The following is a selective list of NCAA Basketball rule changes and the year they can into effect. [Original Source: pages 246-248 of Official 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book.]

Season Rule Change

1900-1901 A dribbler may not shoot for a field goal and may dribble only once, and then with two hands.

1908-1909 A dribbler is permitted to shoot. The dribble is defined as the “continuous passage of the ball,” making the double dribble illegal.

1910-1911 Players are disqualified upon committing their fourth personal foul.

1910-1911 No coaching is allowed during the progress of the game by anybody connected with either team. A warning is given for the first violation and a free throw is awarded after that.

1920-1921 The basket is moved to two feet from the baseline. Previously the players could climb the padded wall to get closer to the basket (with the new rule the wall is out of bounds).

1920-1921 A player can re-enter a game once. Before this rule, if a player left the game, he could not re-enter for the rest of the game.

1921-1922 Running with the ball was changed from a foul to a violation.

1923-1924 The player fouled must shoot his own free throws. Before this rule, one person usually shot all the free throws for a team.

1928-1929 The charging foul by the dribbler is introduced.

1930-1931 A held ball may be called when a closely guarded player is withholding the ball from play for 5 seconds.

1932-1933 The ten second (mid-court) line is introduced to reduce stalling.

1932-1933 No player with the ball may stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.

1933-1934 A player may re-enter a game twice.

1935-1936 No offensive player (with or without the ball) may stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.

1937-1938 The center jump after every made basket is eliminated.

1938-1939 The ball will be thrown in from out of bounds at mid-court by the team shooting a free throw after a technical foul. Previously, the ball was put into play by a center jump after the technical free throw.

1939-1940 Teams have the option of taking a free throw or taking the ball at mid-court.

1942-1943 Any player who has yet to foul out, will be allowed to receive a fifth foul in overtime.

1944-1945 Defensive goal tending is banned.

1944-1945 Five personal fouls disqualifies a player; no extra foul is permitted in overtime.

1944-1945 Unlimited substitution is allowed

1944-1945 Offensive players cannot stand in the free throw lane for more than 3 seconds.

1948-1949 Coaches are allowed to speak to players during a timeout.

1951-1952 Games are to be played in four 10 minute quarters. Previously it was two 20 minute halfs.

1952-1953 Teams can no longer waive free throws and take the ball at mid court.

1954-1955 The one-and-one free throw is introduced allowing a player to take a second free throw if the first one is made.

1954-1955 Games are changed back to two 20 minutes halfs.

1955-1956 The two shot penalty in existence for the last 3 minutes of each half is eliminated; the one-and-one free throw exists for the whole game.

1956-1957 The free throw lane is increased from 6 feet to 12 feet.

1956-1957 On the lineup for a free throw, the two spaces adjacent to the end line must be occupied by opponents of the free thrower. In the past, one space was marked 'H' for the home team, and one 'V' for the visitors.

1956-1957 Grasping the rim is rule unsportsmanlike conduct.

1957-1958 Offensive goaltending is now banned.

1957-1958 One free throw for each common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half, and the one-and-one is used thereafter.

1967-1968 The dunk is made illegal during the game and during warmup

1972-1973 The free throw on the common foul for the first six personal fouls in a half is eliminated.

1972-1973 An official can charge a technical foul on a player for unsportsmanlike conduct if the official deems the player 'flopped' to get a charging call.

1972-1973 Freshman are now eligible to play varsity basketball

1973-1974 Officials can now penalize players away from the ball for fouls for acts such as holding, grabbing and illegal screens.

1976-1977 The dunk is made legal again.

1981-1982 The jump ball is eliminated except for the start of the first and second half, and overtime if necessary. An alternating arrow will indicate possession of the ball in jump-ball situations in a game.

1982-1983 When a closely guarded player is guarded for 5 seconds, a jump ball is no longer required. Instead a turnover is created and the ball goes to the other team.

1983-1984 Two free throws are issued if a foul occurs in the last two minutes of a half or in overtime.

1985-1986 The 45 second shot clock is introduced.

1985-1986 If a shooter is intentionally fouled and the basket is missed, the shooter will get two free throws and the team will get possession of the ball.

1986-1987 A three point shot was introduced at 19'9".

1987-1988 Each intentional personal foul carries two free throws and the team possession of the ball.

1990-1991 Beginning with the teams 10th foul in a half, two free throws are to be awarded for each personal foul.

1990-1991 Three free throws are awarded when a shooter is fouled from three point range and misses the shot.

1993-1994 The shot clock is reduced from 45 seconds to 35 seconds.

1993-1994 The game clock will be stopped with successful baskets in the last minute of each half and in the last minute of overtime, with no substitution permitted.

1993-1994 The five second rule regarding closely guarded players is eliminated.

1994-1995 Scoring is restricted to a tap-in when there is 0.3 seconds or less on the game clock.

1997-1998 The five second rule regarding closely guarded players is reinstated.

1997-1998 Timeouts can be made be players on the court or the head coach.

1998-1999 In a held ball situation initiated by the defense, the defense shall gain possession of the ball regardless of the possession arrow.

1999-2000 The held ball rule from 1998-1999 was rescinded.

2005-2006 Kicked balls will no longer reset the shot clock. If the violation occurs with less than 15 seconds, the clock will be reset to 15 seconds.

2006-2007 A timeout will not be recognized by an airborne player falling out of bounds.

2008-2009 Three point arc extended to 20' 9"

2008-2009 Eliminated first space nearest basket in the lane in the free throw shooting alignment (i.e. now only six players could stand next to the lane during a free throw instead of eight).

2008-2009 Referees may use instant replay to determine if a flagrant foul has been committed and who started the incident.

2015-2016 Shot clock changed to 30 seconds.

2015-2016 Dunks are permitted during warm ups