The NBA reportedly will begin fining players guilty of flopping beginning next season.

Although the exact amount of fines has not been determined, the clubs have been informed of the new rule.

``What was clearly expressed to the committee is that we would begin imposing fines next season for the most egregious type of flops,'' NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson told ESPN.com, ``when players are taking a dive, for lack of a better term.''

In-game observers at the arenas and video reviewers will report theatrical flops as part of postgame reports, ESPN.com reported.

Whether suspensions could be a part of the punishments is not clear. The league has an escalating scale of punishments for technical fouls and could use something similar for flops.

Players who flop in international basketball get technical fouls.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.