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In another year I look to see the wise coach swinging to a very slow set and
tentalizing offense. Certainly if I had no extra reserves I would play the slow set,
screening game on the offense, and on the defense I would break rapidly back and set
my defense for the fast break ball handlers My contention is that this game as now
played is entirely too mechanical. There is a break up the floor and then a break
down the floor, Simm exactly like hockey. The center play offered some variations

The game is for the players first, and for the spectators secondly, I say the _
players first, beeause it is the health of the players thet is foremost to be considerede

fhe writer has already coached 30 years of actual and continuous college basketball.
At the present time I am the oldest coach in the United States in point of service who
is now coaching collegiate basketball. I have seen a good many rules changes since 1900,
since I have been playing high school, college and independent basketball, and have also
coached high school, independent and college basketball, Sut in the 50 years I have
coached 30 years of college basketball. During that time I have seen many rules changese

I played ix ‘eollege geme when the colleges could not dribble but just play the
one bounce, and they permitted the colleges to ribble, and changes have come thick
and fast. The rules mekers have been saying to leave the rules alone, but just this
lest year the rules makers legislated into the game the most drastic change that has
been made in years, ‘Ten years ago the rules cammittee legislated the dribble out of
- ‘basketball. The dribble was so spectacular « it is akin to the broken field rum in
football < that I personally took a shot at the rules camittee for doing its

Knute Roclme was lecturing at Des Moines before the Netional Education Association
on the pedagogy of football, and I was lecturing at the Drake field house before the
same body on the pedagogy of basketball. It was just after the rules body had made
their change in April, and I flayed then on accout of their dictatorial and uncompranis=
ing attitude in not ascertaining the wishes of the coahces before the rule was madee

This was before the organization of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
I reeeived 160 telegrams from coaches over the United States who were adverse to the
elimination of the dribble. We, the coaches, met in Des Moines at the time of the Drake
Relays in the latter part of April, and voiced our disapproval of the rules bodys’ .
changes We further agreed to meet in Chicago at the time of the National Collegiate
AeAeU. Track meeting in Jume and form a coaches* association. By this time the rules
body had changed the rule back to reinstating the dribble.

In Jue I was elected first president of the National Association of Basketball
Coachese I was re-elected the second year. At no time have I ridden the hobby of
trying to get through same pet rules I have considered in my estimate of the changes what
would be good for the players and also what would be good entertainment for the
spectatorse

Dr. Naismith says to me that he is not standing in the way of progress, but wants
to be sure that the rules makers are going in the right direction, This is his answer
to my query of him after I received your letter and put the question to him of the
"neach basket" stage. Dr. Naismith is not hideboumd, nor is he contracted in any waye
Doctor has never really coached basketball, but he travels all ar the United States
each year and witnesses basketball from the girls aud boys game to the high school,
college end independent basketball, wherever played in the Ue Se It is my opinion
that he is much more mellow and much more responsive than most any coach in the comtrys

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