CONVEX AND STREAMLINED BACKBOARDS It remained for a rabid basketball fan, Leonard A. Maune, of Ste Louis, Moe, and Mre Ge R, Chervenka, a research engineer of Ste Louis, to introduce the con- vex backboard. This convexity of 4 inches begins at the median plane of the board and extends and curves outward to the sides of the board, which is 3 feet from the median plane. The original convex backboard has retained the 6-foot width dimension of playing surface and likewise tho 4—foot height dimension. The inventors have assumed a 14-foot radius of curvature to be ideal, as the angle of ~ineident and reflection on this are does not vary greatly from the conventional flat planee This radius, however, can be altered to mect conditions that may develope Since tho latest change in the rules permits the extension of the end zono for an additional 2 feet, totalling 4 feet, practically a11 tho new schools laying out basketball courts are taking advantage of this new rulinge This allowable ine crease in the end zone increases the blind spots, or “soffin corners", which while oll owing greater freedom of movement or play, insofar as the offense is coneerned, does markedly change the defense owing to the fact that the basket is now plainly set out so there is no mental hazard from the projecting straight side of the back= boards It is the thought of the originators or inventors that this board will re- volutionize the offensive play in the end zonee By increasing the scoring zone it must necessarily follow that the defense must spread out, resulting in more open and much faster play in the end zonee The inventors cite the following points which they ‘consider to be decidedly in favor of this type of bank: 1. For a straight shot to the goal tho scoring zone is, figuratively, ine creased by 27 sqe fte 24 For a bank shot contacting the bank 3 inches from the edge, the scoring zone is increased 720 sqe fte 3e the mental hazard of attempting a shot from the sidcline, directly parallel to the bank, is eliminated, owing to the recession of the vertical edge of the bank, allowing witobstructed visibility of the goale 4, The visibility to spectators is greatly increased beyond the end zone due to the recession of the vertical edge, thereby oponing up large areas which heretofore had been obscurce 5 The convex shape of the bank results in a unit of much greater strength and rigidity, thereby causing rebounds to land a greater distance from the basket and opening up the congested regions around the baskecte 6. Present type bank mounting structure doBs not have to be materially altered to permit installation of this now type of banke Te This type of bank can be made of wood, glass, stccl or any of the matcrials as used in present bank construction (cost of board no greater than flat backboard). a ee yee The inventors appreciate that in order to have this type of bank adoptod for national scholastic or collegiate play there must necessarily be a change in the present rulos. They believe, however, that the selectién of either type bank could be specified. Since its inception, the rules of the game of baskot= _ ball have been changed from time to time to allow more freedom, faster play and more interest to the spectator, but no change has beon offered in equipment to achieve these pointse They believe, however, that they have accomplished the desired results with this new type of bank, and likewise will have created a new interest in the game from the standpoint of both player and spectatore The chairman of the Research Committce is doing research work with three of the convex backboards of different sizes. A stroamlinod convex board which has a foot cut off the top, 6 inches off tho bottom and a foot off either side with the corners lopped off, will receive much attention from Mre He Ve Portere He is doing additional research on a flat board of this sizes For the research work at the University of Kansas, this small streamlined board is placed at one end of the regulation playing court in Robinson Gymnasium, and at the other ond is & convex board the normal size of 6 feet by 4 fect with the corners lopped off in a graduated scalee At one side of the court another 6 by 4 convex back= board with no alterations, is placed for research work on bank shots. At the New York meeting we will be able to give you some findings of the work done on this boarde ALL=STEEL BASKETBALL NETS Mr. Joseph H. Bennett, of Worcester, Masse, has perfected an allesteel basketball net which he asks to have tested by the Research Committee. The argue --- ment in favor of the nets is their durability and construction. This typo of net eauses the ball to drop down directly through the basket rather than going out of bounds at times as heretofore when a high looping shot wis made with such foree that it carried the ball out of the court. With the cord net, a “"swisher" was produced when a long goal was made, but with the all-stecel not a “Jinglo" is producede The only objection that we can find to the stecl net is the weight of it. When the steel net is attached to the "no=tie" loops, in one case already, the steal loop was broken loose fran the mooring of the rime The price doubtless will be a determining factor should the nets eventually be ict There is one argument in favor of the white cord nets, With the white backe board and a white net the black rim is set off in a more definite contrast == black against white — than the shading of the metallic nickel. Perhaps tho stecl basketball nets could be made whitee This will be a minor objection. There seems to be no objection on the part of the players shooting through _ this type of net as