NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Review

Exactly 500 vocabulary flashcards detailing the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules and Regulations including court dimensions, uniform specs, and administrative duties.

Basketball Game Objective

For each team to score points by throwing or tapping the ball into its own basket and to prevent the other team from scoring.

Number of Players per Team

Each team consists of five players.

Basket Warm-up Direction

Each team shall warm up and shoot during the first half at the basket farthest from its bench.

Second Half Basket Direction

Teams shall change baskets for the second half.

Methods of Ball Movement

The ball may be thrown, batted, rolled or dribbled in any direction subject to specific rules.

Playing Court Shape

A rectangular surface free from obstructions.

Sideline Length

The sidelines of the playing court are $94\,feet$ in length.

End Line Length

The end lines of the playing court are $50\,feet$ in length.

Court Boundary Measurement

Dimensions are measured from the inside edges of the boundary lines.

Unobstructed Space Outside Sidelines

At least $3\,feet$ of unobstructed space is required, with $10\,feet$ being preferred.

Standard Boundary Line Width

Boundary lines are typically marked at $2\,inches$ wide.

Contrasting-Colored Out-of-Bounds Belt Width

Should be at least $8\,inches$ wide if used instead of standard boundary lines.

Shadow Line Border Width

Border lines must be at least $1/4\,inch$ wide within the $2-inch$ width.

Official Scorer's Table 'X' Dimensions

Composed of $12-inch$ line segments that are $2\,inches$ in width.

NCAA Logo Minimum Diameter (Floor)

Approximately $8\,inches$ in diameter.

NCAA Basketball Logo Rectangle size (Floor)

Approximately $1.5\,feet$ by $2.5\,feet$.

End Line Throw-in Tick Mark Width

A solid $2-inch-wide$ line.

End Line Throw-in Tick Mark Length

A solid $12-inch-long$ line.

Tick Mark Measurement from Lane

$3\,feet$ from the outside edge of the free-throw lane line to the inside edge of the tick mark.

Center Circle Line Width

The line marking the center circle is $2\,inches$ wide.

Interrupted Center Line Permissible Pattern

$4\,inches$ long, $2-inch$ break, and so on.

Center Circle Radius (Outside Edge)

Standardized to $6\,feet$.

Nonjumper Empty Space Distance

Unmarked spaces extend $3\,feet$ from the outside edge of the center circle.

Division Line Width

The division line is $2\,inches$ wide.

Formation of the Division Line

By extending the center-circle diameter in both directions until it intersects the sidelines.

Free-throw Lane Width

$12\,feet$ wide measured to the outside of each lane boundary.

Lane-space Mark Dimensions

$2\,inches$ by $8\,inches$.

Lane Block Dimensions

$12\,inches$ by $8\,inches$.

Lane-space Area Extension

Areas extend $36\,inches$ from the outer edge of the lane lines toward the sidelines.

Free-throw Line Width

The line is $2\,inches$ wide.

Free-throw Semicircle Outside Radius

Standardized to $6\,feet$.

Distance from Free-throw Line to Backboard Face

The farthest edge is $15\,feet$ from the plane of the face of the backboard.

Three-Point Field-Goal Line (Center)

A distance of $22\,feet, 1.75\,inches$ from the center of the basket to the outside edge of the line.

Three-Point Field-Goal Line (Corners)

A distance of $21\,feet, 7.875\,inches$ from the center of the basket.

Three-Point Line Width

A single-colored solid $2-inch$ line.

Restricted Area Definition

The area located directly underneath each basket from the front and side of the ring to the front of the backboard.

Women's Basketball Restricted Area Arc

Recommended four-foot arc.

Coaching Box Bound (Sideline to Bench)

Extends from the sideline to the back of the team benches and up to the $38-foot$ line.

Coaching Box Boundary Line Length

A minimum of $2\,feet$, perpendicular to the sideline.

Backboard Horizontal Dimensions

Must be exactly $6\,feet$ horizontal.

Recommended Backboard Vertical Dimension

$3.5\,feet$ vertical is recommended for replacement or new installations.

Alternate Backboard Vertical Dimension

$4\,feet$ vertical is also permissible.

Backboard Material Requirement

Must be transparent, unaltered, rigid, and rectangular with a flat surface.

Standard Backboard Padding Thickness

Padding must be $1\,inch$ thick from the front and back surfaces.

Padding Extension from Bottom Backboard Edge

Must extend $2\,inches$ from the bottom edge.

Padding side surface height

Must cover the side surface to a distance of $15\,inches$ up from the bottom.

Padding Minimum Coverage (Front/Back Bottom)

A minimum distance of $3/4\,inch$ from the bottom of each backboard.

Backboard Support Padding Height Requirement

Any support less than $9\,feet$ above the floor must be padded on the bottom surface.

