Ontario and Manitoba adopt new rules

[By Ryan McNeill] - The Hamilton Spectator ran an interesting article this week that brought up how coaches at the Ontario University Athletics annual general meeting in Huntsville this month voted in favour of men's basketball adopting international rules (FIBA) for the upcoming season. Women's OUA basketball adopted FIBA rules last season and coaches heralded the changes it made in the style of play.

The most notable differences between the two games are FIBA's wider key and reduced shot clock and FIBA is also reporting that, "Under the proposal, an OUA champion would still be crowned prior to the regional competitions and Final Four. Seeding would determine whether a team hosts a regional championship or travels to one."

Later in on in the week the Canadian Press reported that Manitoba followed Ontario's lead so that all the provinces across Canada are now unified under the same rules. The Canadian Press report states, "Manitoba's high school and minor basketball programs are the latest to go global. Basketball Manitoba, the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association and the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association announced Wednesday they were adopting FIBA rules of play. They join a growing list of Canadian organizations that have switched over as part of a Canada Basketball initiative to establish a common set of rules."

As a youth coach in Ontario I'm excited about the possibilities this provides younger players. Now, instead of playing in leagues that follow OBA Rules, NCAA Rules or NBA Rules all of the youth leagues, rep teams and high school teams will be now be unified under FIBA's rules so that children don't need to worry about learning different rules depending on what tournament or team they are playing in on any given weekend.

Another obvious perk would be for the Canadian National Team who will now be getting players that are already accustomed to playing under the rules that they will need to follow while playing in International Competitions.

As a hoops fan, I've always been disappointed in the turnout that college games in Ontario receive. During my final year at Brock University I had the chance to be the Sports Editor for the school paper and when the girls team advanced to the OUA Championships there were less than 200 Brock students at the game to cheer on their school. Contrast this with the kind of turnout that D1 schools enjoy in the United States and it's clear that something needs to be done to help spur on passion and the urge to cheer for hometown players or classmates.

Hopefully some new rules may be just the thing to help kick start a basketball revolution here in Canada.