over and against the traditional cord nete Mre Bennett states that he is using two different styles of hooks as fasteners, but until the plain hoops are outlawed completely this is the only fastener that can be used, as it must pass over tho top of the old style baskete If the old style basket should ever be outlawed, then the tape or rawhide attach» ment could be usede Mr. Bormmett further states that if the not should be approved he will then be in position to have special hooks made up to fit the "no=tie" basket which seems to be the most popular in all sections of the countrye BLACK AND WHITE ALTERNATE MARKINGS FOR THE BASKETBALL COURT Many basketball playing floors with their dark stain are poor surfaces to carry a black marking which should set off the playing court from the out- of=boumds area. Many basketball courts are used for auditoria and assembly hall, and when the floor becomes over=used the light color of the wood is darken- ed by additional coatings of varnish or shellac. On a white maple floor the black designated markings are plainly seen, but if the floor gets darker the black lines show less distinctly. A scheme was tricd this past winter at the University of Kansas which showed up wonderfully well. The black sidelines, ond lines, free throw lines and jumping cireles were broken every six inches by a twoeinch square white lince This alternate black and white marking of contrasting colors showed to a decided advantage. The "make and break" of the white line set off the well-defined sidelines and end lines so definitely that it was possible for a coach, player or an official to tell whether a player was on or near the sideline at the other end of the courte We suggest that other groups try this for a research problem in clarify= ing and making more distinct the sidelinese We believe that it will lessen the officials! problems, wiany times when an overeenthusiastic rooter takes issuc with an official who calls the ball in or out of boundsSe TEAM-WORK ON THE PART OF OFFICIALS It is the concensus of the coaches evorywhere that officials are not co# operating with cach other and with the scorekccper in designating the proper offender and his number and the offended player who is to toss the foul. It is suggested that it is the duty of the off official not calling the foul to report to the scorekeeper the foul, the offender, and to designate to the scorer the player who is to toss the foul shote Im other words, Official A. calls the penalty. Official B walks over to the scoror whilo Official i is taking the ball down to the free throw line, gives the scorer the proper inforne ation, and immediately walks to the free throw line while the official who called the foul places the ball on the free throw line and then walks back under or near the basket for the throwe SCOREBOOK It has been recanmmended that the official scorebook remain at the score# keeper's table frop the start of the game to the finish, and that it not be re- moved to the dressing rooms of either team during the time between halves or at the quartere TWELVE=FOOT BASKET FOR COLLEGE AND INDEPENDENT TEAMS Of late years there has been a protest on the part of the basketball public against those "mezzanine peeping goons" of the cage sport who actually come to the level of the basket rim when they reach for tip-in shots, or actually dunk the ball into the hoop instead of shooting it upward, as originally intended by Dr. James Naismith, the originator of the gamee No other sport puts such an out~ landish premium on height as baskotballe The only reason that tho height of the basket today is 10 foet from the gym floor is because the indoor running track at Springficld, Masse, College was 10 feet fran the floor, and Dre Naismith attached his tasket to this running tracke Twelve=foot baskets would be only for college players who have reached their growth and maturity, and not for high school playorse It is just as casy to accommodate the muscles of the oyes, wrists, hands and digits to distance in height as it is to accommodate thon to distance on & horizontal planee It is proposed that a field goal cout 3 points and a free throw from the 20=foot line (now 15 feet) cout one point. This would equalize the scoring ratios It has long been a contention of Dre Naismith that a ficld goal should count more than twice as much as & free throw. An argument might be advanced that if the ficld goal is increased in value there would be a tendency to foul an opponent to keep the ficld goal from boing madee The answer to that is that 4 personal fouls will disqualify a player from the gamee And again, there will not be the desire to work the ball in under the goal for lay-ups on a 12-foot basket because the most disadvantageous spot under the new scheme is directly under the basket. It is much easicr to bank a shot 8 and 10 fect out from the besket near the 12—foot goal than it is to work it under the goal. Research has shown that nearly 90% of 211 the fouls are made jn close proximity to the baskote This is on account of the desire of the players to work the ball in close to the basket for a lay-up shote Many adherents to the elimination of the conter jump rule contonded that the no jump rule at center would drive the exceptionally tall player from the gamee This certainly has not been truc, nor should any rule be made that would be discriminatory. The higher basket would roquire all players to shoot for goals, whereby now only the "second story pocping Toms" can bat the ball away before it reaches the cylinder of the basket, thereby preventing the goale Never in the history of the game have there been so many excoptionally tall