The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel announced Monday numerous rules changes that will go into effect for men and women's basketball during the upcoming season.

The most noticeable changes:

• The shot clock going to 30 seconds for men from the previous 35 seconds
• The women will now play four 10-minute quarters instead of two 20-minute halves.

Looking to speed up the game, the men's shot clock will be changed by those five seconds. It was last reduced from 45 seconds in 1993-94.

“I am glad to see the shot clock change,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “I do not think it is going to be as effective as we hope in improving scoring, but I do think it is a step in the right direction.”

More changes:

• Teams will also have one fewer team timeout (four instead of five) and only three can carry over to the second half. Officials will also focus more on resuming play quickly after a timeout and will issue a delay-of-game warning when a team does not comply and a one-shot technical foul on subsequent violations.
• Coaches will no longer be able to call a timeout when the ball is live as another part of improving pace of play. Media timeout procedures will allow for a timeout called within 30 seconds of a break (at the 16:30 mark) or at any time after the scheduled media timeout to become that media timeout.
• The panel also approved the expansion of the restricted-area arc in the paint from three to four feet with a goal of reducing the number of collisions at the basket. Referees will also have the ability to use a video review while seeing if a possible flagrant foul occurred to penalize players who fake fouls.
• Another rule approved was eliminating the five-second closely guarded rule while dribbling the basketball. The prohibition on dunking in pregame warmups at halftime was lifted to allow that.

During the 2015-16 postseason only, with the exception of the NCAA tournament, the panel approved an experimental rule to allow players six personal fouls instead of five.

“Reducing the number of timeouts will help pace of play,” Hunter said. “However, I believe most coaches will still keep timeouts until the end of the game meaning it will not speed up the final few minutes. As for the arc, anything we can do to help the referees I am in favor of so I think this was a good step.”

Four Quarters, Not Two Halves:

• On the women's side, the panel approved a major rule change that will now see games played in four 10-minute quarters. The hope is to enhance the flow of the game.

“I am excited about these rule changes because the four quarters of play along with the timeouts will change the flow of our game,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said.

• Teams will now reach the bonus and shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul of each quarter as team fouls will reset to zero at the start of each quarter. This eliminates the one-and-one free throws in the past and starts with the two free throws. If a team reaches the bonus in the fourth quarter, that team will remain in the bonus during any overtime periods.
• Following a fourth quarter and overtime timeout in the last 59.9 seconds, teams will advance the ball automatically to the frontcourt. Teams will also be allowed to advance the ball to the frontcourt after securing the ball from a rebound or a change of possession. In these scenarios, the ball would be inbounded at the 28-foot mark on the side of the court where the scorer's table is located.
• Defenders will now also be able to place a forearm or an open hand with a bend in the elbo­w on an offensive post player with the ball whose back is to the basket.

“Resetting the foul count at the beginning of each quarter will also allow better flow for the game,” said head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener. “Additionally, I love the ball advanced up the floor during the last minute of play because I think that will build excitement. Offensive execution will become critical to our game.”

In an effort to improve the overall fan experience, bands or amplified music may be played during any dead-ball situation during a women's basketball game. Previously, rules allowed music to be played only during timeouts and intermission.

Both squads opened summer workouts and began classes on Monday and will continue for eight weeks.