NBA announces six rules changes for 2006-07 season

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NEW YORK - NBA head coaches will be able to directly call timeouts next season, one of six rules changes announced Wednesday following the Board of Governors meetings.

Under the current rules, coaches can only call timeouts if play has been stopped because a player is bleeding.

The other big change will give teams two free throws plus the ball after a clear-path foul, instead of one shot.

The other minor changes included:

-If a player is hurt after a Flagrant Foul 1 penalty and can't continue, his coach, instead of the opposing coach, picks a player on the floor to take the shots. The injured player then can't return to the game.

-Free substitution will be allowed during all 20-second timeouts, instead of only the ones during the last 2 minutes or regulation or during overtime.

-If a player not appearing on the active list enters a game, he will be disqualified at the first deal ball and his team will receive a technical foul.

-Players on the free throw line can't extend their arms in front of an opponent until the shooter has released the ball. Also, a player not in a lane space must stand behind the 3-point line and above the free throw line extended until the ball is shot.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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