Rule Changes Are Coming

NORMAN - When OU women's basketball fans walk into the Lloyd Noble Center for the first time this season and notice just ten minutes on the clock, they may start scratching their heads.

Four 10-minute quarters, fewer timeouts, live music and new rules involving free throws late in the game are just a few of the new rule changes implemented by the NCAA this season for women's basketball. All are intended to speed up the pace of play and to improve fan experience.

To get Sooner fans ready for OU's exhibition game on Nov. 4 versus Southwestern Oklahoma State and its season opener against Winthrop on Nov. 13, here's a quick guide to the new rule changes for this year:

Four Quarters = Two Halves

Let's start with the biggest rule change and that's adjusting to playing four 10-minute quarters. Since the beginning of the sport, the NCAA has implemented 20-minute halves for games.

With the new game format, each quarter will have just one electronic media timeout, which hopefully allows for fewer stoppages in play. Playing 10-minute quarters will also affect when teams reach the bonus and how many free throws they will shoot.

No More 1-and-1

Gioya Carter

Fouls early in the game could have consequences at the free throw line thanks to the elimination of the 1-and-1 rule.

Another change that this season's new game format has brought is a new rule regarding free throws and when teams reach the bonus. In the past once a team reached their seventh foul of the half, the opposing team automatically went to the line to shoot 1-and-1 free throws from the charity stripe.

Now once a team picks up its fifth foul of the quarter, their opponent will automatically shoot two free throws for the rest of the period. On the bright side, each team's number of fouls resets when a new quarter begins.

Head coaches will have just four timeouts at their disposal during regulation this season.

Four Timeouts

Teams will now only have four timeouts to begin the game, one less than in the past.

Each coach will have one 60-second timeout at their disposal as well as three 30-second timeouts.

Additionally, teams will be allowed to carry three of their timeouts to the second half.

If a game heads to overtime, each coach will be given one extra timeout.

Louder Enviroment

The NCAA rules committee has made an effort to improve gameday experience for fans by allowing amplified music or the band to play during any deadball situation.

In the past, music was only allowed to be played during timeouts and the halftime intermission.

Fans at the Lloyd Noble Center can expect more sound effects and music when the Sooners force a turnover, block a shot out of bounds or make the opposing coach burn a timeout.

Take our quiz to see how well you know the new rules. Click here to test your knowledge.