February 3rd, 1959

 

To Memters,
National Basketball Committee:

If the amual questionnaires are to be effective they must be printed in time for dis-
tribution tefore the various tournaments. It always requires considerable time for
the preliminary work which must precede the actual printing of the questionnaire.
rr I am urging that you give immediate. attention to the suggestions in

s 16 Te

The questionnaire should probably contain a check upon sentiment relative to the fol-
lowing changes which were made last year.

1. Whether the rule against allowing a substitution after a goal is satisfactory.

2, Whether the present regulations relative =o length and number of time-out periods
and intermissions are satisfactory.

3. Whether the change made in the three-second rule is satisfactory.

4, Whether four-foot end space has proven to be advantageous where used.

5, Whether the method of deciding tie games in high schools is satisfactory.

Here are other topies which might be value in the questionnaire:

ball is dead would be desirable.

2. Whether the bouncing reaction of a ball should be
or near the present minimum or halfway between.

3, Whether geps should be taken to permit optional use of a backboard which would
have several inches removed from the lower edges

4, Whether college games shouldbe played in ten-minute quarters.

5, Whether the offended team should be allowed to keep possession of the ball after
a free throw following a deliberate foul.

6. Whether the amount of scoring in the present game is too ligh or too lew or about
right.

1. Whether a method of timing whereby the watch would I stopped each time the
+ near the present maximum

Another suggestion which might be considered is that in comection with reducing

the number of times a player is disquelified because of more or less trivial fouls
which are classed as personal fouls. One suggestion is that if a player fouls an
opponent in the act of shooting, the foul is not charged toward disqualif ication if
the basket is made. Of course, the free throw would still be allowed. If this
does not seem to be acceptable, there may be some other way to decrease the likeli-
hood of a player who is actually attempting to play a clean game being removed in
the first quarter. Give this matter some thought.

Please go over these suggestions and let me have your reaction to them along with
any other suggestions for material that would be helpful in the questionnaire.

If I do not hear from you in a reasonable length of time, I shall assume that you
have nothing to suggest. After all suggestions are tabul ated, they will be pre-
sented to the Questionnaire Committee and the final questionnaire wil] be made up
in accordance with the wishes of that committee.

Yours truly,

NU Cotter

secretary

HVP/3
Enc. questionnaire