The NBA Board of Governors approved three rule changes that will take effect beginning with the 2018-19 season, the league announced in a statement. The changes, though minor, will impact different areas of every game this year. Here is a breakdown of each change we’ll see this season: Shot clock resets to 14 seconds According to the NBA, the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds — not 24 seconds — in three scenarios: After an offensive rebound of a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim After a loose ball foul is called on the defensive team immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim After the offensive team gets possession of the ball after it goes out of bounds immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim. This rule change was made in an effort to speed the game up. It has been implemented in FIBA competition since 2014, in the WNBA since 2016, and in the G-League since the 2016-17 season. But according to data from Nylon Calculus, most NBA possessions following an offensive rebound last season resulted in a shot attempt zero to five seconds later. This will though prevent teams that benefit from grabbing offensive rebounds late in close games from dribbling the clock out before hoisting up a shot. A simpler clear path foul definition This one’s a little trickier, so let’s try to break it down as simple as possible. There are now a list of requirements for a referee to be able to whistle a clear path foul during a transition scoring opportunity: The ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt No defender is ahead of the offensive player with the transition scoring opportunity The player with the transition scoring opportunity is in control of the ball The foul deprives his team of an opportunity to score. The list of prerequisites needed to call a clear path foul now makes it less of a judgment call and more of a call reinforced by a set of laws. The NBA’s league office posted a video on Twitter that shows examples of how the rule changed from last year: The NBA Board of Governors today unanimously approved rules changes in advance of the 2018-19 season. This includes a simplification of the clear path foul rule. To view examples of the clear path foul rule simplification, see the video below. pic.twitter.com/HQjJCqK5rv — NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) September 21, 2018 If a defender is making a play on the ball and bumps the offensive player in a transition scoring opportunity, or if the defender fouls a player in the act of shooting, it is no longer considered a clear path foul. In addition, if any defender is ahead of the player with a transition scoring opportunity, a clear path foul cannot be called. In past seasons, referees made judgment calls to determine if the defender ahead of the play was in position to influence a transition scoring opportunity. Expanded definition of “hostile act” The definition of a hostile act has also been broadened for instant replay purposes. The expanded definition will allow referees to review plays to “determine the appropriate penalty for players or coaches if they are involved in hostile encounters with each other, referees or fans.” No further explanation was given, but if things get messy during a game, officials will be taking their time to determine the proper course of action. These rule changes won’t prove to be anything drastic, but it’s a collective step by the NBA toward honing an already impeccable product.<doc-sep>Resetting the shot clock is among the NBA’s new rule changes. (Getty Images) The NBA’s Board of Governors unanimously approved all three rules changes proposed by the competition committee for the 2018-19 season, according to a press release from the league. Beginning this season, the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds in instances when the offensive team earns a second possession, the clear-path foul rule has been streamlined, and the definition of a “hostile act” has been expanded to allow officials broader discretion for instant replay review. The shot-clock reset In an effort to speed up the pace of play, the shot clock will reset to 14 seconds rather than 24 under three sets of circumstances: following an offensive rebound, after a loose-ball foul by the defense on a rebounding opportunity, and if the defense knocks the ball out of bounds on a rebound attempt. The clear-path foul rule In an attempt to eliminate judgment calls by officials on clear-path fouls, the NBA established “bright line” standards on such scenarios. Clear-path fouls should now only be called when “the ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt; no defender is ahead of the offensive player with the transition scoring opportunity; the player with the transition scoring opportunity is in control of the ball (or a pass has been thrown to him); and if the foul deprives his team of an opportunity to score.” While these guidelines expand the rule to include plays above the 3-point line in the backcourt, they also remove the need for officials to determine whether a defender was or could get ahead the player with the transition scoring opportunity. The NBA released a video more clearly depicting the new rule: The NBA Board of Governors today unanimously approved rules changes in advance of the 2018-19 season. This includes a simplification of the clear path foul rule. To view examples of the clear path foul rule simplification, see the video below. pic.twitter.com/HQjJCqK5rv — NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) September 21, 2018 The expanded “hostile act” definition Story continues Officials can now review a wider range of plays to determine whether a “hostile act” was committed by a player or coach against each other, referees or fans. Under the old definition, officials reviewed any fight or physical altercation two players, including all punches, elbows, kicks and blows to the head. The press release did not include guidelines for the league’s expanded definition of such acts. – – – – – – – Ben Rohrbach is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! More