WNBA Board of Governors Approves Modifications to Instant Replay Rules

The WNBA Board of Governors unanimously approved several modifications to the instant replay rules that will go into effect for the upcoming 2011 season, the league announced on Wednesday, December 8. Instant replay may now be used:

  • During the last one minute of regulation and the entire duration of any overtime period in order to determine whether the ball touched the rim and thus whether the shot clock should be adjusted.
  • During the last one minute of regulation and the entire duration of any overtime period, to determine which of two players on opposing teams caused the ball to become out-of-bounds.
  • During a replay review of an out-of-bounds call, to determine when the ball is out of bounds for the purposes of adjusting the game clock and shot clock.
  • At any point during the game, to determine which player should attempt free throws after a foul occurred.
  • At any point during a game, to determine whether a foul that was called a clear-path-to-the-basket foul met all the criteria of a clear-path-to-the basket foul.

The Board of Governors also approved the following modifications of rules regarding correctable errors.

  • If the ball is put into play and remains in play with one team having six or more players on the court, a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul will be assessed on the team with too many players. Immediately following the free throw awarded for the technical foul, the team with the correct number of players will instruct the Crew Chief to:
    i. Resume play from the point in time when the technical foul was assessed, OR
    ii. Nullify all play that occurred from the point in time when the ball was put into play with one team having six or more players on the court and ending when the technical foul was assessed, and reset the game and shot clock to the point in time when the ball was put into play.

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