The Playing Rules Oversight Panel has approved a men’s basketball rule that clarifies the block/charge call under the basket and a new rule in wrestling that should prevent false starts.

The changes become effective in 2009-10.

In men’s basketball, a secondary defender must establish position outside the area from the front of the rim to the front of the backboard to draw a charge/player-control foul.

Results from surveys and rules forums said coaches wanted the men’s basketball rules committee to address the increasing contact that has been occurring under the basket.

PROP also approved a change dealing with situations when a free-throw shooter is injured. If a player is fouled (without the foul being flagrant or intentional) and unable to attempt the free throws, the opposing coach will choose from among the four remaining players on the court to attempt the free throws. The change is for men’s basketball only (the women’s basketball rules committee did not forward a similar proposal).

In another item, basketball officials will be able to use television monitors to determine if a flagrant foul occurred (which would result in the player being ejected). That recommendation is for men’s and women’s games. If the foul is determined not to have been flagrant, officials can still assess an intentional personal or a technical foul for contact.

Wrestling changes

In wrestling, referees will say “set” to the defensive and offensive starting positions before the whistle sounds for the participants to begin competing. Previously, officials were instructed only to ensure a pause before blowing the whistle to start the competition. Adding the verbal command should decrease false starts and enhance the competitive equity of the match.

Weigh-ins will also be conducted differently next season. All contestants will be required to wear a suitable undergarment such as briefs, boxers, shorts or a competition singlet when they step on the scale.

Overtime rules have also been tweaked. In the event a wrestler takes a second injury timeout at the beginning or during overtime, the non-injured wrestler will get the choice of position after the opponent’s second injury timeout.

This change gives the non-injured wrestler the opportunity to win in overtime by riding the opponent for one minute in any sudden-victory period, or for at least one minute in the tiebreaker periods.

Division III request

PROP also reviewed a request from Division III commissioners for more time to implement previously approved basketball and football proposals that had a financial impact on institutions. PROP in 2007 approved requiring a recessed shot clock, a tenth-of-a-second display and red light or backboard lights to be in place for the 2010-11 season. In football, referees are to be provided with a wireless microphone to announce penalties starting with the 2010 football season.

The panel surveyed the Division III membership on whether schools were struggling to comply with the new standards and found that most institutions already had or were planning to purchase the equipment. Thus, the request for further delay was denied.