= NATIONAL COLLEGIATE A. A. - CHAIRMEN OF SUB-COMMITTEES NATIONAL FEDERATION H. S.A. A. - Y.M.C.A. - CANADIAN I. A U. and A. B. A. NATIONAL BASKETBALL COMMITTEE of the UNITED STATES and CANADA Vice CHairnmMAN, JOHN BUNN Stanford Univ., Palo Alto, Cal. Executive mtestion Cuairman, H. H. SALMON, Jr. H. H. Satmon, Jr. Oswatp Tower 40 Wall St., New York, N. Y. Treasurer, FLOYD A. ROWE Research Questionnaire Sucuntany, H. V. PORTER Board of Education, Cleveland, Ohio Forrest C. ALLEN Game Administration Sumner A. Dote Complete List of Committee Members F. C. Allen Univ. of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas John Brown 847 Madison Ave. New York, New York John Bunn Stanford Univ. Palo Alto, California J. H. Crocker Univ. of Western Ontario London, Ont., Canada M. C. Cunningham High School Desloge, Missouri Sumner A. Dole Connecticut State College Storrs, Connecticut H. D. Edgren George Williams College Chicago, Illinois E. J. Hickox Springfield College Springfield, Massachusetts Frank P. Maguire Dept. of Public Instruction Harrisburg, Pennsylvania W. E. Meanwell Shorewood Hills Madison, Wisconsin Curtis Parker Centennary College Shreveport, Louisiana H. V. Porter 11 So. LaSalle St. Chicago, Illinois Samuel Rogers 210 Confederation Life Bldg. Toronto, Ont., Canada Floyd A. Rowe Board of Education Cleveland, Ohio J. W. St. Clair Southern Methodist Univ. Dallas, Texas H. H. Salmon, Jr. 40 Wall St. New York, New York Oswald Tower Andover, Massachusetts Willard A. Witte Univ. of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming H. V. Porter ll So. LaSalle St., Chicago, Illinois Epitorn, OSWALD TOWER Andover, Massachusetts May 15, 1939 Mr. F. C. Allen Univ. of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Mr. Allen; I have your letter of May 13th. - You will note that the diagram I submitted for the backboard outlines a board considerably larger than the small board which was exhibited. Also it is about halfway between the fan shape and the traditional rectangular shape. “e can always increase the size if it is found desirable. How- ever, if a change should be made, I think it would be a great mistake if we did not eliminate all possible waste surface. My only thought in sub- mitting this diagram was to get some action in time for use by the various manufacturers who might be willing to cooperate and in time for some mention of this in the copy of the book which is going to the printer within the next few days. Jt is an easy matter to let something like this drag along until it is too late to get any reaction in tim for use during the new season. I have had returns from about half of the committee relative to the proposed diagram and all of those who have replied indicate that the diagram seems to summarize the sentiment expressed at the meeting. This does not preclude the making of changes in case the Research Committee should decide that it is desirable to make such changes. The only thing tT am concerned about at this time is that we be able to reach some sort of an agreement in time for the matter to be called to the attention of the manufacturers and of the schoolmen through the medium of the books which are now being made ready. Otherwise, as far as the high schools are cone cerned, a whole season will have been lost. I note your comment relative to the 3 inch surface below the ring. I agree with you that we are not sure that this is a sufficient space although the experiments we have already conducted indicate that less use is made of the surface below the ring than has been generally thought. Also there isn't any doubt but that the surface directly below the ring is entirely wasted and that it is this part of the board which gives most obstriction to the view from the end of the gymnasium. If more than three inches below the ring are desirable, it is only on that space on either side of the ring rather than directly under it. In my opinion we should attempt to cut out all possible space in this area. I! believe it will be entirely possible to develop a bracing such that the basket flange will clamp to the lower edge of the board although it may be necessary to extend metal braces from behind the board and recurved so that they will extend some distance below the lower edge in coming up to give support to the ring. Even so, this would make much less obstruction to vision that the solid eighteen enches of board.