NCAA Basketball Rule Change History

History of NCAA Basketball Rule Changes

The following is a selective list of NCAA Basketball rule changes and the year they can into effect. [Original Source: pages 246-248 of Official 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book.]

Season	Rule Change
1900-1901	A dribbler may not shoot for a field goal and may dribble only once, and then with two hands.
1908-1909	A dribbler is permitted to shoot. The dribble is defined as the “continuous passage of the ball,” making the double dribble illegal.
1910-1911	Players are disqualified upon committing their fourth personal foul.
1910-1911	No coaching is allowed during the progress of the game by anybody connected with either team. A warning is given for the first violation and a free throw is awarded after that.
1920-1921	The basket is moved to two feet from the baseline. Previously the players could climb the padded wall to get closer to the basket (with the new rule the wall is out of bounds).
1920-1921	A player can re-enter a game once. Before this rule, if a player left the game, he could not re-enter for the rest of the game.
1921-1922	Running with the ball was changed from a foul to a violation.
1923-1924	The player fouled must shoot his own free throws. Before this rule, one person usually shot all the free throws for a team.
1928-1929	The charging foul by the dribbler is introduced.
1930-1931	A held ball may be called when a closely guarded player is withholding the ball from play for 5 seconds.
1932-1933	The ten second (mid-court) line is introduced to reduce stalling.
1932-1933	No player with the ball may stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.
1933-1934	A player may re-enter a game twice.
1935-1936	No offensive player (with or without the ball) may stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.
1937-1938	The center jump after every made basket is eliminated.
1938-1939	The ball will be thrown in from out of bounds at mid-court by the team shooting a free throw after a technical foul. Previously, the ball was put into play by a center jump after the technical free throw.
1939-1940	Teams have the option of taking a free throw or taking the ball at mid-court.
1942-1943	Any player who has yet to foul out, will be allowed to receive a fifth foul in overtime.
1944-1945	Defensive goal tending is banned.
1944-1945	Five personal fouls disqualifies a player; no extra foul is permitted in overtime.
1944-1945	Unlimited substitution is allowed
1944-1945	Offensive players cannot stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.
1948-1949	Coaches are allowed to speak to players during a timeout.
1951-1952	Games are to be played in four 10 minute quarters. Previously it was two 20 minute halfs.
1952-1953	Teams can no longer waive free throws and take the ball at mid court.
1954-1955	The one-and-one free throw is introduced allowing a player to take a second free throw if the first one is made.
1954-1955	Games are changed back to two 20 minutes halfs.
1955-1956	The two shot penalty in existence for the last 3 minutes of each half is eliminated; the one-and-one free throw exists for the whole game.
1956-1957	The free throw lane is increased from 6 feet to 12 feet.
1956-1957	On the lineup for a free throw, the two spaces adjacent to the end line must be occupied by opponents of the free thrower. In the past, one space was marked 'H' for the home team, and one 'V' for the visitors.
1956-1957	Grasping the rim is rule unsportsmanlike conduct.
1957-1958	Offensive goaltending is now banned.
1957-1958	One free throw for each common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half, and the one-and-one is used thereafter.
1967-1968	The dunk is made illegal during the game and during warmup
1972-1973	The free throw on the common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half is eliminated.
1972-1973	An official can charge a technical foul on a player for unsportsmanlike conduct if the official deems the player 'flopped' to get a charging call.
1972-1973	Freshman are now eligible to play varsity basketball
1973-1974	Officials can now penalize players away from the ball for fouls for acts such as holding, grabbing and illegal screens.
1976-1977	The dunk is made legal again.
1981-1982	The jump ball is eliminated except for the start of the first and second half, and overtime if necessary. An alternating arrow will indicate possession of the ball in jump-ball situations in a game.
1982-1983	When a closely guarded player is guarded for 5 seconds, a jump ball is no longer required. Instead a turnover is created and the ball goes to the other team.
1983-1984	Two free throws are issued if a foul occurs in the last two minutes of a half or in overtime.
1985-1986	The 45 second shot clock is introduced.
1985-1986	If a shooter is intentionally fouled and the basket is missed, the shooter will get two free throws and the team will get possession of the ball.
1986-1987	A three point shot was introduced at 19'9".
1987-1988	Each intentional personal foul carries two free throws and the team possession of the ball.
1990-1991	Beginning with the teams 10th foul in a half, two free throws are to be awarded for each personal foul.
1990-1991	Three free throws are awarded when a shooter is fouled from three point range and misses the shot.
1993-1994	The shot clock is reduced from 45 seconds to 35 seconds.
1993-1994	The game clock will be stopped with successful baskets in the last minute of each half and in the last minute of overtime, with no substitution permitted.
1993-1994	The five second rule regarding closely guarded players is eliminated.
1994-1995	Scoring is restricted to a tap-in when there is 0.3 seconds or less on the game clock.
1997-1998	The five second rule regarding closely guarded players is reinstated.
1997-1998	Timeouts can be made be players on the court or the head coach.
1998-1999	In a held ball situation initiated by the defense, the defense shall gain possession of the ball regardless of the possession arrow.
1999-2000	The held ball rule from 1998-1999 was rescinded.
2005-2006	Kicked balls will no longer reset the shot clock. If the violation occurs with less than 15 seconds, the clock will be reset to 15 seconds.
2006-2007	A timeout will not be recognized by an airborne player falling out of bounds.
2008-2009	Three point arc extended to 20' 9"
2008-2009	Eliminated first space nearest basket in the lane in the free throw shooting alignment (i.e. now only six players could stand next to the lane during a free throw instead of eight).
2008-2009	Referees may use instant replay to determine if a flagrant foul has been committed and who started the incident.
2015-2016	Shot clock changed to 30 seconds.
2015-2016	Dunks are permitted during warm ups
2019-2020	Three point arc extended to 22' 1 3/4"
2021-2022	Players are warned about flopping and accessed a technical for second warning.
2022-2023	Players are issued technical for flopping with no warning.