MODIFICATION OF THE CENTER JUMP
John Bunn, Stanford University

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: In twelve championship games last season the Southern
Division of the Pacific Coast Conference experimented with rules
adaptations which practically eliminated the center jump. The re-
sults of the test were incorporated in the following article read
at the last convention of the Association. A motion to recommend
the modification to the Rules Committee lost by a small margin,
but made such a favorable impression that the idea now is found
in the new rul.es under which the jump is eliminated following a
successful free throw after a personal foul. Coaches will do well
to study this report carefully, as the plan has many adherents
who will advance it again next spring.

 

In Bulletin No. 2, published by this Association, appeared a
preliminary account of an experiment which modified the center jump
rules, This experiment has been diligently carried through to comple-
tion during the season just closed by the teams of a number of confer-
ences and leagues on the Pacific Coast.

The facts concerning this experiment are repeated here for
the purpose of a complete record.

The idea for such an experiment on the Pacific coast first
arose in 1933. Among the four coaches in the Southern Division of the
Pacific Coast Conference, Works of U.C.L.A. and Barry of U.S.C. were
heartily in favor of trying out some plan of modification. Price of
Cakifornia was just luke warm on the idea. Bunn of Stanford, who had
been reared in an environment which taught that the control of the
tip was worth four baskets a game, was unalterably opposed to the
whole proposition. However in 1934 when California, U.C.L.A. and U.S.
C,. all came out for the experiment, Stanford swung with the majority
in the interest of research for information that would help in the
better administration of our games. The reasons which these coaches
—— for advocating the modification of the center jump rule were

hese:

1. The center jump presents one of two or three situations which
is most difficult for officials to control. (The pivot play and under-
basket play are the other situations.)

-@. The center jump is responsible for a very large number of
fouls, One estimate places the average at six per game. The number
of fouls committed largely exceeds the number that are detected or
called. Many of these fouls are of the type which tend to cause ser-
ious injury to the players.

3. The officials are often in the way of play and are subject to
many cCoilisions which have often resulted in injury to either the
players or the officials.

4, Even the best of officials are inconsistent in tossing the
ball up between the two centers. It is tossed too high or too low or
over to one side or the other.

5. The two centers are seldom satisfied as to conditions. One
wants the ball thrown higher, the other lower, One center is jumping
into the other or is pushing or elbowing on the jump or is hitting the
S oe opponent or hitting the ball before it reaches its high-
est point.

6. There is continual jostling for position by the eight players
about the center circle, all of which is very difficult if not impos-