Evening journal., 1921-11-14

Although the Joint committee on
basketball rules does not claim that
perfection has yet been reached as
FAR as the rules governing the game
are concerned there is one thing GER
tain and that is that the changes
made in the rules from year to year
have had a tendency TO make the
game open, fast and clean.
The fact that more teams than
ever before are playing basketball
according 10 the intercollegiate
rules is in itself sufficient proof that
these rules make the game faster.
cleaner and much. more scientific and
that team work is what the public
wants rather than Individual stars.
This is quite true even In Pcnnsyl-
vania and New York State, the home
Of professional basketball.
The Joint committee on basket
ball rules is composed OF representa-
tives Of the National Collegiate Attn
letic Association. the Amateur Ath-
letic Union and the Y. NJ. c. A.. Will
liam II. Ball Of the international Y.
NJ. c. A. Is chairman OF the commit
tee.
A number Of desirable changes
have been made in the rules this year
most Of them being in the direction
Of clarifying former rules in order 70
prevent possible MISUNDERSTANDING
and Interpretation.
The Changes.
l. Position Of hand OF a jumper
as to just where a player should
place his hand when jumping at
center or elsewhere has been a bone
Of contention since the inception OF
the rule requiring a man when jump
ing for the ball TO place one hand be-
hind his back and in contact with
It. The rule was not clear as TO just
what part OF the back the hand
should be in contact with. Some
players placed their hand near the
line dividing the back from the side
while others placed their hand ir
the middle Of the small OF the back
A great many players who placed
their hand at the side OF the bacl
used their elbow for unfair tactics
The rule now requires a iumpr q
place one hand In contact with tn
middle Of the small of his back anS
keep II there until the ball has beer
tapped. This could not be called
change In the rules but rather an ad
dition OF a definite statement as e
what part OF the back a jumpe
should have his hand in contac
with.
2. Dribbiing-A player receivin
the ball while standing still ma
take one step in any direction Will
In the act OF putting the ball ia pla
krs IrfI
bling, passing or shooting Thi
change standardizes the players ac
tion. The former rule prohibited
player from taking such a step
he dribbied the ball, but permitted
in disposing OF 81 In all other way
3. Time Out" may be called 10
by captain only when his team he
possession Of the ball unless
player very evidently has been In
Jured. when time out" may be cal
ed Immediately. In making a sui
stitution for any player. a time linn
OF thirty seconds is allowed. Cor
suming more time than this result
I'm a time OUT being charged. A tim
limit OF one minute Is permittel
however, in entering substitui
for an injured player without
time out" being charged. Under y
conditions is a time out" 10 exten
beyond two minutes-on or befoi
the expiration of two minutes. pls
Is 20 be resumed.
AT a meeting of basketball ohicia
in the gymnasium OF the City Co
lege OF New York last November. NJ
Sparks of the local Y. NJ. c. A. mac
a stand 70 have the Time Out" ru
so worded that the referee could ca
time out when a player was injur,
instead of waiting until the ball
declared dead. His argument beiI
that IL was unfair to the team who
man was injured to continue pl,
until the ball was declared dead.
which might be for a period Of Sc
erai minutes and during which tin
fve men would be playing again
four. and an injured man would n
be securing the prompt attenti'
that he should get