Naismith and the rules

        The plaque simply reads: “James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born on this farm in Ramsey Township. While studying theology in Montréal, he played a number of sports and became interested in the new discipline of physical education. In 1891, as a teacher in Massachusetts, he recognized the need for a new indoor activity to promote fitness in place of the traditional winter routine of marching, gymnastics and calisthenics. Feeling that a non-contact team game was the best answer, he devised the sport of basketball. His game is now played in over one hundred countries around the world.”

It is attached to a house at 100 Naismith Way, 0.6 kilometres east of Road 29, 3.2 kilometres north of Road 16 in Almonte, Ontario.

        The story has been retold on innumerable occasions. In the winter of 1891, a Canadian-born, McGill-educated advocate of “muscular Christianity” is working as a physical education teacher at the School for Christian Workers in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is given two weeks by his boss, Luther Gulick, to craft an indoor “athletic distraction” for rowdy students.

Reminded of a childhood game called ‘duck on a rock’, in which players toss small rocks at a larger rock atop a boulder, he creates “Basket ball,” proposing to attach boxes to the wall into which players can toss a soccer goal to score. With no boxes available, with the help of a janitor, he collects two discarded peach baskets from the school cafeteria, and draws up the rules, ostensibly in an hour.

        “The invention of basketball was not an accident,” Naismith later wrote. “It was developed to meet a need. Those boys simply would not play ‘Drop the Handkerchief’.”

        Naismith saw his mission as being “to win men for the Master through the gym.” Or as Gulick later wrote: “Christ’s kingdom should include the athletic world.” The YMCA at the time was a decidedly spiritual organization, viewing its role as developing the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Gulick wrote in 1897 that he charged Naismith with developing a noble game. “The game must be kept clean. It is a perfect outrage for an institution that stands for Christian work in the community to tolerate not merely ungentlemanly treatment of guests, but slugging and that which violates the elementary principles of morals. … Excuse for the rest of the year any player who is not clean in his play.”

        In short, basketball was crafted as an evangelical tool, designed to spread the word of Christ. As Naismith wrote in his book, Basketball: Its Origin and Development: “Whenever I witness games in a church league, I feel that my vision, almost half a century ago, of the time when the Christian people would recognize the true value of athletics, has become a reality.”

        Naismith’s class played the first game of ‘Basket ball’ using a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to a balcony railing 10 feet above the floor. The class of 18 was divided into two teams of nine players. The final score? 1-0, on a field goal by William Chase from 25 feet.

        Within two years, the game is being played in more than a dozen countries as trainees at the Springfield Y returned to their home nations. It is quickly adopted in Canada as a pair of Naismith’s students, T.D. Patton and Lyman W. Archibald joined the exodus. Patton taught the game at the Montreal Y, and Archibald at the St. Stephen, New Brunswick Y.

        Within a decade, the game is seized by the nation’s churches and universities. Three years before he died, Naismith witnessed its arrival as an Olympic sport in Berlin, Germany, tossing up the ball for the opening tip of the first game. He was the first person to be selected to the sport’s Hall of Fame, though he is believed to have only twice played the game, a public match in Springfield in 1892, and one at the University of Kansas, where he became the assistant gymnasium director, in 1898.

        Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, on November 6, 1861. He was orphaned at the age of 10 after his parents died of typhoid fever. He went to live with his maternal grandmother in Bennie’s Corners but when she died two years later, a bachelor uncle, Peter Young, assumed responsibility for raising the three Naismith children. Naismith dropped out of high school to work on Young’s farm but eventually returned to get his high school degree and then enrolled at McGill, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and Hebrew, and then enrolled at McGill’s theological school, Presbyterian College.

When he inquired of administrators at the Montreal Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) about becoming an instructor, general secretary D.A. Budge told him about an international YMCA training school in Springfield, Massachusetts. After getting his theological degree and become an un-ordained minister, he headed to Springfield and within two years, was teaching the indoor physical education program, when he was given two weeks by Gulick to submit proposals for a new game.

Naismith wrote that he initially considered modifying sports like soccer, lacrosse and football to an indoor format but that seemed unsuitable because running and tackling on a hardwood floor was too hazardous. He then recalled the childhood game, “duck on the rock,” a medieval contest in which a player guards a large rock from opponents, who try to knock it down with smaller stones. Reasoning that boxes placed at the end of court would make good goals, Naismith said he raised the goals above the player’s heads so as to make it a game of skill, rather than force.

