art 33.10

Art 4.3.1

Description for shorts has changed to they must end above the knee.

Art. 5.7

Wording for an injured player has been added to allow a player to receive treatment and may be substituted during free throws in the event of an injury.

Art. 12.3

A jump ball situation occurs when a live ball lodges between the ring and the backboard from a field goal attempt or from the last or only free throw. If the ball lodges between the ring and backboard on a free throw when the player has another free throw to attempt, it is simply regarded as a missed shot.

Art. 17.3.1

The wording for the allowance of the player to move along the baseline after the opposition has scored a basket or the last successful free throw has been removed. This ruling is already described in Art 17.2.7.

Art.18.2.5

Modifications have been made to the number of time-outs allowed:

- 2 time-outs during the first half (no restriction when called).

- 3 time-outs during the second half with a maximum of 2 of time-outs per team during in the last 2 minutes of the second half.

- 1 time-out during each extra period.

Art. 29.2.2

When a foul or violation is committed by the team in control of the ball, the shot clock shall be reset to 24 seconds if their opponent is awarded a throw-in, regardless of whether the throw in takes place in the front or back court. This wording has been introduced to avoid confusion as to whether a 14 second reset should apply.

Art. 29.2.3

Changes have been made for resetting the shot clock after the ball has touched the ring. After the ball has touched the ring of the opponents’ basket, the shot clock shall be reset to:

- 24 seconds, if the opposing team gains control of the ball

- 14 seconds, if the team which regains control of the ball is the same team that was in control of the ball before the ball touched the ring.

29/50-34 Example: A1 shoots for a field goal with

(a) 4 seconds

(b) 20 seconds remaining on the shot clock

The ball touches the ring, rebounds and A2 gains control of the ball.
Interpretation: In both cases the shot clock shall be reset to 14 seconds regardless of whether A2 gains control of the ball in the frontcourt or in the backcourt.

Art. 30.1.1

A team is in control of a live ball in their frontcourt if

- A player of that team is touching their frontcourt with both feet while holding, catching or dribbling the ball in their front court.

- The ball is passed between players of that team in their front court.

Art. 30.1.2

A team in control of a live ball in the frontcourt has caused the ball to be illegally returned to the backcourt if a player of that team is the last to touch the ball in his frontcourt and the ball is then first touched by a player of that team

- who has part of his body in contact with the backcourt or

- After the ball has touched the backcourt of that team.This is to clarify the ruling that if the ball bounces back over halfway and touches the back court and the offensive player reaches over the halfway line without touching the backcourt and regains possession it will be a violation.

Art 33.10

On any penetration play into the no-charge semi-circle area any contact caused by an AIRBOURNE offensive player with a defensive player inside the no-charge semi-circle shall not be called as an offensive foul, unless the offensive player is illegally using his hands, arms, legs or body. This rule applies when:

- the defensive player has one foot or both feet in contact with the no-charge semi- circle area.

Art. 36.3.3

A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game if they are charged with 2 technical fouls.

Art. 36.4.2

The penalty for a technical foul on a player, coach or bench has been changed to the following.
The opponents shall be awarded 1 free throw, followed by:

- A throw-in at the centre line extended, opposite the scorer’s table.

- A jump ball in the centre circle to start the first period (if the technical foul was called prior to the game starting).

Art. 37.1.1

This rule has be re-worded to provide clarity:
An unsportsmanlike foul is a player contact foul which, in the judgement of an official is:

- Not a legitimate attempt to directly play the ball within the spirit and intent of the rules.

- Excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball.

- Contact by the defensive player from behind or laterally on an opponent in an attempt to stop the fast break and there is no defensive player between the offensive player and the opponent’s basket.

- Illegal Contact by the defensive player on an opponent on the court during the last 2 minutes in the fourth period and in each extra period, when the ball is out-of-bounds for a throw-in and still in the hands of the official or at the disposal of the player taking the throw-in.

Art. 38.2.4

The first bullet point has been added to the penalty description for a disqualifying foul.

- If the foul is a non-contact foul: 2 free throws.

Art. 41.1.1
The following definition has been added for team fouls.

A team foul is a personal, technical, unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul committed by a player.

Art. 48.1

The following description has been modified to the third bullet point.
The scorer shall be provided with a scoresheet and shall keep a record of:

- Fouls charged against each player. The scorer must notify an official immediately when 5 fouls are charged against any player. They shall record the fouls charged against each coach and must notify an official immediately when a coach should be disqualified. Similarly, they must notify an official immediately when a player has committed 2 technical fouls or 2 unsportsmanlike fouls and accordingly should be disqualified.

Art. 50.3

The following description has been modified for the shot clock operator duties. Stopped and reset to 24 seconds, with no display visible, when:

- The ball legally enters the basket.

- The ball touches the ring of the opponent's basket (unless the ball lodges between the ring and the backboard) and it is controlled by the team that was not in control of the ball before it has touched the ring.

- The team is awarded a backcourt throw-in:

o As the result of a foul or violation.
o The game being stopped because of an action not connected with the team in control of the ball.
o The game being stopped because of an action not connected with either team, unless the opponents would be placed at a disadvantage.

Art. 50.5

The following description has been modified for the shot clock operator duties. Stopped and reset to 14 seconds when:

- The same team that previously had control of the ball is awarded a frontcourt throw- in and 13 seconds or less is displayed on the shot clock:

As the result of a foul or violation.
The game being stopped because of an action not connected with the team in control of the ball.
The game being stopped because of an action not connected with either team, unless the opponents would be placed at a disadvantage.

- After the ball has touched the ring on an unsuccessful shot for a field goal, a last or only free throw, or on a pass, if the team which regains control of the ball is the same team that was in control of the ball before the ball touched the ring.

Waratah Senior League Rule ONLY

Red Card System - Coach

If a Coach receives an accumulation of 3 technical fouls (for poor behaviour) throughout the season they will receive an automatic one (1) game suspension.

If a Coach receives an automatic suspension, this shall be construed as meaning that the suspended Coach cannot during this one (1) game suspension do any of the following basketball related activities;

• Play basketball
• Referee
• Coach
• Table officiate
• Officate in game statistics

If the same Coach continues to receive technical fouls in the same season (for poor behaviour) then the offending Coach will be required to appear before a BNSW tribunal hearing.

 

Red Card System - Player

If a Player receives an accumulation of 3 technical fouls (for poor behaviour) throughout the season they will receive an automatic two (2) game suspension.

If a Player receives an automatic suspension, this shall be construed as meaning that the suspended Player cannot during this two (2) game suspension do any of the following basketball related activities;

• Play basketball
• Referee
• Coach
• Table officiate
• Officate in game statistics

If the same Player continues to receive technical fouls in the same season (for poor behaviour) then the offending Player will be required to appear before a BNSW tribunal hearing.

As the Red Card System is a Waratah League specific rule, an offending Coach/Player suspensions only apply in the divivision that they occured.

To clarify the intent of this rule, this means that the offending Coach/Player: 

• Can not choose which games the suspension will apply.
• Can not use games played in other division of the Waratah league to count towards their suspension.
• Can not use games played at local level to count towards their suspension.