}

ala

The higher goal will incrcase spectator onjoyment, ond will decrease in-
juries under the goal from accidents by pleyers when driving in hard for lay-inse

We have scen tall players in many team line-ups who were born without any
special gift in basketball, but who were on the team sololy on the accident of

~-extreme heighte Some junior high school coach discovered this altitudinous

Brobdingnagian, sky-scraping stepper oozing ethereally down the hall and straight-
way the coach made for him with a air of shorts, the stimulus being mainly his
altitude and not his ability. Only a severe cardiac insufficiency will permit
that basketball monstrosity to escape 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 oxccptione

An elevenefoot basket would not be out of reach of tho exceptionally tall
playerse A twelve-foot basket would forever guarantee non-interference of the
basket rim by players. In addition to this, the twelve-foot basket would contri~
bute markedly in clearing up the congestion wmder the goal by increasing the are
of disbursement of the rebound of the ball much further out on the court and
away from the basket. All modern gymnasia and auditoria have high ceiling clear-
ances, but in schools that do not have high cciling clearances ground rules could
be pormitted which would allow the use of the lower baskets until conditions could
be corrected,

In 1934 Kansas State and Kansas played a home=andehone series using the
elevated 12-foot basket. Neither toam had practiced previously with the 12<foot
goal, but the players seemed to have little difficulty in making goals and the
spectators enjoyed the game very much. The players’ only complaint was tha t they
couldn't drive in and make their lay-un shotse On the other hand, they reactod
quite favorably toward the clevated baskcte

At tho coaching school tho following swmor conducted by Allen of Kansas
ond E, Je Hickox of Sprinsficld, Professor Hickox cleveted the basket to 12 fect
and the boys in the coaching school, without ony practice whatsoever, played 4
match gamee We asked Professor Hickox to write his impressions of that game.

It scemed to be his opinion and that of the group who watched the game that the
players had little difficulty in finding the range of tho baskote

It scoms to be a fair conclusion that certainly no one should criticize
the clevated basket until he has at least tried it oute There are so many
benefits and so few drawbacks that this experiment should be indulged in by more
coaches than those who have tricd it. It also scoms roasonable that it might
be fair to all concerned that if the 12<foot basket is found to be practical to
advance the time of its possible adoption over a two ycoar poriod so that none
of the tall players now in college would be injured, but those oncoming. players
would have notice of it. This perhaps would remove an objection from coaches
who might have tall men nowe

The following are a number of reasons set forth in favor of the twelvce
foot basket:

le Are of disbursement is greater, thus freeing congestion undor baskete

2. Guards are forced further away from baskets to get rebounde

3. Forwards are forced further out from baskets to obtain rebounde

4. Will encourage more shooting accomt greater valuo of ficld goals,

5. Will definitely reduce foul shots because of no drive-in necessitye

6. Shots are easier made 8 or 10 feet out from basket instead of directly
undere