from Yahoo Sports: • Roethlisberger ‘terrified’ me, Stormy Daniels says • Jets RB Crowell trolls Browns with vulgar celebration • Rookie Mayfield’s NFL debut is one to remember • Dan Wetzel: This time Conor McGregor isn’t faking the hate<doc-sep>The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously decided on a few new changes ahead of the 2018-19 season. It was on Friday that the association announced that the board approved a few changes that were originally proposed by the NBA Competition Committee nearly a month ago. Beginning at the start of the preseason, organizations and their players will have to adjust to three new stipulations that include the shot clock now being reset to 14 seconds following an offensive rebound, a more simplified clear-path foul rule, and an expansion of the hostile act definition. Here's what the NBA's press release says: Shot Clock Reset – The shot clock will reset to 14 seconds in three scenarios: after an offensive rebound of a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; after a loose ball foul is called on the defensive team immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; or after the offensive team gets possession of the ball after it goes out of bounds immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim. Simplification of the Clear-Path Foul Rule – The changes to the clear path foul rule establish “bright line” standards based on the position of players at the time of the foul while also narrowing required referee judgment and reducing the number of variables impacting the rule’s application. Expanded Definition of “Hostile Act” for Replay Purposes – For purposes of triggering instant replay review, the definition of a “hostile act” has been broadened to enable referees to determine the appropriate penalty for players or coaches if they are involved in hostile encounters with each other, referees or fans. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the board also approved an increase in retirement benefits for higher-level NBA executives including General Managers, coaches, trainers, and senior executives.<doc-sep>Jessica Hill/Associated Press The NBA Board of Governors approved rule changes for the 2018-19 season, including a reset of the shot clock to 14 seconds following an offensive rebound, the league announced Friday. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the changes and noted the alterations will also feature a simplification of clear-path foul rule when an offensive player is ahead of defenders on a fast break and an expansion of how the "hostile act" guidelines will be used for purposes of video replay reviews. Woj highlighted further modifications that passed through the board vote: Teams previously received a complete shot-clock reset to 24 seconds on an offensive rebound. The 10-second reduction will have the biggest impact in late-game situations where teams in the lead who grabbed a board on offense could shed a significant portion of the clock. The NBA's release noted the rule had previously been used by FIBA, the WNBA and the G League before receiving Board of Governors approval. Meanwhile, the clear-path changes eliminate most of the judgment calls made by referees to determine the exact placement between the offensive player, defensive player and the rim throughout the duration of the play before the foul. The new rule is based solely on whether the player in control of the ball is ahead of the final defender, has a transition scoring opportunity and the foul prevents that chance to score. Video Play Button Videos you might like Finally, the "Hostile Act" standards have been expanded to give referees greater freedom to use replay to determine whether punishment should be given to players or coaches for physical encounters, according to the NBA's release. The new rules will be in place when the NBA kicks off the preseason Sept. 28 and the regular season Oct. 16.<doc-sep>
Some changes will be coming to the NBA for the 2018-19 season. According to a press release from the league office, the NBA's Board of Governors unanimously voted to pass three rule changes for the 2018-19 season. The tweaks include a change to the shot clock after an offensive rebound, simplifying the clear-path foul rule and expanding the league's definition of the "hostile act" in order to more easily trigger an instant replay. Shot Clock Reset – The shot clock will reset to 14 seconds in three scenarios: after an offensive rebound of a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; after a loose ball foul is called on the defensive team immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim; or after the offensive team gets possession of the ball after it goes out of bounds immediately following a missed field goal or free throw that hit the rim. Simplification of the Clear Path Foul Rule – The changes to the clear path foul rule establish “bright line” standards based on the position of players at the time of the foul while also narrowing required referee judgment and reducing the number of variables impacting the rule’s application. The league offered a visual example of what this new rule entails shortly after releasing the press release announcing the changes. The NBA Board of Governors today unanimously approved rules changes in advance of the 2018-19 season. This includes a simplification of the clear path foul rule. To view examples of the clear path foul rule simplification, see the video below. pic.twitter.com/HQjJCqK5rv — NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) September 21, 2018 Expanded Definition of “Hostile Act” for Replay Purposes – For purposes of triggering instant replay review, the definition of a “hostile act” has been broadened to enable referees to determine the appropriate penalty for players or coaches if they are involved in hostile encounters with each other, referees or fans. The league's Board of Governors convened in New York City this week to vote on these three rules changes. While a two-thirds majority vote was needed to pass the new rules, each and every owner was on board with making these changes to the game.