The Winchester news. [volume] (Winchester, Ky.) 1908-19??, 1909-02-19
PERFECTION OF TRAINING AND
PLAY ACCOMPANIED BY IN
CREASE IN INTEREST.
BETTER COACHING AIDS GAZE
Season of 1909 Marks Era Of More
Stringent Legislation Important
Changes in Rules Calculated to
Eliminate Roughness Different
Styles of Games.


which the sport has had to pass
through since its innovation, and low
ers of one of the most interesting of
winter games are anxiously awaiting
the judgment of the critics whose de-
cisions at the end of the season will
go good way toward continuing in
favor the present regulations and
which have helped in placing basket
ball on the same plane with the other
major sports.
During the past winter the intercol-
legiate rules committee in meeting
in New York came to the decision that
some radical action was necessary to
eliminate the tendency to roughness
and save tho came from degenerating
into a modihed form of football AL
though the style Of game played in the
different sections of the country varied
immensely, and therefore rule which
suited one division was entirely unsat-
isfactory to another, the committee
succeeded in passing some rather
startling rules and the result of the re-
cent legislation Is awaited with grave
doubts by many enthusiasts.
1t is only within the last few years
that basketball has assumed a posi-
ton Of high rank among intercollegi-
ate sports, especially in the west, and
in the last two seasons particularly it
has aroused the general interest of the
student bodies of the various univer-
cities forY,oorIxy oe n ofroo,,
Gus form of girls play, it has come to
command respect as it has increased
in popular favor. Perhaps the most
potent factor in bringing this situation
about was the recognition on the part
of the authorities of the absolute need
of thorough preparation on the part of
the players for the contests, the neces-
sity of the most efficient coaching and
long training to gain experiences.
Undoubtedly, as the standard Of
play has been been raised, basketball
has gradually won over the followers
of the more strenuous sports. The
adoption of intricate plays and signals,
as in football, which require a great
degree of skill. acquired only by long
and hard practice and the work of
teams which have played for many
seasons and therefore have reached a
splendid point in development have
helped to show to the public that the
possibilities of basketball are scarcely
less than those of the major outdoor
sports.
Coincident with its accession to a
prominent place in college sports has
come the need for careful and special
legislation on the part of the athletic
authorities. A consistent policy fol-
lowed by the coaches and players
throughout the country and the init
mate relations of one section to an
other have helped to promote unity
Of action and control which is bound
to lend added interest to the sport.
In this section the Western Inter
collegiate association has been a
strong influence in promoting the best
interests of the game by controlling
schedules, holding meetings of coaches
and players and officials for the study
and discussion of the rules, discourag-
ing rough play, and in aiding officials
to keep the game clean. AS a result
the standard of play is high and the
games, while always earnestly contest
ed, are notably free from intentional
roughness and fouling.
One of the greatest difficulties In
making the new rules was caused by
the difference in the style of play prev
alent in the east and west. In the for
mer section the play.is close, the drib-
BILE is used almost constantly, and as
a result opportunities for rough play,
intentional or otherwise, are greatly
increased, and the officials are kept
busy calling fouls.
The new legislation concerning the
disqualification of a player when he
has had five fouls. called on him is
expected to work both ways. 1t is
hoped that the rule will prevent the
Official from calling petty, technical
fouls, and secondly, to prevent inten-
tional fouls against opponents who
have not an accurate free thrower.
This rule was modified at the confer
OASO VI WOOSOAAA AhSCAOSAlO6Adl0 OdShGl-
ball officials so that it requires five
personal fouls to disqualify, thus re-
moving from the list of fouls which
count for disqualification those which
are of technical character. and suffi-
GENTLY penalized by giving the oppo-
nents free throw.
Another very important provision
was that made requiring two floor Off
Gals, the idea being to have a man to
watch and prevent the making Of
fouls in the back part of the field,
where the referee cannot see. Believ-
ing that many troubles arose from the
poor work of officials, the committee
also formed a central board of Off
Gals, with the idea Of developing COM
petent officials.