The PIAA Thursday approved a rule change that allows basketball coaches to stand and walk in a designated area in front of their team bench.

Since 1968, basketball coaches at PIAA member schools have been required to remain seated during games unless they were calling a timeout. A coach leaving his seat for any other reason could be assessed a technical foul.

The rule was one of the most restrictive in the country. Only one other state, Iowa, had a similar rule.

On Thursday, the PIAA Board of Directors voted 16-11 to loosen the rule, allowing coaches to stand and walk in a designated box. Coaches leaving the box without the permission of game officials can still be assessed a technical foul.

"This will allow coaches to more fully coach their teams," said Mark Zerbe, president of the Pennsylvania Basketball Coaches Association, and a boys basketball coach at Cedar Cliff High School in suburban Harrisburg. "I know some coaches who can be just as belligerent sitting down as standing, so this is just a common-sense step."

Several PIAA board members and PIAA Executive Director Brad Cashman opposed the move, saying that other state associations have reported problems with the boxes.

The vote was prompted in part by the entry of Philadelphia public schools to the PIAA playoffs next year. Philadelphia schools never had a bench rule until last year, when District 12 officials required them to abide by all PIAA regulations.

Cashman and District 12 Chairman Robert Coleman acknowledged that some coaches had difficulty adjusting to the new rule, and both agreed that allowing coaches to walk around will make Philadelphia's transition into PIAA playoffs easier.