Change to legal guarding position approved for men’s basketball

May 04, 2023

Media Center 6/8/2023 3:09:00 PM Greg Johnson

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel on Thursday approved a men's basketball rules change for the 2023-24 season to the legal guarding position on block/charge scenarios involving defenders around the basket.

Under the new rule, a defender will have to be in position to draw a charge at the time an offensive player plants a foot to go airborne to attempt a field goal. If the defender arrives after the offensive player plants a foot to launch toward the basket, officials will be instructed to call a block when contact occurs between the two players.

A secondary defender still would have to be outside the restricted-area arc to legally draw a charge.

Previously, defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne.

NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee members made the proposal after receiving feedback from the membership that too many charges are being called on these types of plays. Through the years, block/charge calls have been among the toughest for officials to judge.

The rules committee thinks the change will give officials more time to officiate these plays.

The rules committee also approved experimental rules for the 2023-24 season:

Note: The experimental rules for the NIT must be approved by the NIT Board.

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