Allen

Naismith

Allen

Naismith

Allen

RADIO PROGRAM

PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR HEALTH
January 15, 1938

"THE TIP-LESS GAME OF BASKETBALL"

Dr. Naismith, I would like to ask you a question, After 45 years
of starting your game of basketball with the center tip, the
rules committee last April oliminated the tip after field and
foul goalse In your opinion, why did they do this?

Well, in originating the game, after considerable thought as to
how the ball would be put in play, the center tip seemed the only
reasonable way of giving each side an equal chance of obtaining
the ball, Now, the only objection that I can see to it is that
the tall player monopolizes the tip-off because of his height and
the assistance of the referee who tosses it up in such a manner
that the tall man has a better chance of obtaining it than the
short mane There are several ways in which this might have been
corrected, Now that is my idoa.e Doctor, what is yours? You
are on the Rules Committeo, and attended the mecting in which

the National Rules body voted it out. Why did they do this?

Well, Dre Naismith, I find myself agrecing with you on tho

conter tip-off. I have always belioved in ite I have always
contended that in football we have tho kick off at the start

of the gamce I fcol that the tipeoff at the start of the game

of basketball, and after cach goal, is just as vital because it
tonds to give both sides an oqual advantage. At tho Rules mect=
ing I found myself in a very great minority, and as is the habit
with all of those caommittce gathorings, the minority goes along
peaceably with the majority. I felt that if the majority desired
it, it was only fair to give thom a chanco without protesting
violontly against its I still think basketball has onough thrills
for the spectators and the playors in tho tiploss gamce I found
mony of tho rules-makers blaming all the ills of baskotball on the
tall man at tho tipeoff, Really, I think that because the baskot
is only 10 foot from the floor that we aro blaming a man for bo-
ing too tail under a 10«foot basket, bocauso thoso tall playors
can actually dunk the ball into tho baskot. Some of the tall
players can actually roach 8 inches above the baskote In my
opinion, the goal should be out of roach of o11 playcrse

Welly the things you have said are still not a sufficiont
reason to mo to do away with a fair and spoctacular method and
substitute ono that is loss soe

Dre Naismith, I still agree with you 100 por cont, because it is
the tall man that beats you under tho defensive or offonsivo
baskot by roaching higher than his teammates in obtaining the
ball. No player may pull his opponents' arms down when he has
the ball in his possession, because that is holdinge But,
Doctor, they blame that tall fellow tapping the ball in the