JOINT BASKETBALL COMMITTEE
‘The Basketball Rules for 1931 - 1932.

The following is-a summary of the Joint Basketball Rules
Committee's decisions concerning the basketball rules at the annual
meeting, April 10-11, 1931. This information is for the benefit of those
desiring the substance of the changes prior to the publication of the
Guide. No attempt is made here to give the exact wording of the new
rules,

The Question and Answers which hereto have appeared as an
appendix are to be revised and placed in the Rules, each appearing as
an approved ruling under the section to which it applies.

The two-minute time-out periods are to be reduced to one
minute. This will shorten the delays which are a source of criticism,

- and which some feel are not conducive to the best welfare of the play-

ers. Even with this change the rules make ample provision for injured
or exhausted players.

Under Rule 5, Section 6, a"suggestion" will be inserted to
the effect that players be numbered both front and rear. This is for
the convenience of officials and is not made compulsory.

A change in Rule II, Section 1, makes it possible to grant
time-out whenever the ball is dead, thus abolishing the exception
"after the ball is iniposition for one or more free throws",

When a team has no coach or other person authorized to make
substitutions, the referee will be required to obtain the approval of
the captain for a substitution.

A note is to be inserted in the list of personal fouls
directing specific attention to the fact that a player may be disquali-
fied for fouling an opponent who is in the act of shooting, if the
offender is exceptionally rough and makes no attempt to block the ball.

The note under Rule 1, Section 4, recommending that space be
marked on the free throw lanes is to be made a part of Section 4, these
spaces thus becoming mandatory.

In connection with the note to Rule 7, Section 3, the back-
court will be the half of the court remote from a player's own basket.

The recommendation contained in the note to Rule 9, Section
5, with reference to overtime periods for boys of high school age or
younger, becomes a part of Section 3 and the provisions thereof compul-
sory. If the score is still tied at the end of the second overtime
period, the team which first scores two points in the third overtime
period shall be the winner unless the teams have agreed to settle it

otherwise during the intermission following the first overtime period.

On any free throw, if the free thrower consumes more than
ten seconds, or crosses the line too soon, or if one of his team mates .
enters the lane too soon, or if the players of both teams break this |
rule, the ball is to be tossed up at the center instead of at the near-
er free throw line. This applies to all free throws, with the obvious
exception of multiple throws in which it would apply only to the last
throw. An insertion under this same section will forbid players to
touch the ball on a free throw until it has touched the basket or back-
board. If the ball does not enter the basket, or touch the ring or back-
board, it is to be awarded to an opponent of the free thrower out of
bounds on the side. This applies only to free throws following which
the ball would ordinarily be in play if the free throw is missed. On
free throws resulting from double fouls or technical fouls players are
not to line up on the free throw lanes,