The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-12-24
FEW CHANGES
In CAGE GAME
Rules Committee Make Lit
tie Restriction in New
Basketball Code.
BY JACK HAAS.

Dali Onlcldis nelu u Incetlns al INC
Y. NJ. c. A. last Thursday night, at
the call of President C. E. Beckett,
in order that the referes and umpires
might have a proper Interpretation of
the basketball rules. There were
several problems that came up In the
league games the other night and
the officials have agreed to officiate
the games along the lines as agreed
UPON at this meeting.
Fundamentally. the rules committee
are responsible for the success or
failure of the game. This committee
is composed of official representatives
OF the National Association, and the
Amateur Athletic Union. Nn estab-
fishing the spirit OF the rules. these
men have laid the foundation for the
spirit Of the game.
The earnest desire OF the Joint Rules
Committee is that basketball shall be
SO played as>to produce the highest
possible physical, mental, social and
character results. With this purpose
in mind, each rule has been care
fully worded in order that the spirit,
as well as the letter, might be ap-
parent to all. How far they have
succeeded remains to be seen. They
have done their part; but, after
all, the real spirit of the game
Is decided by the spirit devel-
oped during the progress of each
game. Every game that is played
does not develop the same spirit al
though played according to the same
rules or by the same players or
handled by the same officials or wit
messed by the same spectators.
The spirit of the game is more than
matter OF rules or rule makers, as
valuable as these are. 1t Is Ques-
ton Of attitude OF heart and mind
in the part of players, officials and
spectors toward each other in con-
nection with the game.
The committee formulate the rules.
The coaches interpret the rules and
Instruct the players.
The players execute the rules.
The officials administer the rules.
1t is a gentlemen's game, and the
same relations exist among the play
ers and officials on the court as pre-
vail among gentlemen on the street
or in the home. The rules are the
basis of an agreement for the game.
The player who deliberately violates
the rules is in spirit doing exactly
the same thing in principle as the
criminal who breaks the law os the
State. Where teams agree to play
games under certain r,sies they are as
much obligated to conform to the let
ter and spirit of the rules as two
business firms are who enter into an
agreement regarding business rela-
tions. They are in honor bound. Some
mems word is as good as their bond.
The Rules Committee has made but
one major change in the rules for
19l7-19ls. although. as usual many
minor revisions have been included.
These are in the way of refinements
and often are matters of editing to
make the sense more clear.
The one important modification of
the playing code has to do with
the court itself. It has been the ex-
perience of the committe that a play
er frequently has been deprived of
well-earned field goal by what
might be properly termed the tech
nicality Of being out OF bounds. He
has earned the score; his team has
worked the ball TO their goal by
skill; he shoots for goal, but his
foot has touched the line and the
goal is not allowed. Often. too, there
is serious question Of doubt in the
referees mind as to whether a play
er is in or out Of bounds on a close
play under the basket Accordingly.
the Rules Committee has provided a
new end-boundary line. The plane of
the blackboard no longer marks the
boundary line. The entire back
board is within bounds and on the
floor the player has additional lee
way of two feet under the besket.
This change is frankly an expert
ment. 1t is one which seems well
worth taking. however. and it is Of
fered in the spirit OF opening up the
play still further. OF course, where
the end boundary line is a wall, this
section cannot apply. and the end
line must be the straight line as
heretofore.
Space will not permit the inclusion
OF all the rules. and only those in
which there might be any question of
doubt will be taken up at this time.
1t is probably not generally known
that those who actually participate in
the games very rarely read the rules.
All they learn about them is through
their coaches or when their attention
Is called TO a misinterpretation of
them by the officials.
The captain shall be the representa-
tive of his team and shall direct and
control its play. He may address any
official on matters of Interpretation
or to obtain essential information
when necessary. IF 1T IS DONE IN
A COURTEOUS MANNER.
Sometimes the coaches and players
on the sidelines are apt to forget this
rule, that the captain is in direct
charge of the team when they are I'm
the game. The captains should not
forget the latter part of this rule.
A substitute before going on the
court shall report to the scorer, Civ
ing his name, number and position.
He shall not enter the court until
play has been suspended and shall not
Participate in the game until recog-
nized by the referee.
This is a new one, and when a sub
reports to the scorer he. the scorer.
will tote his horn and the referee will
understand that a substitute wants to
get into the game. The referee stops
the game. only after the ball is dead,
when the substitute is allowed to re-
port to him.
The referee shall have power to call
fouls for unsportmanlike conduct II
the referee and the umpire make APP
proximate simultaneous decisions on
Il. a.