ARMY COACH REPORTS RESULTS OF
STANDARDIZED EQUIPMENT

Questionnaire Suggests Rules Committee Study Situation

By VALENTINE LENTZ

President, Eastern College Basketball Coaches Association

Coach, U.S. Military Academy, West Point

 

AST SPRING, at its annual convention in New
York, the National Association of Basketball

Coaches recommended to the National Basketball
Committee certain specific steps along the path
toward standardization of playing equipment and
facilities.

These recommendations, adopted unanimously by
the convention, covered court lighting and dimen-
sions, type and size of backboards and specifications
for the ball. The coaches voted for the 6 x 4-foot
rectangular banking surface; they expressed a pref-
erence for the sewn, leather ball.

A few days later, as a special emmisary from the
coaches’ association, | presented these recommen-
dations to the National Committee. When the re-
sults of the committee's deliberations were an-
nounced it was obvious that our recommendations
had been virtually ignored. The rules makers had
decided that the patented, steel, fan-shaped board,
approved a year earlier as optional equipment
after brief high school experimentation, would
hénceforth be regarded as official. They approved,
also, the molded, or so-called rubber ball. They
urged "rapid transition'' to the new ball and bank
with a view to making these items the sole official
equipment ‘'in the near future."

Such cavalier treatment of the National Coaches
Association naturally resulted in disappointment and
resentment in the profession. Officials of the Na-
tional Committee justified their action with the
explanation that the vote recorded on the recom-
mendations in our convention was insignificant when
compared to the preponderance of sentiment for
the new ball and backboard as shown by replies to
the rules committee questionnaire sent out to
coaches, officials, athletic directors and OTHERS.

The Eastern College Basketball Coaches Associa-
tion did not feel that the National Committee's
questionnaire was an accurate reflection of COL-
LEGE coaching sentiment on the controversial points
involved. Whereupon it undertook a nation-wide
poll to determine exactly how the COLLEGE teach-
ers of the game viewed the situation. Questionnaires
were sent to EVERY coach listed in the intercolle-
giate Blue Book—some 650 of them. Replies were
received from 387, a return of 59.5 per cent. Every
league, conference and district in the country was
represented in the replies, so it may be assumed

that an accurate cross-section of COLLEGE coach-
ing opinion was obtained.

Without further comment, | present herewith the
questionnaire with total figures on each point:

|. Do you favor standardization of backboards?
YES, 344. NO, 10. (33 did not answer).

a. Which do you prefer?
(1) 6 x 4 rectangular—241. —
(2) Fan-shaped—I28. (no comment—|4)
(3) Either—4.
b. Which did you use in 1940-41?
(1) 6 x 4 rectangular—299.
(2) Fan-shaped—69. (no comment—2}

eee a

c. Which will you use,in 1941-42?

(1) 6 x 4 rectangular—263.

(2) Fan-shaped—|00.

(3) Both—4. (no comment—7)

(4) Whatever prevalent—| 3.

d. How many sets of boards do you have in
your plant?

(1) Rectangular—| 320.
(2) Fan-shaped—336.

e. If visibility from the rear were to become
sufficiently desirable to make it necessary to
change the character of the backboard,
would you prefer
(1) 6 x 4 clear glass—197.

(2) Fan-shaped—160. {no comment 30)

2. Do you favor standardization of the ball? YES,

370. NO, 5. (12 did not answer)

a. Which do you preter?
(1) Four panel, stitched, leather, laceless,
rubber valve, rubber bladder type—|87.
(2) New type (moulded, Last-bilt, etc.}—1 86.
(9 did not answer, 4 marked "both", |
for visitor's choice)
b. Which did you use in 1940-41?
(1) Stitched leather, etc.—185.
(2) New type—169.
(3) Both—33.
c. Which will you use in 1941-42 varisity games?
(1) Stitched leather, etc.—1!77.
(2) New type—!79.
(3) Both—l6.
(9 undecided, 6 no preference).