NCAA Committee Mulls Altering Goaltending Rule For Next Season

Indianapolis, IN (AHN) - Several changes in NCAA rules were proposed on Monday, with one committee making a pitch to alter the goaltending violation policy starting next season.

Brad Jackson, chairman of the NCAA basketball rules committee and Western Washington coach, called for an inclusion of an upward-moving ball that had already touched the backboard as a goaltending violation. The league currently calls a violation only when the ball is on a downward flight.

Jackson told the Associated Press that the change would "better define and discern the act of goaltending." Still, the proposal needs to be tackled and approved by the oversight panel for it to be observed next season.

The committee decided not to act on proposed changes involving the free throw lane width of NCAA courts.

"The restricted area arc and the widening of the lane were dimensional changes that were considered and discussed," he said. "However, our committee decided to continue to observe and study the effects these dimensional changes may have on our game."

The committee also made moves to require home teams to wear light uniforms and visiting teams to wear dark uniforms. The league presently only recommends such routine and has not made it a requirement for all NCAA teams.