NEW YORK – The NBA Development League today announced rules changes for the 2015-16 season, including the limitation of the coach’s challenge to the end of the game and adjustments to the timeout format.  Additionally, the “international goaltending” rule will no longer be utilized and the NBA’s goaltending rule will be in effect.

Entering its 15^th season, the NBA D-League serves as a research and development lab for the NBA, testing rules, equipment and technological advancements.  Prior to last season, the league implemented a number of experimental rules, including the innovative coach’s challenge and “advance” rules, both of which will be continued for this season.

The coach’s challenge rule allows coaches to challenge either called personal fouls charged to their own team or any play that is currently an NBA D-League replay trigger, other than flopping, and has been amended to permit only one challenge per team in the fourth quarter and each overtime period.

To initiate a challenge, a coach must call a legal timeout and immediately indicate to the officials that an event is being challenged.  If the challenge is successful and the event is changed, the team will retain its timeout.  The challenging team will be charged with the timeout if the challenge is unsuccessful and the call is unchanged.

Additional rules changes allow for teams to be allotted four full (two-minute) timeouts and three 30-second timeouts during regulation game play.  A maximum of two 30-second timeouts, in addition to an “advance,” will be permitted during the final two minutes of regulation.  Only the offensive team can call the second of consecutive timeouts, except in instances of injury, infection control and following an “advance.”

The 2015-16 NBA D-League season tips off on Nov. 12 with an all-time high 19 teams competing in a 50-game regular season.

About the NBA Development League

The NBA Development League is the NBA’s official minor league, preparing players, coaches, officials, trainers, and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 19 teams with direct affiliations with NBA franchises for the 2015-16 season, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. An all-time high 38 percent of all NBA players at the end of the 2014-15 season boasted NBA D-League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. Fans can watch all NBA D-League games on nbadleague.com.