peers St

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Others 3 jnvolved in the gime should. be. of mere. apsistance to the cfficials,
but this: has been. difficult since good sportsmanship™ frowns upen igs edhs an by
conshgas players, fans, and sportswriters. Many times a hint aropped by 2 coach
that a few decisions ‘have: been ‘wrong is misinterpreted by the official who feels that
Ais. hig gh peresntage of correct. déeisions' have. been overlooked... To avoid this coaches
uniformily say littie: and. often-leave the impression. that a poorly handled.game has
been pwogkeg ald rig on Thus, much eriticism of +RPOSST UG tI NG nearune has a Lost.

‘We have one ‘fully to is 9a tai Lis and ee oaths pat fave fallen down on
administretive features. Lack of emphasis is responsible: Our discussions have
dealt with rule changes and player performances. Enough has been accomplished along
these lines to pérmit a. digesting and assimilation of what. we now-have.rather than
to seek for bizarre and untried changes. -Members.of this Association Bighy, well
compan rete, on:: HEP EOTI ES the administration of basketball.

bi vetas © : oe Is. BASKETBALL GOING BAGKaRDS?

Yieeine he: ‘first bey Soaee of she life of te a Vee. organizations;
the A.A.U., the Y.M.C.A., and the N.C.A.Avy independently sponsored the spread of
the game. EFech adopted rules fitted to its membership, and gradually these regula-
tions became so different that confusion reigned. So. seriously. was. the welfare of.
pasketbell thréatened that a compromise was affected by the formation of «a. Joint
Rules Committee with each of these orgenizations equally represented. Except for the
time length: of periods fitted to the younger players, the game. has been uniform for
ell.competition in amateur eircles since the committee was formed. This yap fommity
has been a contributing factor-in the. tremendous Browyh ot bhe Bane «

From the outside only one ipotdent. fe ee red the apperent harmony’ among
the rules makers. In-the late 20's the representatives of the A.A.U. and the’Y .M.C.A.
united to out vote the N.C.A.A. men on the question of limitation of the dribble.
‘The: announcement brought protests from the nation's coaches who not only opposed the
change but resented such a dictatorial attitude. A coaches indignation meeting. wes
held in Des Moines.and an organized drive. to check the arbitrary changes wes ins
stituted.’ From that temporary organization csme this Association which hes attemptec
to cooperate with the code drafters in. an ORT OB capacity. a

eho the high schools formed «4 : Methenad Fede ration: and anited in’ a seneey
for more direct power in the regulation of the most Sa a game played by their:
students. That they deserved such recognition was so obvious the committee, with e
minimum of public commotion, made places for-high school representatives by reducing
the number of members from the A.A.U. and the ¥.M.C.A. . Last year. the. National
Basketball Rules Committee was composed of eight men. from the: N.C.A.A.; four from
the high schools; and two each from the A.A.U., Y.M.C.A., and Canada.

At the annual meeting of the committce last spring the men from the A.A.U.,
and the ¥.M.C.A. "took a walk". Then they met, formed a new National Rules Committee,
and’ issued: their own set of rules.: A variety of reasons have been offered for the.
rebellion, but the main one seems to be a jéalously of the power held by the N.C.A.A.
Coaches, on the whole, know so little of the internel bickerings of the rules makers
that they have evinéed no concern over revolt, but the possibilities of future troubl:
for basketball: are’ so great that it cannot’ be ignored. “

Right now there is only one major difference in the two sets of rules.
The N.C.A.A.-High School regulations apply’ the three second limitation to the whole
freethrow lane and circle as was done last year. The A.A.U. + ¥.M.C.A, rules modify
that. section by including only that part of thé lane and circle thet lies between
the freethrow line and the end line. The difference may be important but certainly
is not drastic enoveh to justify a basketball civil war.

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