Everyone knows that the NBA is steadily gaining on the NFL as the most-popular league in the United States. So, the NBA is looking to incorporate everyone's favorite part of their competitor: the sluggish and replay-addled pace. NBA's Board of Governors have voted to include a Coach's Challenge that will give teams the ability to challenge calls on personal fouls, out-of-bounds, and goaltending.
Each coach will get one challenge per game. The challenge has to be called during a team timeout. If a team's attempt to challenge without any remaining timeouts, they get a technical foul. Similar to the NFL, challenges won't be available near the end of the game or overtime.
In addition to the new challenge rule, the NBA Replay Center will be able to remotely call a replay for field goals and shot clock violations.
“These initiatives further strengthen our officiating program and help referees make the right call,” league operations president Byron Spruell said in a press release announcing the new rules, which will take effect for a trial year beginning next season. “Giving head coaches a voice will enhance the confidence in our replay process among teams and fans and add a new, exciting strategic element to our game. Enabling the NBA Replay Center to trigger instant replay will improve game flow and provide real-time awareness of any adjustments to the score.”
The NBA created the replay center back in 2014 to aid refs on the court. However, it will see much more extensive use now that the board voted unanimously to institute the new rules. To facilitate this new, increased communication, the league is hiring a courtside middleman to aid in the back and forth.
