In his book, The Cavalcade of Basketball, Colonel Alexander M Weyand wrote a chapter titled “Development of the Game.” In Part 2 of The Game We Love,we continue looking at how basketball rules have changed over the years:
“One of the most exciting and roughest aspects of the old game took place when the ball went out of bounds and players charged after it and fought for it among the spectators and overturned chairs – frequently out of sight of an official. Should the ball roll down the basement stairs or bounce into the gallery, it meant more fun for the spectators. In 1902-03 the ball was given to an opponent of the team that caused it to go out of bounds at a point where it left the field of play. When the colleges drafted their own rules in 1905-06, the restored the original roughhouse rule but popular sentiment caused those rugged individuals reluctantly to adopt the A.A.U. ruling in 1913-14. Naismith’s original rule allowing 5 seconds for a throw-in has never been changed.”
“To eliminate the nuisance of the ball going out of bounds, cages, first of chicken wire and then of heavy type, were used in many places, particularly among the professionals. Trenton, New Jersey is believed to have constructed the first cage for the season of 1896-97. Use of a cage was discontinued in 1929-30 but by that time basketball had become known as ‘the cage game’ [and basketball players as “cagers”].”
“In 1893-94 the length of time of halves was raised from 15 to 20 minutes and of intermission from 5 to 10 minutes. A 15-minute intermission for college games was announced in 1935-36. Extra periods of 5 minutes each to break a tie were ordered in 1907-08; previously the ‘sudden death’ principle had applied – teams played only until one scored.”
“Basketball has generally been governed by two floor officials with, as in football, the referee having control of the ball and the umpire of the players. In 1895-96, the referee was first permitted to call fouls, a duty hitherto exercised only by the umpire. In 1906-07 the colleges decide on a single floor official but they returned to two in 1910-11 when the game began getting out of hand. Timers and scorers were authorized in 1895-96. Prior to that time, their duties were performed by the referee. Distinctive attire for officials was advised in 1917-18.”
“Originally the referee, from a point on the side line, tossed the ball toward the center of the court but, in the great revision of 1893-94, he was obliged to throw it up between the centers, thus originating the center jump. A center circle with a 2-foot radius was ordered in 1897-98 and a restriction circle, with a radius of 6 feet, in 1936-37. To the dismay of many, the picturesque center jump was all but eliminated in 1937-38 through a ruling that, after a goal, any player of the scored-upon side could put the ball in play from any point out of bounds at the end of the court where the goal was made. The change was made to speed up the game.”
“For many years the dribble proved a bone of contention. No effort was made to regulate it until 1898-99 when it was stated that a player catching the ball with both hands and bouncing it on the floor might not again catch it until it had been touched by another player. The next year dribbling a ball with alternate hands was authorized but, to be legal, a dribble had to be continuous. In those days the dribble was waist high so that the defender had a good chance to seize the ball. The rules of 1901-02 prohibited shooting for goal at the termination of a dribble. When the colleges made their own rules, in 1905-06, they permitted a player to dribble and shoot and this ruling was accepted by the Joint Committee in 1915-16. In 1927 a rule was passed to limit the dribble to one bounce but it was thrown out before it became an actuality because of the pressure exerted by the coaches’ association.”
“Soccer balls were replaced by specially manufactured basketballs in 1893-94. The rules called for a ball not less than 30 nor more than 32 inches in circumference. Little change has been made in the size of the ball since that time. Molded balls were brought into the game in 1950-51. Orange-colored balls were permitted in 1959-60.”
“The original peach baskets hardly last out the initial game. They were almost immediately replace by wire baskets which had a hole in the bottom through which a wand could be inserted in order to push the ball out after a goal had been scored. This was a big improvement over having a man bring out a step ladder every time it was necessary to get the ball out of the basket. The next improvement came in 1892-93 when baskets were made with an iron ring and a netted bag. Baskets were enlarged at the top from 15 to 18 inches in 1894-95. Open bottom nets and nets made of light chains, loose enough to permit the ball to slip out between them, were used in various places around 1906 but it was not until the season of 1912-13 that the open-bottomed net was authorized for amateur championship play.”
“When there was no backstop and, as frequently was the case, the basket was attached to the gallery railing, spectators joined freely in the sport and by means of hands, feet, or stick, they endeavored to influence the course of the ball. A vertical backstop of any solid material was required in 1893-94; the present size, 6 by 4 feet was agreed upon in 1895-96. Wire screens, plate glass, and wood were among the materials utilized. Strange in view of its present popularity, plate glass was not well received when first introduced. A small and partly fan-shaped backstop was authorized in 1940-41. The rules of 1942-43 required a target to be painted on all transparent backstops.”
“The 10-second and 3-second rules were adopted in 1932-33 when an effort was being made to discourage stalling. A center line was created by extending the diameter of the center circle in either direction until it intercepted the side lines. Thus the ‘divided court’ returned after thirty-five years. The rules provided that a team in continuous control of the ball in its own back court had to advance it over the center line within a period of 10 seconds.”
“The other ‘time rule’ was aimed at the pivot play and it forbade a player withholding the ball from play for more than 3 seconds while standing in his own free throw lane with his back to his basket. This was changed in 1935-36 to preclude a player remaining for more than 3 seconds in his free throw lane with or without the ball. Incidentally the pivot play was always in the game. Any doubt as to its legality was removed in 1898-99 when it was expressly authorized as long as the ball was not advanced.”
“The controversial 1-and1 rule was passed for the season of 1952-53. It provided that, during the first 37 minutes of a regular college game, the ordinary penalty for a common personal foul was a free throw, was changed to a bonus award in 1954-55. A second throw was authorized if the first was successful, otherwise the ball was in play. The bonus and 1-and-1 rules were made to apply to the entire game in 1955-56. In 1957-58, officials were instructed to ignore harmless personal contact.”
“Prior to 1895, girls played according to boys’ rules…[but in 1899-1900 a special set of rules were established].”
“The 1899-1900 rules for women limited the actual playing space to 3500 square feet with the court divided into three sections. Teams consisted of not less than five nor more than ten members. The ball was put in play by throwing it at right angles to the side line so that it fell near the center of the court. An out-of-bounds ball was awarded to the first player who touched it. Playing time was 40 minutes. In a revision in October, 1905, the maximum size of the playing field was increased to 6000 square feet, two halves of 15 minutes each were prescribed, teams consisted of from five to nine players and centers jumped for the ball. Other major changes that have occurred since are as follows. The number on a team was set at from six to nine in 1922 and at six in 1937. In 1936 the center jump was eliminated. After baskets were scored, the teams alternated in putting the ball in play but this was changed in 1943 to give the ball to the side that was scored upon. A two-division court was prescribed in 1938 after having been used in small halls since 1914. The rules of 1937 allowed a roving guard to cross the dividing lines…”
And that’s The Primary Focus.