The Washington times., 1921-12-11
BASKETBALL rs J
NOW UPON ITS
THIRTIETH YEAR
Changes in Code Have About
Standardized Indoor Game.
Has Become Popular.
By BRYAN MORSE.

BASKETBALL Is Just in the off
ing. While a few games have
been staged. the real business
OF getting down to regular con-
tests Is q matter Of asweek or 80
swing. Compared with football and
baseball, the game is~in its infancy
although this season marks the
thirtieth year in which the sport
has been played. Basketball has
seccme the universal indoor ath-
lctic sport. It is played to almost
as great degree as football. and
II rapidly coming. in this mans
town, to the point where 1t Is q
drawing card Of no mean cdhsidera-
tion.
Despite its thirty years Of exist
ence the code has undergone radical
changes. The character Of the game
has altered and since the co-ordina-
tion of the Intercollegiate, A. A. u,
and Y. M. G. A. rules into q code for
all teams playing. rapid strides have
been made in standardiz'ng the game
during the past five seasons.
Changes in the rules hafe been
made for the sole purpose Of i'm
QTOVIuk Tic Bdflc IOT tic BOOQ pk
the players and public Efforts have
been made to make tho game open,
clean and fast. to put a premium
on speed and passing ability and
condition.
Perfection Sought.
Z Those who have the best interests
of basketball at heart are still un-
satisfied with results. Satisfaction
was expressed with the changes Of
last year. while there mas been
q tendency in certain sections to
reach so-cailed "gentleman's agree
ment" and wink at the purpose Of
the code In the effort to provide
rough contests. The West reached q
decision last spring to "cut odt the
rough stuff" and to play, basketball
as II was intended.
Tho intercollegiate Association. with
q few minor changes. has decided
finally to adopt the rules as read.
It is expected that the so-called "de-
fensive game will be discarded this
year too great degree and teams
coached not only to strictly observe
the rule but the spirit OF the ru'..,-
In the same manner, officials are
agreeing to standardize their work as
much az possible and to fearlessly
erpStcate the evils that have cropped
up m the past through lax work In
handling the contests.
-hanges Are Few.
There have been few changes in the
rules. On any ball tossed up by the
referee, the players are required to
keep one hand in contact with the
middle Of the small Of the back and
. to keep It there until the ball Is tapped
The referee is authorized to keep other
players away.
"A player receiving the ball while
standing still may take one step In
any direction while in the act of put
ting the ball in play in any manner
desired; 1. g., dribbling. passing or
shooting"
Z Time out" may be called for by a
captain only when his team is In pos
session of the ball, unless a player
very evidently has been injured, when
time out" may be called Immediately
Thirty seconds is allowed for substi.
tuition; more time than this incurs {
pofldity charge VI ono tlfnc Out. =.
Time out" cannot extend beyond
two minutes, when play must be re
eumed. Substitutes, upon entering the
game. are TO closely approach the ref
cree in order to report to him and be
recognized before playing In the game
No Other Changes.
There are no other changes in the
basketball code for the season. The
rule in regard to the taking Of one
step" will greatly simplify the Off
ciais' problems and allow an even
faster game than last season.
The principal idea of tho code
seems to be to encourage speed
passing and to put premium &c
physical condition. Basketball ha.
, taken a great hold in this country
and from the time, thirty years ago
when a peach basket was used In the
Springfield gymnasium, has come Il
be not only q most interesting con
test. but ono as full Of thrills az any
!, game played.