Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-06
RY VEDDER GARD.


The newly organized Indiana board OF
basket ball officials met last night IN the
Board of Trade building ana ABOUT
twenty-five officials held lengthy ols-
cusSion of the rules with special atten-
ton being given to the Western Confer
ence Interpretation of the net regulations
recently decided upon in the meeting OF
the Big Ten coaches in Chicago. rat
Page. who is president of the new or
ganization of officials here, has just re-
turned from Chicago and he explained
the manner in which the Conference
coaches have decided to play the net
game this winter.
Page stated that the Chicago meeting
was much In favor~of holding down tho
tendency to travel with the ball and had
instructed officials to be very strict in
enforcing the rule which states tina
PLAYER may take only one step with the
ball before passing, dribbling or shoot-
ing The rules actually allow one step
and then as the next step is taken the
ball must leave the possession OF the
player before his foot touches the moor
again This, in reality, amounts to ABOUT
to about step and half. In the Con
ference the players are to be held as
closely as possible to one step, which
will mean that the back foot will not be
supposed to leave the floor before the
bail is got rid Of The violation or the
travelling rule has always been one or the
hardest for an official to call
SOME PLAYERS
TAKE ADVANTAGE.
It is largely a matter Of judgment and
clever player many times gets away with
too much footwork. The very best ior-
wards are always on the very edge OF the
limit and it takes hatr-linc DISTINCTION
at times to call foul. The strict inter
probation in the Conference will mean nu-
merOus technical fouls for travelling.
There can not be much kick about II as
another step is allowed in starting the
dribble While heretofore tho drihble had
to be started without n step, one step IS
now allowed The Conference ruling VIII
not, however. govern basketball aIto,
together in this state and the otitclai
basket ball rule book will be followed
to the letter except in games IN when
both teams agree on disputed points.
At this point the old argument came
m about the reverse turn" In which
player keeps one foot on the moor ana
pivots. 1t was generally conceded that
this was legal even If ne turned from
one side to arNther just so ono FOOT was
kept In the sa. position on the hoor ana
he did not ADVANCE with toe ball OF
course, the player can not take another
STEP before getting the b9u out OF MS
possession, or il is a foul.
Blocking was another Important ques-
tion that was. brought mp. It is one OF
the most abused practices in basket-oail
today and il is hard for the referee 10
see because he must follow the ball with
one official working a game teams get
away with fragrant violations OF me
blocking rule. 1t is very seldom called
and is Of Unreasonable advantage 10
the team getting away with It. By
blocking is meant Intentional interior
ence that keeps an opponent out OF a
play.
1t is most easily noticed when n player
holds out his arms and faces n player
who does not have the ball. Jut tho
smooth blockers are not that easily
caught. It is an umpire's duty to watch
for this violation. Teams adept in the
art of blocking and with one official
handling the game have an unfair and
overwhelming advantage over its rival.
Spectator when this foul IL called. yell
"robber" Mt the official, as sometimes
they do not understand the play. The
fact Of the matter is that the foul should
be watched as closely as holding as 1t
is really a CREST many times Of more
value to the team which commits the
OffNuSp.