A study of the foregoing indicates overwhelming
sentiment in favor of uniform backboards and balls.
It shows an almost 2-to-!| majority in favor of the
rectangular backboard as opposed to the steel
lima bean variety. It shows almost an exact split
on which type of ball is preferred. It shows, despite
the urging of the rules committee, that only a small
percentage of coaches will change from their
1940-41 equipment to the new bank and ball this
season.

This is indicative, | believe, of a feeling among
COLLEGE coaches that their views on the game in
which they have such a great stake are not receiving
the consideration they deserve from the National
Basketball Committee.

Surely the rules committee cannot maintain that
the colleges want the new backboard when virtually
two-thirds of them have expressed a preference for
the rectangular bank. | don't see either, how the
committee can justify its imposition of the rubber
ball on the game when opinion as to its desirability

is so divided.

Obviously, the majority, a vast majority, of the
coaches want standardized equipment, but it seems

to me that the rules committee should give some
consideration to the type of equipment desired by
the coaches before taking any arbitrary steps.

At any rate, before any definite changes are
made in the present rules covering playing equip-
ment and implements for college basketball, the
committee should sponsor exhaustive research and
a series of practical tests to determine whether or
not such changes are for the best interests of the
sport. What may be suitable for high school use
may be quite unsuitable for college purposes. The
reverse is true, too. These factors should be weighed
by the National Committee.

A tremendous expense is involved in shifting over
from the rectangular boards to the lima bean type;
expense not only for the purchase of new boards,
but in revamping or replacing existing installations
to accommodate them. | imagine that war metal
priorities will take care of the backboard situation
until the shooting is over. We have other uses for
steel and iron now and will have until peace returns
to the world. In the interim, the rules committee
should go into the whole matter of college playing
equipment and the preferences of those most con-
cerned—the. colleges themselves.

 

PAN-AMERICAN PLANS IN BASKETBALL

HE ORGANIZATION and plans for participation
by basketball in the Pan-American games in Rio
December, 1942 were formulated in late December
at the meeting of this joint committee held in the

New York Athletic Club.

Participating in the discussions were five college
representatives, a like number from the Amateur
Athletic Union and Dr. John Brown of the National
Y.M.C.A. Harry Henshel, treasurer of the Bulova
Watch Co. and a prime factor in A.A.U. and
Y.M.H.A. basketball plans throughout the country,

was chosen to serve as chairman of this committee.

Plans were outlined so that both college and
A.A.U. players would be included in the makeup
of the team to represent this country in the South
American competition. The possibiilty of running
playoffs to pick the teams and competitors was
discussed and the methods of raising money to
finance this trip were also included in the plan.

At the present time there has been no further
progress made pending developments in the inter-
national situation. Shortly after the outbreak of
hositilities the State Department signified that it
wished plans to be carried through as originally
planned and no further word has been forthcoming.

PAN-AMERICAN BASKETBALL COMMITTEE

Jd We SE ‘Claw Oswald Tower

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas Andover, Mass.
Sumner Dole

Dr. H. G. Carlson

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Storrs, Conn.

Chicago, Illinois
James Coogan

H. Jamison Swarts
University of Pennsylvania

Andover Academy

Connecticut State College

J. Lyman Bingham
39 S. La Salle Street:

Harry D. Henshel, Chairman
630 Fifth Avenue
New York City, N. Y.

Albert F. Wheltle
Title Building
Baltimore, Md.

Aaron M. Frank
c/o Meier & Frank
Portland, Oregon

Philadelphia, Pa.

H. G. Olsen
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

200 Orange Street
New Haven, Conn.

Willard N. Greim
414 Fourteenth Street
Denver, Colorado

6

 

John Brown, Jr.

c/o National Y.M.C.A.
420 Lexington Avenue
New York City, N. Y.