DEPARTMENT
OF
INSTRUCTION

December 23, 1937

Dr. Forrest C. Allen
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

Dear "Phog" :

I am in receipt of a copy of your new book from the publisher, and am very
appreciative of your courtesy in having it sent to me. I think it is a
fine book, and if you would teke the trouble to autograph it and return it
to me, 1 would treasure it so much more, Knowing that you will be only
too glad to do this, I am mailing it to you, with the request that you
autograph it and send it back to me.

Had a lot of correspondence with both Porter and Tower on this division
line interpretation business. St. John has asked the Executive Committee
to register its vote regarding the division line and the interpretation of
conditions existing. After all the smoke is cleared away, I have come to
this conclusion, and I am submitting it to you for your consideration, I
wish you would be very frank with me, not only as a member of the Rules
Committee, but as basketball's outstanding coach, about just what you
think of my suggestions in the matter.

St. John's suggestion is that the center line be considered the same as
any other boundary line, Personally I see no reason why this is not
logical, The only difference, as I see it, between the division line and
the boundary line is that when a team has the ball out of bounds, they
have five seconds to return it. I don't believe any official would
object to a team which had the ball out of bounds, dribbling it up and
down the side-lines and putting it in play by passing it in to a teame
mate at the designated point, providing the five seconds were not used
UPe

In other words, to my way of thinking, the division line is in effect a
boundary line, excepting that the team in possession of the ball has
twice as long to get it into play as they do if it is out of bounds at
the side or end. Giving them these ten seconds, we have also given the
defensive team the right to interfere with their putting it into play in
the ten seconds, if they care to do so.

ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE PERSON SIGNING