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Tuesday, Nov 30, 2010
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New rules to be implemented

KOCHI: Basketball in India is set to undergo a big transformation with the world body FIBA's new rule changes coming into effect in the country.

The new changes officially come into effect from January 1 next year but national federations are free to apply the new rules for their events. Kerala will be one of the first States to try them out — the rule changes will be implemented at the State senior championship which begins in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. The Senior National, which begins in New Delhi on December 28, will also be played under the new rules.

Like in the American NBA, the restricted (three-second) area on the playing court will now be a rectangle and not a trapezoid. The three-point line has also been pushed backwards, from the current 6.25m to 6.75m, offering a bigger challenge to long-range shooters.

A no-charge semi-circle on the ground below the ring and changes in the application of the 24-second rule are among the other major changes.

“Subject to certain conditions, a defensive player inside this no-charge zone will have no legal protection when an airborne player, having the ball and trying to shoot or pass the ball, comes into contact with him,” said Fr. Philips Wadakekkalam, the Chairman of the Kerala Basketball Association's Referees Commission and an international referee.

In the other rule, when a defensive team commits a violation or foul, the offensive team will not get the benefit of a fresh 24 seconds. Instead, if the there is 14 or more seconds left on the timer, only the remaining time will be allowed. But if it shows 13 or fewer seconds, the device will be reset to 14 seconds.

“All these rules will make the game much faster, like in the NBA,” said Fr. Philips. “But the table officials will have to be more alert now.”

But are the players familiar with the changes? Have they tried them out?

“We have not tried out the new rules, we'll learn as we play,” said Kerala's former international Subash Shenoy, one of the stars in the Ernakulam team. — Special Correspondent

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