Backboard Support Padding Extension

Padding must extend to a distance of $2\,feet$ from the face of the backboard.

Portable Backstop Base Padding Height

Must be padded to a height of $7\,feet$ on the courtside surface.

Backboard Protrusion Rule

Protrusions below backboards are not allowed.

Support Displacement (Side extension)

Any support extending beyond the side must be at least $2\,feet$ behind the backboard.

Minimum Distance from End Line to Support System

Any support system must be at least $4\,feet$ from the end line.

Forward-Braced Support Minimum Height

Diagonal brace must be a minimum height of $4\,feet, 6\,inches$ above the basket ring.

Backboard Position from End Line

Must be parallel to and $4\,feet$ from each end line.

Upper Edge of Backboard Height

$13\,feet$ above the floor.

Backboard Spectator Separation

Must be protected to a distance of at least $3\,feet$ from the end of each backboard.

Basket Stanchion Escape Lane Width

Recommended $3-foot$ escape lane on both sides.

Stanchion Signage Maximum Physical Area

$14\,inches$ x $52\,inches$ x $2\,inches$.

Stanchion Signage Maximum Active Display

$12\,inches$ x $46\,inches$.

Stanchion Signage Mandatory Padding

Minimum of $3/4-inch-thick$ padding with rounded edges.

Stanchion Signage Placement Minimum

$6\,inches$ behind the end line.

Stanchion Signage Default Dimming

Must be set to $50\%$ of maximum brightness.

Stanchion Signage Recommended Dimming

$20-25\%$ brightness level.

Backboard Vibration Static Goal

Must regain a static position within $4\,seconds$ of a dunk.

Basket Ring Inside Diameter

Must be exactly $18\,inches$.

Basket Ring Metal Diameter

Not more than $5/8\,inch$ in diameter.

Basket Net White-cord mesh count

A $12-mesh$ net.

Basket Net Length Range

Between $15\,inches$ and $18\,inches$ in length.

Net Cord Thread Count Minimum

Not less than $120-thread$ twine.

Net Cord Thread Count Maximum

Not more than $144-thread$ twine.

Upper Edge of Basket Ring Height

$10\,feet$ above and parallel to the floor.

Inside Edge of Ring distance from Backboard Face

$6\,inches$ from the plane of the face of the backboard.

Basket Ring Type Requirement

Movable rings are required.

The Ball definition of Spherical

A round body whose surface at all points is equidistant from the center except at the rubber ribs.

Ball Color Pantheon Numbers

Pantone Orange 151, Red-Orange 173, or Brown 1535.

Ball Surface Protrusions

Tiny raised protrusions densely spaced to form a pebbled appearance.

Ball Panel Count

The ball shall have the traditionally shaped eight panels.

Black Rubber Rib Width

Width shall not exceed $1/4\,inch$.

Ball Inflation Rebound Test Height

Dropped from a height of $6\,feet$ measured to the bottom of the ball.

Minimum Ball Rebound Height

Not less than $51\,inches$ measured to the top of the ball.

Maximum Ball Rebound Height

Not more than $56\,inches$ measured to the top of the ball.

Maximum Ball Circumference

$29\,inches$.

Minimum Ball Circumference

$28.5\,inches$.

Minimum Ball Weight

$18\,ounces$.

Maximum Ball Weight

$20\,ounces$.

Ball Decal Area Limit (Postseason)

$5\,inches$ by $8\,inches$ in the lower corners on the front of the backboard.

Number of Manufacturer Logos on Ball

A maximum of two times.

Commercial Logo Dimension limit (On court)

Logo must fit into a box that is $10\,feet$ by $10\,feet$ square.

Commercial Logo Sideline distance

$4.5\,feet$ from the sideline.

Commercial Logo Division line distance

$8.5\,feet$ from the division line.

Game Clock Tenth-of-a-second trigger

Required when less than $1\,minute$ remains in a quarter or overtime.

Backboard Red-warning Light Box size

$24-inch-by-18-inch$ rectangle painted on the backboard.

Number of Required Shot Clocks

Two visible shot clocks with a horn distinct from the game clock are required.

Game Jersey Neutral Zone defined

The front and back portion of the jersey that must be of the same single color.

Jersey Neutral Zone Tonal Shift Limit

Tonal shifts of not more than $15\%$ from the color of the neutral zone.

Jersey Front Neutral Zone minimum width

$12\,inches$ wide measured $6\,inches$ in each direction from center.

Jersey Shoulder Panel measurement

Measured from the top of the shoulder seam and extends a maximum of $5\,inches$ down.

Minimum Logo/Name distance from Player Number

Not closer than $1\,inch$ from the uniform number.

Legal Player Numbers

Arabic numerals $0-99$. Rosters can include $0$ or $00$, but not both.