e

played ten games in the Middle West during the Christmas holidays.
Five of these games were played using these rules ei ther in: one er
both halves of the games. In addition several other parts of the
country experimented with the change.

This interest in and general acceptance of this experiment af-
forded an unusual opportunity to test out these new rules. This fact,
together with the knowledge that the experiment was carried out in
regular conference and league games, gives a high degree of reliabili-
ty to the results obtained.

In addition to statistics, the reaction, opinion, and criticisms
of the public, coaches, officials, and players have been earnestly
sought on the value and effect of such a change in the rules. At the
end of the playing season a questionnaire was sent to each coach “or =a
team that had used the new rule during the season.

The following is a summary of results, observations, and comments
which have been received from over fifty coaches, several thousand
spectators, several hundred players, and more than fifty officials:

le The modification of the center jump adds from six to eight
more minutes of actual play to each game, The average for the games
timed in comparison with games in which the center jump was used is
about seven minutes. In other words, there is this much time lost
during the game from the time a goal is made until the ball is tossed
up at center for the next play when the center jump is used.

2, The scores of practically all games inthe Pacific Coast Con-
ference were higher than in past seasons, This is a natural conse-
quence with the added playing time. The champions of the Pacific
Coast Conference averaged forty-five points per game. The high scor-—
er, Guttero, scored 186 points, an all time high, during the season as
against 143 last season. A majority of the scores in all the other
conferences and leagues reporting were higher.

3, The center rule change was received with enthusiasm by the
public. Votes were taken at the beginning of the season at various
places and showed a two to one majority in favor of the elimination of
the center jump. Later inthe season the preference for the new rule
reached a nine to one ratio.

A vote by acclamation was taken at Michigan State and Marquette
between halves of the games played .with Stanford University. In each
case the officials who asked for the sentiment of the spectators re-
ported that a large majority were in favor of the elimination of the
center jump.

Some sports editors in California were opposed to the new rule
when they first saw it in use at the beginning of the season, These
men were interviewed at the end of the season and all voted unreser-
vedly for the elimination of the tip.

4. The players, particularly the centers, are mos» enthusiastic
for the new rule. Of all the reports received, there were only four
teams on which there was a sentiment for the center jump. At a tour-
nament in which forty-eight teams were entered, there was just one
team that desired to play with the center jump. This one team had a
6'6" center who easily controlled the tip in every game. This team
finally lost out in the tournament. Since each game in this tourna—
ment was played with or without the center jump, depending upon the
mutual agreement of thé players before each game, it was interesting
to note that in every game except the one noted above the players
rushed up to the official before each game and eagerly asked to play
the game without the center jump. This is rather significant in view
of the fact that in this tournament were teams from the ninety pounds
class to the unlimited.