In a letter published in the McGill News in the fall of 1992, Naismith wrote: “The games that contributed were English Rugby which I played at Almonte, and at McGill University for six years. This contributed the method of throwing the ball in from the sidelines and up in the center. Lacrosse, that gave me the idea of placing the men in their positions on the field and in penalizing for a foul, as the first penalty was that the player was sent to the side lines until a goal was made. Duck on the rock that I learned at Bennies Corners School gave me the idea of a horizontal goal. The three games that contributed most were games that I had played as a boy and were all Canadian games.”

Naismith tested various options for two weeks and concluded that it had to be based on four principles:

(1) no running with the ball in hand;

(2) no tackling or rough body contact (hence the emphasis on passing, so as to prevent contact);

(3) a horizontal goal above players’ heads, so as to reduce body contact, by making the goal unguardable; and

(4) freedom of any player to obtain the ball and score at any time.

Unable to find boxes, he consulted with a janitor, who found two empty peach baskets, with a diameter of 15 inches. With 18 students in his class, Naismith split them into two groups of nine, with each team having a goalkeeper, a right and left guard, a right centre, a left centre, a centre, a right wing, a left wing and a home man. A stepladder was placed near each basket to retrieve the ball when a player successfully tossed it into the cylinder.

“When Mr. Stubbins brot [sic] up the peach baskets to the gym I secured them on the inside of the railing of the gallery. This was about 10 feet from the floor, one at each end of the gymnasium. I then put the 13 rules (see below) on the bulletin board just behind the instructor’s platform, secured a soccer ball and awaited the arrival of the class… The class did not show much enthusiasm but followed my lead… I then explained what they had to do to make goals, tossed the ball up between the two center men & tried to keep them somewhat near the rules. Most of the fouls were called for running with the ball, though tackling the man with the ball was not uncommon.”

Box Ball became Basket Ball. Thus was born the greatest game ever invented.

Naismith married Maude Sherman in 1894, moved West to Colorado in 1895 to become the physical education director at the Denver YMCA. He obtained a medical degree from the University of Colorado Medical School in 1898. He then took a job as the assistant gymnasium director and chapel director at the University of Kansas. He founded the University of Kansas basketball program, serving as its part-time head coach from 1898 to 1907, amassing a record of 55-60. As oft-noted, he is the only coach in University of Kansas history to have a losing record. Among his players was the legendary Forrest Allen, who succeeded him at the helm.

        In 1909, he was appointed a professor at the university, while practicing medicine in Lawrence. From 1914-17, he served as a captain the Kansas First Infantry Regiment (National Guard) and a year later, was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister, and thereafter became the regiment’s chaplain. It was stationed on the Mexican border for four months. In 1917, he went to France to serve a stint as the international Y.M.C.A Secretary, returning after 19 months to the University of Kansas in 1919, to become the school’s athletic director, a position held until 1937. He attended the Berlin Olympics in 1936 as Allen, founder of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, collected donations to send Naismith to Germany. While at the Olympics, he was named honorary president of the International Basketball Federation.

        Naismith became an American citizen in 1925, was named Professor Emeritus at Kansas in 1937 and retired at the age of 76, also in 1937. He died in Lawrence, Kansas, on November 2, 1939, at the age of 78, after suffering a brain hemorrhage. His book was published posthumously and Kansas named the road, Naismith Drive, running in front of Allen Fieldhouse in his honour. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, is also named in his honour, as are a number of awards, including the U.S. National College Player of the Year. Among his Canadian laurels are induction into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

        But the laurels were secondary, Naismith wrote. “I am sure that no man can derive more pleasure from money or power than I do from seeing a pair of basketball goals in some out of the way place.”

The Original 13 rules

        As published by James Naismith on January 15, 1892, in The Triangle, the Springfield College school newspaper.

 “The goals are a couple of baskets or boxes about fifteen inches diameter across the opening, and about fifteen inches deep. These are suspended, on at each end of the grounds, about 10 feet [3.05 m] from the floor. The object of the game is to put the ball into your opponent’s goal. This may be done by throwing the ball from any part of the grounds, with one or both hands, under the following conditions and rules:

The ball to be an ordinary Association Football.

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.

2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).

3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop.

4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.

5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify to injure the person for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.

6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4 and such as described in Rule 5.

7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents. (Consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul.)

8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.

9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of dispute, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.

10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.

11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds and to which side it belongs, and shall keep time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.

12. The time shall be two fifteen minute halves, with five minute rest between.

13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.

        The number composing a team depends largely on the size of the floor space, but it may range from three on a side to forty. The fewer players down to three, the more scientific it may be made; but the more players, the more fun. The men may be arranged according to the idea of the captain, but it has been found that a goal keeper, two guards, three center men, two wings and a home man stationed in the above order from the goal is the best.

