National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

February 9, 1998

THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Marcy Weston, outgoing secretary-rules editor of the Women's Basketball Rules Committee, thinks the women's game is in the best shape ever


BY SHAWNA HANSEN
STAFF WRITER

After 13 years as secretary-rules editor of the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee, Marcy Weston should know a healthy game when she sees it.

And that is exactly what she sees.

"Women's basketball is in the best shape ever with regard to television, fan attendance and corporate sponsorship," Weston said.

Weston, who will give up her duties as the chief interpreter of women's basketball rules in June, recently talked about how women's basketball has changed during her tenure and about where she sees the game headed.

Weston, senior associate director of athletics at Central Michigan

University, believes the most significant recent change in women's basketball occurred in 1985, when the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport added the small ball rule.

The NCAA rules committee was formed in 1985 and published its first rules book in 1986. At that time, the committee adopted the small ball.

Offensively, the major change came in 1988, when the three-point field goal was added.

"This was a great addition to the game," Weston said. "It allowed trailing teams a chance to get back in the game along with stretching the defense to open the lane."

During the past decade, the majority of changes have been in the defensive end. Weston said the rule changes have focused on "rewarding good defense."

In 1992, the committee expanded the shot-clock phase. Now, the phase ends when the ball hits the rim, instead of when the ball leaves the shooter's hand. "This makes the offense put up a good shot, not just throw it up," said Weston.

The shot clock was again a focus of committee attention in 1994.

The committee decided not to reset the clock when the defense causes a held ball and the offensive team retains possession. "Previously, all held balls with the offense retaining the possession arrow were

allowed a new 30-second shot clock," Weston said, "and the good defense was not rewarded."

This year, the game clock and shot clock start simultaneously on the in-bound pass. "This rewards good defense," Weston said. "The clock starts on the touch, not on the possession by the offense, and if the defense causes a deflection then the offense only gets the time remaining on the clock."

Other important changes

Weston also mentioned other changes that she feels have had a positive effect on the game:

  • In 1987 the coaching-box rule went into effect. "This allowed for better bench decorum," Weston said. "Coaches must stay in the coaching box and may not leave without the chance of a technical foul."

  • The alternating-possession arrow also was introduced in 1987, thus limiting the use of a jump ball to the start of the game and overtime periods.

    "There were, and still are, many people who do not like the possession arrow," Weston said. "Many feel that the jump ball is truly the fair way to handle a held-ball violation. However, the committee decided that the possession arrow was a fair, equitable way of dealing with the held ball."

  • In 1988, the NCAA Executive Committee asked the Men's and Women's Basketball Rules Committees, in Weston's words, "to combine the men's and women's rules books and move toward similar basketball rules while not compromising the integrity of either game."

    The committees soon combined men's and women's rules into one book.

  • There have been numerous changes in timeouts over the years.

    "In 1990, the committee responded to the coaches' desire for more time to give players necessary information. The timeouts were extended from 60 to 75 seconds," Weston said.

    Twenty-second timeouts were added in 1997, allowing for a "quick stop and quick input from the coach," she said.

    "Basketball is still a game where coaches have major involvement. Therefore, the timeout changes have occurred because the coach is a major part of the game."

    This year, the number of timeouts allowed in games without commercial electronic media was changed from five to four full timeouts, in addition to three 20-second timeouts. The number of full timeouts in games involving commercial media was changed from three to two full timeouts.

    Bright future

    Weston sees an important role for the rules committee in ensuring that women's basketball continues to have a bright future.

    "It is the responsibility of the rules committee to fine-tune the game and not make any dramatic changes," she said.

    "By using points of emphasis to remove excessive roughness and reward and encourage skill and strong, conditioned athletes, the committee can safeguard the game that has exploded this decade."

    Weston believes the rules committee will continue to solicit recommendations from the basketball community, then circulate those suggestions for reaction and discussion in considering future changes.

    Weston, who will continue to serve as NCAA national coordinator of women's basketball officiating, offers this for her successor as secretary-rules editor:

    "The editor will have the benefit of 13 years of previous rules committees who have worked hard to make changes to improve the game."