NCAA rules committee recommends moving games to four-quarter format

The NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee has recommended that women's basketball games be played in four-quarter format next season:

The NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee recommended the proposal following its meeting May 12-15 in Indianapolis. All rules proposals must be approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which is scheduled to discuss the recommended women’s basketball rules changes via conference call June 8.

Before the vote, committee members thoroughly debated the concept of moving the game away from the 20-minute halves format that women’s basketball has always used in NCAA competition.

The committee believes the four-quarter format will enhance the flow of the game.

“The rules committee is very excited about the change to the four-quarter format for the 2015-16 season,” said Michael Shafer, chair of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee and women’s basketball coach at the University of Richmond. “We believe this change, along with the associated changes to the timeout and foul rules, will address flow of the game and physicality. The overall format will strengthen the connection of college basketball with women’s basketball globally.”

The proposed format change is also endorsed by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors.

Wow!