It shall be the duty of the goal keeper and the two guards to prevent the opponents from scoring. The duty of the wing man and home man is to put the ball into the opponents goal and the center men shall feed the ball forward to the man who has the best opportunity’ thus nine men make the best number for a team.

We would advise the director to keep a good firm grasp on the ruling for awhile at first.”

Early modifications

The height of the basket was established at 10 feet but only because the peach baskets Naismith proposed to use were nailed to the YMCA running track, which was 10 feet off the floor. It could just as easily have been 12 feet. Games were often slowed to a crawl by the closed basket as a stepladder (or someone in an upper balcony) had to retrieve the ball after a bucket. Peach baskets began to be replaced by wire mesh cylindrical baskets as early as 1892. Lew Allen of Hartford, Connecticut is widely credited with having made the first woven wire basket. Cast iron rims began to be used as early as 1893. Open ended nylon nets weren’t approved until 1912 and when adopted, substantially altered the tempo of the game. In Canada, the switch from peach baskets toward any form of open basket is adopted slowly. As late as 1906, the St. John City League was still using an enclosed basket. Many institutions did not adopt open baskets until roughly 1915.

In 1893, the first backboards are introduced in some gyms, and were mounted flat to the wall. They were 12 feet by 6 feet and were often made of wire mesh, having been designed primarily to keep fans in the balconies from impeding the path of the ball. In 1895, the first standardized backboard is introduced. The earliest versions made of wood began to surface in 1904 and were typically mounted flat against the wall. Several were made of metal screening. By 1908, the first glass backboard is used. In 1926, a rule was adopted that the backboard had to be two feet from the wall, so as to prevent players from scaling the wall to score. In 1939, that was moved to four feet, the current minimum distance of the backboard from the end line, to allow for more movement under the basket.

A soccer ball was typically used for the first few years but in 1894, the Overhman Wheel Co., a bicycle manufacturing firm, creates a ball that had a circumference of 30-32 inches. According to the company, early balls were made “by first sewing together, wrong-side out, four odd-shaped panels of tanned cowhide that had been glued to heavy canvas. The cowhide was turned right-side out and a rubber bladder with a protruding nipple was shoved through an opening in the cowhide. Finally the bladder was inflated and the opening was laced shut with rawhide strips.” Balls often collapsed during a game and became lopsided. Soccer balls quickly proved totally unsuitable for dribbling and ball handling. Spaulding became the official ballmaker in late 1890s. Games were typically played with the teams deciding what sort of ball should be used. In 1929, a basketball was designed that had more bounce and concealed laces, making them easier to bounce and handle. They were bigger and lighter. Molded basketballs weren’t adopted until the late 1930s and they were a significant improvement over stitched balls because they retained their shape and size.

As envisioned by Naismith, a field goal counted one point. A team could also score a point if its opponent committed three consecutive fouls (but not if the opponents collected a foul in the interval). It was essentially a predecessor of the bonus. Players who committed two fouls were disqualified until the next goal is made, or if there was evident intent to injure, for the remainder of the game, with no substitution or replace allowed. It was quickly discovered that the two-foul limit discouraged players from playing any manner of defence, so it was expanded to five, although some areas of North America instead adopted the rule that a player who’d committed two fouls be allowed to return to the floor once the opposing team had scored a bucket. In the latter instance, by 1894, many institutions adopted the alternative of a “free throw” when a player was fouled. But for many years, in some jurisdictions, including Canada, free throws were anathema. It wasn’t until 1915 that Canada officially adopted free throws. When free throws were introduced, they also counted one point. With some jurisdictions awarding three points for either a field goal or free throw, in 1896, the rules were changed to make field goals worth two points, and free throws a single point. The modern trey was first used by the professional American Basketball League. The trey was adopted by FIBA in 1967, by the NBA in 1977 and by the NCAA in 1980 (on a pilot basis).

Naismith’s first game was played on tiny court (16.45 m or 54 feet by 10.36 m or 34 feet). There was essentially no out-of-bounds, although in early days, some jurisdictions adopted the precept that if a ball hit the gym wall, it was out of bounds. As envisioned by Naismith, if it went into the stands or balconies, the first player to touch it was allowed to inbound it.

The free throw line was initially placed at 21 feet (6.4 metres) from the backboard. Some jurisdictions moved it to 15 feet within a year but it wasn’t officially moved to that distance until 1906-07. A player was given 10 seconds to shoot his free throw. The player who was fouled did not have to shot the ball (until 1924) leading most teams to have specialized free throw shooters. If the free throw missed the backboard, rim and basket, it constituted a violation and possession reverted to the opposing team. Among fouls which led to a free throw were travelling or running with the ball, striking the ball with a fist, or any manner of physical conduct such as holding, tripping, pushing or striking an opponent. Travelling wasn’t changed to a violation until 1922.

