STUDY OF PLAY AT END LINES

: John Bunn, Coach of Basketball
' §tanford University

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There are two places on the basketball court where play is
likely to be somewhat congested. These two places are under the bask-
ets and at the center jump. As 4 result of congestion, play has a tend-
ency to become too rough. In order to eliminate as much of this unavoid-
able rough play as possible, much rule legislation has been proposed.
Modification and even elimination of the center-jump have been suggested
to correct the one situation; while 12-foot baskets, more points for
goals made from far out in the court, and more space between the back-
board and the end line have been advanced to help the other.

This report deals with observations and data taken in connec-
tion with different distances between the backboard and the end line. The
regular distance according to the present rules (2 feet), a distance of
4, feet and another of 6 feet were used. Data were taken in each case to
determine (1) how many balls went out of bounds unavoidably at each end
line, (2) how many balls went out of bounds due to the end line, (3) how
many out of bounds balls were probably due to the end line, and (4) the
number of times that the added distance beyond the regular end line was
used. In addition, observation was made as to any difference in the play
around the basket and at the end as a result of the different areas behind
the backboards.

The data in th: columns headed N"ynavoidable" refer to the number
of times the ball went out of bounds at the end line as a result of bad
passes or shots missing the goal, etc. In all such cases it was judged
that regardless of how far the end line may have been away from the back-
board, the ball would have gone out of bounds. No player was in a position
in each case to recover the ball before it went out of bounds.

The data in the column headed "due to end line" refers to out of
bounds play that in the judgment of the recorder might have been avoided
were it not for the limitations of the end line. An example of such a case
would be when the player touches the end line with the ball in his posses-
sion or while he falls out of bounds in his attempt to keep his balance
and remain in the field of play.

The data in the column headed "probably due to end line" refer to
play about which there was some question as to whether the ball could have
been retrieved or not before it went out of bounds. —

The data in the column headed "between the white and black lines"
refer to the number of times that the added area beyond the regular end
lines was used during the play.

Observations were made concerning the difference, if any, in the
amount of crowding, jostling, blocking, charging and other types of congest-
ed play which tend to cause roughness around the basket.

The regular size of the court upon which the tests were made is
50! x 89'. The boundary lines are marked in black. At one end an addi-
tional end line was marked off 4! beyond the regular end line. This gave
a distance of 6! behind the backboard. At the other end an additional
end line was marked off 2! beyond the regular end line. This gave a dis-
tance of 4' behind the backboard. These added lines were marked in white
to contrast with the regular boundary lines.