NBA team owners have approved rule changes creating an in-game flopping penalty and expanded coach's video replay challenge starting next season.
The NBA's Competition Committee, which included players, coaches, referees, club owners and team executives, unanimously recommended both changes to the team owners.
The new flopping rule says that when a game official calls a player for a flop - a motion deliberately trying to entice a referee foul call on another player - an offending player will be issued a technical foul and the opposing team will be awarded one free-throw attempt.
Referees will not be required to stop play to call a flopping violation. They can call a foul and a flopping violation on the same play.
Meanwhile, the change in the coach's challenge rules gives teams a second challenge if their first challenge is successful.
Teams must continue to use a time-out to trigger a challenge.
