1959-60

270
BASKET BALL
MODIFICATIONS
The Association has approved the four following modifications :
1. Backboard (Rule 1, Section
7)
If a 6 feet by 4 feet backboard is impracticable, a board 3 feet
6 inches wide by
2
feet 6 inches high may be used, with the ring
(Rule i, Section io) 6 inches up from the bottom edge of the board
but still io feet from the floor.
2. Position of Backboard (Rule 1, Section 8)
When it is impracticable to have the backboard overhanging the
court by 4 feet, it is permissible to reduce this distance to t foot, and,
in addition, the distance from the front of the base of the stand to the
end line may be i foot.
3. Boundary Lines (Rule
7,
Section 1)
On non-regulation courts, where a fine line is drawn in the
court 3' 3" from the boundary line, this line will be in effect the
true boundary line for the purpose of administering out-of-bounds
awards as far as players other than the thrower-in are concerned.
4. Official calling a foul (Rule 2, Section 10)
It is recommended that when an official has designated the
player who has committed the foul, such player shall raise his arm
above his head. This is primarily to assist the Scorer to record the
foul.
COMMENTS ON THE RULES
These statements supplement but do not alter the rules.
1. Personal
Contact.—Although basket ball is theoretically a
"no-contact game,"it is obvious that personal contact cannot be avoid-
ed entirely when ten players are moving with great rapidity over a
limited playing space. For instance, the ball is free; two opponents
start quickly for the ball and collide. The personal contact may be
serious, yet if both were in favourable positions from which to get
the ball, ana were intent only upon getting it, an unavoidable
accident, and not a foul, occurs. On the other hand, if one player is
about to catch the ball and an opponent behind him jumps into his
back in an attempt to get the ball, the opponent commits a foul even
though he is " playing the ball." In this case, as in " guarding from
the rear," the player behind is usually responsible for the contact
because of his unfavourable position relative to the ball and to his
opponent. In short, if personal contact results from a bona fide
attempt to play the ball; if the players are in such positions that they
could reasonably expect to gain the ball without contact, and if they
use due care to avoid contact, contact may be classed as accidental
and need not be penalised.
2.
Basic principles governing Personal Contact
Many decisions related to personal contact must be the result