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April 17, 1944.

Mr. Be i, Crone, ote, |

Associated Fress Office, ‘
Kansas City Star Building,

Kansas City, Missouri.

‘Dear B. Wes

Confirming our conversation of Saturday, I am sending you

my statement concerning my opinion of the new rules promulgeted by the
basketball rules committees of the N.C.A.A.

The so-called Goal Tending rule, or the rule Against the
Defensive Player Touching the Ball on its Downward Flight: This rule
previously forbade the defensive man from touching the ball while the
ball was on the rim of the basket or while the ball was above the per-
pendicular cylinder of the basket. This new rule substitutes the one
just mentioned. I am going into a little detail with you for fear you
might not have followed all of the angles of the new rule. The rule-
framers had in mind that if this defensive player touched the ball while
the ball was in its downrard flight this would correct all the trouble,
but it will not because we have rum tests on this rule.

At a clinic meeting at Cedar Repids, Iowa, the other day I
had the boys shoot for the basket and did not tell them what I had in
mind. A group of us studied the ball when it started on its downward
flight. We found that a tall player standing in front of the basket
and moving to either side could intercept most of the balls before they
started on the dowmward flight because the impetus was given to the ball
to carry to the basket, and many shots that would carry to or over the 7
basket were still going up in their flight from the floor. Only the
ball with a very high arch would begin its descent before it got above
the plane of the basket,

Therefore, my comment, I think, is well taken.

The New injury Rule, permitting the Official to call Time
Out for Injury for Bither Side: This rule has been tried before and
found wanting.

Phe Unlimited Substitution Rule: This has always bem a
good rule, but the basketball rules committee was afraid to put it in
even after the football rules committee had done so. My criticism of
the rules committees being susceptible to pressure groups is shown by
their slow action in this rule. The fact that football with more than
twice the number of people participating sould have adopted it for