Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-25
BY II. C. BYRD.

While the basket ball rules have not
been changed greatly since last year,
some sections have been overhauled SO
that they now are much more eApiici''
To the casual spectator there is nothing
in the rules to cause the game 10 appear
different from what it was in the season
of '12-I3. but there are points "nieh
affect the play considerably under GER
tain conditions.
The most important and really the on'y
differences are those changes reialiFe 10
a ball when it is thrown up by the
referee and to the play Of the ball when
it goes outside One of the players Is
not now allowed to make an attempt 10
bat the ball when it is thrown up be-
tween two, while the man throwing the
ball in from the outside is given prac-
tica,ly a free opportunity to get 1t TO one
of his teammates.
1t has sometimes been the pracuce %
players to face in any direction when
the referee was about to toss up the ball.
but now the two men who are to be gwen
a chance to bat it must face toward the
basket into which they are trying TO
make goals This is the change in sec
ton of rule =. In section of rule :
1900
instead OF being allowed to catch 1t, as
has formerly been done many times.
The other change is i'll section - OF
rule II. This prohibits the player In
side from touching the ball While II Is
in the hands of an opponent when
that opponent is making the threw
from outside the court. Heretofore
a man could crowd up close TO the
boundary line and strike or block the
pass before it had left his opponents
b,f this he is not allowed
to extend any portion Of his body outside
the boundary line. This gives the man
outside almost a free throw, as there
is not much chance of the ball oenhs
blocked under the conditions.
The other thing to which attention is
called. and which ruling is worded more
clearly. is that the referee is not com
PEELED to grant time out Immediately
the teams calls for it. Players have
ceased their efforts immediately after
their captain has called for time and
have grown sarcastic when the rel
cree did not grant it. The rule now
makes it explicit that the referee is
not to grant time ont unless he is GER
tain there is jhstfica ton for it.
In detail the changes are as follows:
Rule XI. Sec. 4-Changed to require
those jumping for ball. when tossed up
by referee to face in the direction OF
the basket into which their team is
throwing
Rule NJ. Sec. o-Changed to prohlbit
catching the ball when tossed up be-
tween two players by referee.
Rule NJ. Sec 6-Changed SO player
i,,n,ning for ball. when tossed w by ref
cree shall not be permitted to catch it.
Rule NJ, Sec 3-Chansed SO as to pro
hih;t catching when tossed up by referee.
R,IIe XII Sec L. Unchanged so as to
meet the rlay where a player with one
foot over the line throws the ball while
in this position
bihit nlayer INSIDE" from touching ball
while in opponents hands who Is throw
ing it from outside.
One of the great DRAWBACKS 20 DasKet
hail is the fact that few players know
The rules It is doubtful If there is an
other branch of sport with Wnicn the per-
former is not more certain Oh the conoi-
lions which govern it. HAN the men
MIA wing basket ball do not know the
rules. and many times when they are en-
forced those on the teams do NOT know
what has happened: when they are told
they look as puzzled as Il they We're Try
ing to solve difficult problem In cal
culus.
This lack of knowledge concerning the
code is undoubtedly responsible for much
of the poor work often seen In games
and it is certainly the reason why the
plav is interrupted SO often to allow at
tempts at goals from the foul lines II
the r,ar,hers Of the teams had : cearer
knowledge of the rules and their inter
pretations. there Is no doubt that the
game would be more interesting to spec
tators. in that it would be free from
tiresome delays.
This man Hoppe who is playing guard
position for the Young Mems Christian
Association. Is undoubtedly one OF the
best performers in that position OF whom
any team in the south can boast. lie
has done brilliant work for several years
as a member of the association Tive and
it is probable there is no other more eX-
perienced player in the game In this Sec
tion His work is the feature of every
game In which he takes part at the I.
NJ. c. A. and he Is unhesitatingly count
cd as the best and most stable performer