New Basketball Rules May Start This Year

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 5

New Basketball Rules May Start This Year

S r FHE new seven-a-side rules for E A women’s basketball, which I E will be considered by the New S Zealand Basketball Association 5 Council at its meeting at New l E Plymouth in May, and intro-1 Z duced throughout New Zealand E next year, are expected to 5 brighten and speed the game E considerably. The Canterbury asE socia-on hopes to use the new Z rules in its second-round matches. E There will be a greater chance Z for definite tactics—in fact Z greater scope fortactics generally • than at present, and it will bezcome a more lively sport.

= Problems

s However, with the introduction E administrators, players and referS ees, will be faced with many 5 problems. With the present nineE girl team being reduced to seven, 5 the increase in the number of E teams is likely to be one of the E biggest administrative . headaches. I More courts will now be needed E and already one centre has pro- = tested about the decision to introE duce the new rules. The reducE tion in the size of the teams S (from nine players and three E emergencies to seven players and

I two emergencies) will result in a 133 1-3 increase in ‘the number of teams.

Christchurch will not be greatly affected by the increase as there are about 40 courts at Hagley Park, but Auckland will be faced with a greater problem as it has only nine courts and at present plays from 9 a.m. to tote in the evening to accommodate all the matches.

For seven-a-side the court will be reduced 10ft in width, making the court 100 ft by 50ft, with the centre line replaced by a centre circle three inches in diameter.

Players .will be termed as follows: shooter, attack, attacking centre, centre, defending centre, defence and goal-keeper. At the stact. of play the alternative pass is observed as in mne-a-side, but the centre player stands on the three inch centre circle, facing in any direction’she pleases, with her opponent free to be anywhere within the third but not closer than three 'feet from the circle until the ball is thrown. AU other players must be behind their transverse lines, but they <jo not have to stand side by side as in nlne-a-side. The positions wiU be directed by the side that is not in possession of the ball.

Out of Bounds

If a player goes out of bounds without the baU, she shaU not be penalised, bug she cannot touch tlie baU while any part of her is out of bounds. If two players go out of bounds together the one that has the baU is penalised. If the ball goes off the court, a throw-in is given against the player who last touched the ball. For the throw-in one player only goes off the court, standing immediately behind the line, and aU other players must keep, three feet fgpm the player throwing in After an unsuccessful attempt at goal, play, continues provided the ball does not go off the court. Only three seconds are aUowed for a goal, instead of the previous five seconds. The baU may ba deliberately

bounced to another player, but may only be rolled by a player to herself to gain possession. It cannot be" rolled to another player. A pat and bounce is still ' an infringement The time of the game win be the same as nine-a-side, two spells of 20 minutes each.

Conference

.The rules were decided at an International Rules Conference ! held in Britain during April last year. The conference was at- : tended by delegates from New I Zealand, South Africa, Australia, . Britain, Wales, Northern Ireland, I and by an" unofficial delegate from ■ the United States. New Zealand was represented by Miss N. ’