ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, April 10, 1997               TAG: 9704100051
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-4  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: KANSAS CITY, MO.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

PREP BASKETBALL IS TAKING TIME OUT TO TINKER WITH RULES 20-SECOND TO MAKES DEBUT

The national federation makes rulings regarding timeouts, free throws and uniforms for next season.

High school basketball coaches will lose one full-length timeout, but gain two 20-second timeouts next season in a rules change designed to speed up play.

The National Federation Basketball Rules Committee approved the changes during its Sunday and Monday meeting, the National Federation of State High School Associations announced Wednesday.

The change will give coaches three full-length timeouts and two 20-second timeouts during a regulation game. Any timeouts not used during regulation carry into overtime.

The committee also restored a 1981 rule that prohibits players standing along the lane for a free throw from moving until the ball hits the backboard or rim.

The committee exempted warm-up clothing from a rule that restricts the size of manufacturers' logos on uniforms to 11/2 by 11/2 inches. And the committee added illegal pants to the list of uniform items that will result in a technical foul.

Another change prevents players from locking arms or grabbing teammates to keep an opponent from moving.

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