Dr. Forrest C. Allen
University of Kansas

So many changes have occurred in the basketball coaching personnel
in our American high schools and colleges that a re-inventory of the most vital
and elemental fundamentals seems apropos at this time. .

The Chinese philosopher made the observation that our game of
Lente, tn Gah O8S of cur Maint geek, me unde w of "te uote".
However, we have learned that through inhibitions we become civilised and
educated.

In my office here at the University of Kansas I have a photostatic
copy of Dr. Naismith's first draft of the basketball rules. There were thirteen
simple rules in his first draft, and the wmsual feature about the original
rules of basketball of 1692 is that they have survived the impact of the years
remarkably well. Below these rules are written in Dr. Naismith's own hand-
writing: "First draft of the basketball rules nmg in the gym that the boys
might learn the rules, February, 1892. James Naismith."

The first draft was hung in the college gymmasium at Springfield,
Massachusetts, where Dr. Naismith originated the game by hanging two peach
baskets on the running track, which happened to be ten feet from the floor.
Unto this day the height of the basket has remained unchanged, although the
altitude of the players has increased markedly.

It is a long ory from the skill of the game first played in 1892
up to the present time, but good basketball fundamentals have never changed.
It is with the idea of emphasizing these correct basketball fundamentals that
we offer these suggestions, We will make positive suggestions rather than
clothe them in the negative terminology.