Tournament Will Open Basketball Season This Afternoon

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 15

Tournament Will Open Basketball Season This Afternoon

By

FORWARD

Tlie basketball season opens this afternoon at the Waihopai courts, with a tournament which should be of great benefit to all teams both as a means .of learning the new rules and as an excellent opportunity for trying out teams. Big entries have been received and some very fine games should result from both the players’ and the spectators’ points of view. - The tournament is being run on a two-life system such as was used at an, evening tournament last year .and proved such a success. All teams are guaranteed at least two games. A team is not out of the competition until it has had two losses. A draw for this system is neither necessary nor possible as all teams are put down in the competition in the order of their’ arrival at the courts. Thus immediately a team is complete the captain must report to Miss Watson. All teams are in the first-life round to begin and stay in this round as long as they win. As soon as a team loses a match, it goes into the second-life round and stays in this round as long as it wins. When a team loses in this second round it is out of the competition, as it has had two losses. A card with all the matches to be played will be pinned up in a prominent place so that there will be no necessity for players to ask any officials about matches. Captains must watch this card, and keep their teams together so that teams can be fielded as soon as called upon by the officials. All teams must take the field promptly as matches will not be held up for late-comers. The tournament is being run in two sections, senior and junior, the first and second grade teams playing in the senior section and the third and fourth' grades in the junior. The following are the handicaps:—

Senior section.—Collegiate I scr, Rata I scr, St. Mary’s I scr, Stuarts II 4, Rata II 4, Rosedale H 4, Makarewa H 4, Pirates 4, Technical II 4, Exhibition 5, Collegiate II 6, St. Mary’s H 7, S.G.H.S. 7.

Junior section.—Technical 111 scr, Makarewa 111 scr, Stuarts 111 scr. Smith’s scr, McKenzies scr, Bluff 111 scr, Rosedale IH scr, St. Mary’s IV 5, Collegiate IV 5, Bluff IV 6, Technical IVA 6, Technical iy 86, Clifton 8. .

It will be noticed that all first and third grade teams have been put on scratch. All matches are to consist of two halves, 12 minutes each way with one minute spell. The tournament will begin at 2 p.m. and the following teams are to be present at the courts at 1.55 p.m.—

Senior section.—Technical 11, St. Mary’s 11, Collegiate I, S.G.H.S., Makarewa 11, Rata I, Stuarts H, Exhibition. Junior section.—Technical 111, Rosedale 111, Makarewa 111, Smith’s, Technical IV A, St. Mary’s IV. All other teams must be present as soon after 2 p.m. as possible. The charge for the tournament is 6d for players and 1/- for spectators. If the weather is wet the tournament will be postponed as the Drill Hall is not available. If games are postponed a notice will be posted up outside the Sports Depot by 11.30 a.m. Players are asked to refrain from ringing the postponement committee but if absolutely necessary one representative from each club, may ring Miss Watson if the weather is doubtful. The senior section of the tournament is being played on courts 4, 5 and 6 and the junior section will be played on courts 1,2 and 3. All players should observe the following tournament rules:— 1. Be punctual on taking the field. 2. Watch the cards for matches to be played. 3. Keep together in teams as much as possible. 4. Team mentioned first, takes the ball. 5. Other team takes north goal. Players are also reminded of the general rujes applying to teams playing in fill Southland Union matches:— 1. No jewellery, brooches, bangles or watches likely to cause injury to other players, may be worn. 2. Gymnastic boots and not shoes must be worn. 3. All players must play in the registered costume of their club. 4. No player must chew gum on the courts. 5. Spectators may not coach from the side-line. ' THE NEW RULES As the new rules will be put into practice at the tournament a short resume of the chief of them will probably be of benefit to players, referees and spectators. One of the chief alterations is in the throw-off from the centre. Instead of standing facing her goal, the centre now stands at the end of a nine-foot line with her left shoulder towards her own goal. This rule will probably speed up the centre play and will eliminate all rough play at the throw-off, which was so noticeable in many games last season.

A new rule which affects all players and which will require some time for referees and players to become accustomed to is that which applies to boundary lines, both outside lines and third lines. Whereas previously a player was "ruled out of bounds if she stepped

on the line, she is not now out until she steps over the line. Thus a player is not out if she steps on the line. This same rule applies to the ball. Another rule of importance is that if the ball hits any part of the goal post rebounding into the court, it is out of Play.

One of the most radical alterations is the elimination of all guarding. Many players may consider that it will be difficult to refrain from guarding but they will probably find that this rule is one of the easiest to become accustomed to in actual practice. The one shot at goal is going to seem a little strange for a time, but should lead to greater accuracy in the goal circle.. If no goal is scored at the first attempt the ball shall be thrown in by an opponent at the spot where it crossed the line. If the ball rebounds from the goal-post inside the court, it shall be thrown in by an opponent from any spot along the goal line within the radius of the goal-circle and on either side of the goal post. This means that if the ball rebounds into the court the defender has the choice of the spot where she will stand to throw in, provided it is within the goal circle. A forward must be within the goal circle before she can attempt to shoot. The 12-foot line has now been deleted, so that when a ball is thrown in from the back line, players may now come to within nine feet of the player throwing in. This also applies to a throw-in on the sideline. The throwerin must stand still while making the throw and shall then immediately reenter the court at the spot where the ball went out of bounds. The old rules allowed a margin of 30 inches on either side of the spot where the ball was thrown in but now, no margin is allowed at all, so that players will have to be particularly careful to step straight into the court. The penalty for stepping in incorrectly, is a throwin to ,the opposing team. The opponent of the thrower-in stands off the. court beside her and takes no part in the game until the ball leaves the hands of the thrower-in, when 1 she must immediately re-enter the court crossing the line at right angles. ; When a tie-ball occurs, the throw-in

is taken with the players facing their own goals as previously but with their hands touching behind their backs until the whistle sounds. If the. ball hits the referee during the progress of the game, the ball does not become dead but play continues without interruption. Likewise if a double foul occurs no throw-up is taken but play continues. Thus.if two players A and B stepped over a third line simultaneously and A was in possession of the ball, she would just carry on. No throw-up would be taken and no penalty would be awarded. According to last year’s rules a ball could be held for three seconds in bounds or five seconds out of bounds. The rule for 1939 reads: “The ball may be held for three seconds in bounds or out of’bounds when once in a position to play. A throw for goal must be taken within’ five seconds of gaining possession.” The time for the throw at goal has thus been lengthened while the time for a throw-in has been shortened.

One rule which will possibly trouble both players and referees is that the throw-off from the centre has now to be taken alternately and not as last year by the centre of the team against which the score has just been made. The centre pass is now taken alternately throughout the game, after each goal or after intervals.