Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-11
BASKETBALL CHANGES
 SLOW UP THE GAME.
Comment by Dr. Naisn1ith, Who In-
 vented the Game.

The revision of the basketball rules for the present season will work some important changes in the general style of game and tend to make it slower. according to Dr. James Naismith the former Springfield Training school man, who invented the game, and who is now in Lawrence, Kan.
 What I regard as the most im- portant change is the modification of section l, rule s, defining running with the ball." said Dr. Naismith, recently, after looking over an ad- vance copy of the new rules By the change in that rule I think long goal shooting will be practically eliminated, and the short 'dribble" will be em- phasized more than it has ever been before. Another thing that will be impossible is the practice of taking the long -sidestep to avoid the man who is guarding before shooting for goal"
 Cut Out the Sdestep.
 The rule and the explanatory note follow: Rule 8, section If a play CT shall, while having the ball in his possession, advance in any direction, he shall be considered as running with the ball" Constituting a foul. as formerly). The note reads "It is understood that a man may advance one foot in any direction, but the re- maining foot must be kept in position until the ball has left his hands. In throwing for a goal. a man may jump from both feet, but the ball must leave his hands before one or both feet again touch the floor"
 In construing this rule some coach es have thought that 1t was the in- tention to prevent a man from leaping into the air after throw after nov ing one foot, as stated in the first part of the note. The effect of this con- struction would be to seriously hinder any goal shooting. but Dr. Naismith, who was a member of the committee, is of the opinion that no such con- struction will be attempted. "The on- ly intention was to prevent a man from leaping aside to avoid his guard and then shooting for the goal after his feet had touched the floor" he said.
 Referee Can Watch for Fouls.
 There are several other rather i'm portant changes, one of them, rule e5. providing that the referee may call foul on any man on the team instea1 of the man with the ball and his op- ponent as formerly, and makes it fhe duty of the referee to watch for fouls on all the men if the umpire seems careless or unfair. The umpire may call IOuls On dll Dul lllc illSh -NlNh AiAN ball and his opponent. Section l of rule provides that in "dribbling' the dribble is not considered at an end so long as the ball is in motion. Under the old rule the "dribble" was considered at an end when the player stopped and it was a very hard mat ter to determine what shall constitute continuance of motion on the part of the man with the ball.
 Ball Out of Bounds.
 There are two changes in the rules affecting a ball out of bounds. Fly section of rule 16: "If the ball le- turns to the court from out of bounds without being touched by a player, 1t shall be dead" This prevents "carom- ing the ball. and eliminate the element of luck in such play. Sec tions 1 and of rule provide that the player or the ball shall be outside if they touch the boundary line in- stead of the floor as formerly. Other less important changes allow the use of plate glass backgrounds for the goals. and allow a variation of three ounces in the weight of the ball in- stead of two as formerly.
 Most of the changes were made in the interests of the officials, and were aimed to tighten the work of the referee. especially" said Dr. Naismith, "and I believe all the changes are good