So, for example, clubs (as well as referees and table officials) should prepare in September for:
Reduced possession time of 20 seconds in these situations – at a corner throw; when the attacking team regains possession after a shot rebounds form the goal frame; after an exclusion (unless there is more time left on the shot clock). BWPL shot clocks are being adjusted to cope with this change.
Free throws taken from the location of the ball.
From a corner, the attacking player can shoot, or swim and shoot without passing.
An additional 6m line, outside which a player can shoot directly from a free throw, or shoot after putting the ball in play, then faking and dribbling.
Goalkeepers moving beyond halfway with opportunity to shoot.
BWPL will not operate the new three-minute interval after two periods – for League games, that remains at two minutes. The new rules stipulate two time-outs per team instead of one per period, which is what already applies in the majority of BWPL matches.
And we won’t be introducing ‘flying subs’ – simply because the majority of pools used by the League have no space for an additional substitution re-entry area between the goal line and halfway line.
This is just a brief indication of how the most significant rule changes for decades will affect BWPL. A far more detailed explanation will be issued in due course.