men under very low baskets, canparatively speaking. Mon 6110" tall are getting to be quite commonplace. The presence of so many long fellows has reduced basketball to a freakish demonstration ond has put an almost wnbearable handicap on the finer athletes of a normal 6efoot height. Certainly no discrimination is asked against en exceptionally tall player. Rather uniformity is asked so that discrimination against the little fellow will be romovede Practically all the rules that now exist against the single or double post play, against touching the ball while it is on the rim or above the cylinder of the basket, the 3-second rule, the leyard defensive rulo, the playor being awarded two free throws when fouled under or near the basizet == all of these rules will be wmeecssary after a higher basket is put into effocte ' =e The higher goal will incroase spectator onjoymcent, and will decrease in- juries under the goal from accidents by players when driving in hard for lay~inse We have scon tall players in many team line-ups who were born without any special gift in basketball, but who were on the team solely on the accident of ‘extreme height. Some juior high school coach discovered this altitudinous Brobdingnagian, skyescraping stepper oozing ethereally down the hall and straighte way the coach made for him with a vair of shorts, the stimulus being mainly his altitude and not his ability. Only a severe cardiac insufficiency will permit that basketball monstrosity to escane the coach's tentaclese Therefore, it is beyond reasonable doubt but what we can oxpect players of this 6'10" altitude to become so numerous that they will be the rule rather than the oxceptione An eleven=foot basket would not be out of reach of the exceptionally tall playorse. 883 gs i 53383 Sok ee Ht la diy tu | suet TEU a te, Uiiateal Uiga8y ool: Gy ht WN ida! Ale ing ay ji jay pai] lay! tg dts gizgte ds Staak gaaug 838 i} tb Fae ss = Seder age ey pig sigan gre ghd e o geet Stal Uge giat ag83(0), saga go aa Ge te eld ey: ly > iH, pa aig Bef Ret if : ‘i yt He a ili mat mg fla Geld dk gy Mat ay ei ceo i il oH a oZ= I assure you that your net will get every attention that it deserves. Very sinserely yours, Loree Re ees eae FCAsAH Varsity el Coashs Lawrence, January 16, 1959 ‘ars adi tec Demme, 20 Richards Ste, Worcester, Masse ' Deas’ iirs Bennetts I acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 12th instant, and we will be glad to give your special hoops & thoroggh ‘aial here at the University of Kansase When they arrive we will have our superintendent refer to your - instructions for attaching the Bemett AlleStecl Net te | the taskote | Very cordially yours, Varsity Basketball Coach, University of Kansase FCAsAH Chairman, Sth District. 20 Richards Street Worcester, Mass. January 12, 1959. Mr. Forest C. Allen, University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Mr. Allen: Your letter of July 8,1938 with suggestions in reference to my all steel basketball nets and the right procedure to have same tested, I am pleased to say I have followed them carefully and Mr. E.J.Hickox of Springfield College has had a set installed since the first of December and have proved very satisfactory, and I think you will hear from him soon to that effect. I therefor am shipping you prepaid under separate cover one pair of nets for you to test in your gym. We have tried out two different styles of hooks and the ones shipped with your nets are working perfectly, and until the plain hoops are outlawed completely this is about the only hook that can be used as it must pass over the top as you know the only other method would be tape or raw hide as they are now using in most cases. If my nets should be aproved T will then be in a position to have special hooks made up to fit the no-tie-in style baskets which seems to be the most popular around here. | T am enclosing instructions and will you please see that the right party received them and will read them before attemting to assemble nets. Your letter indicates Mr. Tower altho a stranger to me must have done a good job at the Chicago meeting which I appreciate and take this opportunity to thank you for your courtesy extended me and any assistance , eriticisms or suggestions will be more than appreciated. Very truly yours TA fev 20 BWichards Street, Worcester, Mass. ' ‘DIRECTIONS FOR ATTACHING THE BENNETT ALL STEEL NET TO BASKETS. hoop and pass one side of the U hook down and complete as before. Blace Ui hook on top of hoop as in blue print #1, snap U hook down on to hoop as in print #2, repeat until you have 12 U hooks on hoop about , 4 inches apart. Now cut the cord which ties the top of net together | and open up net,then start at right side of back brace and with all of net facing you start hanging net by slipping ring up and hang on one side of U hook continue clockwise until you have the 12 rings on the 12 U hooks. Now inspect to see that net hangs freely all around and evenly psaced. Next starting anywhere slip ring up on U hook about . =" and with fingers close U hook to position #3 and let ring drop down to position at bottom of U hook, continue until you have the 12 done likewise, now with a pair of pliers close all the small loops om bottom of U hooks and the net will be ready for use, and U hooks will look like spare which I have tagged and labled spare sample. On hoops which have the solid horizontal back brace the best method to attach centre U hook rear is to drill a 3/8" hole thru plate just behind Caution, have all the link joints on outside of net instead of on the inside. Now play basket ball. Joseph H. Bennett: ; 20 Richards Street, | s Worcester, Mass. =