UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

COLUMBIA

| INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS September 23, 1938.

Dr, F. &. Allen,

Director of Physical Education,
University of Kansas,

Lawrence, Kan.

Dear Dr. Allen:

I have been studying your letter of the 16th
relative to reduction of the size of the backboard, and find that
I am unable to answer the proposal by a simple "yes" or "no".

If a smaller size would decrease construction costs
and increase spectator enjoyment without a material decrease in
scoring effecieney I would be heartly in favor of the change.

But if the decrease in size would be a handicap to offensive play
my answer would be "no". In other words, my reply will depend
upon the results of adequate tests made in practice and game
conditions.

This fall I am running some experiénts with the
effects on shooting accuracy of a two inch increase in diameter
of the rim. I expect to cheek results from about 20,000 testa
shots taken from various angles and distances. If it will aid
any I will will draw a line on the board outlining the decreased
size of the backstop and record tmenumber and effect of shots
which hit outside that area. Should such a test appear to have
any value I would appreciate suggestions as to dimensions to be
be given the smaller board. ,

Also I would like to report that a local electrician
has been experimenting with a switch to be placed in the net of
the standard basket which will give all of the results of the
Basks0-Lite goal. He has had it patented. It consists of two
small coil springs which narrow the bottom of the net so that when
a ball passes through the expansion of the springs closes the
switch and either will turn on a light or ring a gong. The
contraption is invisible, attaches to any net, and has no effect
upon the net action or the basket. He estimates the price of the
equipment to be about $10 for a pair of goals if the lights are
used but the cost of gongs increases the price according to the
size of the gong used. A set of these switches is to be installed
on our baskets and additional reports will be sent to you after

they have been thorougkly tested.
Yours truly, See

George Ré/Edwards.