Varsity Girls Basketball Teams May Experiment With Playing Two Halves In Non-Conference Season

During the 2010-11 varsity basketball season, varsity girls teams may play two 16-minute halves during non-conference games with mutual agreement by both schools.  Conferences may also agree to play two 16-minute halves in all conference games if the conference adopts the policy for the season.  Please note that this experimental rule applies only to VARSITY contests and is NOT mandatory.  However, if a conference votes to adopt the rule for its conference games, ALL conference schools must participate.

The rationale behind this experimental rule is to provide more flow and excitement to the game, reduce heat up/cool down situations, potentially give more players the opportunity to play due to starter fatigue, and to eliminate two frequent stall situations at the end of the two quarter breaks.

Please note that varsity overtime periods are four minutes in length regardless of whether quarters or halves are used. A reminder that each individual player has a 21-game season limitation.   A student who plays 0-2 quarters in a day is charged with 0 games against this limitation.  A student who plays in 3-6 quarters in a day is charged with 1 game against this limitation.  A student who plays in 7-8 quarters in a day is charged with two games against this limitation.  For implementation of this experimental rule, a player who plays in either the first half or the second half will be charged with 2 quarters.  A player who plays in both halves will be charged with four quarters.

We will not be using the experimental rule in the regional or state tournament.

Athletic directors and/or varsity head coaches, please notify me if your school and/or conference experiments with the rule this season.  This will be our second and final "experimental" year with this rule, and your input is crucial to allow us to track the number of schools and conferences participating and will assist us in evaluating this rule for possible future use.

Thank you for your cooperation and support of girls basketball in Iowa.

Joel Oswald

Assistant Director/Basketball Administrator