Girls basketball teams can experiment with 16-minute halves

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is giving teams and conferences the option to play 16-minute halves instead of eight-minute quarters for varsity girls' basketball games this winter.“During the 2010-11 varsity basketball season, varsity girls teams may play two 16-minute halves during non-conference games with mutual agreement by both schools.  Conferences may also agree to play two 16-minute halves in all conference games if the conference adopts the policy for the season.  Please note that this experimental rule applies only to VARSITY contests and is NOT mandatory.  However, if a conference votes to adopt the rule for its conference games, ALL conference schools must participate,” IGHSAU assistant director Joel Oswald said.“The rationale behind this experimental rule is to provide more flow and excitement to the game, reduce heat up/cool down situations, potentially give more players the opportunity to play due to starter fatigue, and to eliminate two frequent stall situations at the end of the two quarter breaks.”The 16-minute experiment will not be used in the postseason.