Experimental Playing Rules Guidelines

Rules committees should note the following guidelines before consideration of proposing an experimental rule.

Experimental rules typically have been used in certified preseason basketball games, per Bylaw 30.10.1.13, which states: "An event may be conducted under experimental rules, provided such a request is made by the NCAA Men's or Women's Basketball Rules Committees and approved by the Championships Cabinet."

Other rules committees are not precluded from considering a rule on an experimental basis. However, because sports other than basketball do not have provisions for certified preseason contests in which rules could be used on an experimental basis, committees should keep the following points in mind when considering the use of an experimental rule:

Experimental rules should be considered on a limited basis. In essence, every rules proposal adopted by a committee could be considered "experimental." If an adopted rule subsequently does not meet the spirit and intent the committee originally wanted it to have, the rule can simply be rescinded and stricken with the publication of the next edition of the rules book.
As with all rules, an experimental rule should be safe for the athletes, be applicable to institutions in all three divisions, be easily understood and administered by officials, and not have a prohibitive economical impact.
An experimental rule proposal that relates to safety, image of the sport or has a financial impact; will need to be approved by the Championships/Competiton Cabinet in Division I and the Championships Committees in Divisions II and III.
The rules committee should have a defendable rationale for introducing an experimental rule.
The experimental rule should have a definite term or time limit assigned to it and the effect of the rule should be measurable.
Since sports other than basketball do not have provisions for certified preseason events, the rules committee should consider inviting a conference(s) to use the experimental rule proposal during the regular season so that the results and effect of the rule could be measured or studied. In some instances, the nontraditional season (e.g., spring soccer) would be a good time to use an experimental rule.
A subcommittee of the rules committee should be responsible for inviting conferences to compete with the experimental rule and be able to record and measure the effect of the experimental rule to report back to the full committee.
Consideration of an experimental rule should be thorough and undergo the same debate and examination the committee would use in proposing and adopting any rule proposal.

MVE/blb