Goaltending was legal, which prompted most teams to station tall players near the rim to swat away balls tossed in its direction. But a defender could not touch or disturb the basket. If he did, the field goal counts. The centre jump is used after all field goals, and in some jurisdictions, every time the ball went out of bounds. The jump ball rule wasn’t changed until 1938. Naismith envisioned an umpire to judge fouls and a referee to judge the ball.

Naismith originally envisioned an unlimited number of players per team and early games were played with up 50 per size. The first game had nine players to a team, in large measure because there were 18 students in Naismith’s class. There were three forwards, three centres and three guards, each playing in a third of the court. By 1897, five players became the norm, although in some jurisdictions, games continued to be played with larger numbers of players.

Naismith prohibited substitutions and coaching. But the rules changes in 1920 to allow a player to re-enter the game one time. In 1934, that was expanded to a pair of re-entries but it wasn’t until 1945 that unlimited substitutions and re-entries were allowed in some jurisdictions.

        Initially, some games were played in fifteen-minute halves but that quickly to 40 minutes and two 20-minute halves. In most jurisdictions, the duration is unchanged, except in the NBA, which moved immediately to the 48-minute game when the league was created. In the earliest years, there was no provision for overtime, so games occasionally resulted in a tie. It wasn’t until formal leagues were developed that jurisdictions moved to some manner of overtime, with the first team to score a field goal or free throw winning the game. Many a game was decided without one team touching the ball in the extra session. The notion of overtime periods of fixed duration wasn’t adopted until the 1960s.

        Dribbling was widely and rapidly introduced within years, although Naismith had prohibited it. Initially, they were allowed to bounce it only once. In some jurisdictions, they were allowed a “few” bounces. By 1897, it is generally held that players cannot dribble with two hands more than once. In early manifestations of the rules, anyone who dribbled had to pass the ball after the dribble, at a level higher than the player’s head. Continuous dribbling wasn’t allowed until 1909, when double-drilling was created as a violation.

Some schools allowed players to bounce the ball off walls or ceilings when making passes. Some jurisdictions created boundary lines as early as 1904. But not all. Coaches actually crafted plays that had the ball bounce off pillar, post and coal-burning stove. In jurisdictions that adopted boundary lines, the rules often stated that possession of the ball was awarded to the team which a player first touch the ball after it had gone out of bounds, particularly when the ball ended up in the balconies. As Naismith envisioned it, the ball went to the team that first touched it out of bounds. In the case of a dispute, the umpire would throw it into play. The player in-bounding the ball had five seconds to do so, otherwise possession reverted to the opponent. In the game’s early days, teams often had designed wedges to prevent foes from making it to the stands, or plays designed to “hoist” teammates into the balconies. Because of the free-for-alls that often ensued, wire cagers were often placed around the court to protect spectators, as well as speed up the game by eliminating out-of-bounds delays. They often caused cuts, scrapes and bruises, as players were bodychecked into the mesh. Such was the basis on which players came to be known as cagers. Cages were eliminated in 1933 because of the hazard they posed. The out-of-bounds rule was changed in 1913 to read that the team causing the ball to go out of bounds (last to touch it) loses possession.

Year-by-year rule changes:

1894-95

        The free throw line is fixed at 15 feet in some jurisdictions. Others have it at 20.

1895-96

        With widespread regional variations in the rules, the American Athletic Union took responsibility for development of the rules. For many years, some institutions and schools totally ignored their recommendations so the game was often played according to the hosts rules.

        The value of a field goal is reduced to two points from three. The value of a free throw is reduced to one from three.

        Backboards are officially limited to four feet, rather than six. They are also made a requirement to prevent fans from reaching out with their hands or umbrellas and knocking balls away from the basket, or knocking them in (if they favored the local team).

1897-98

        Ball manufacturing A.G. Spalding Co. publishes the first basketball rules and declares the Spalding-made ball the “official” one.

1899-1900

        The AAU rules committee says that “the ball must enter and remain in the basket until after the referee’s decision of said goal.” The committee banned open baskets, which were becoming more widely used, on the grounds that no one would be certain whether a goal was scored.

        The committee also ruled that the dribble, which was widely being used, should be limited to once and “then with both hands, before having to toss the ball to another player.”

        The committee rules that goals cannot be scored from out-of-bounds.

1900-01

        The AAU rules committee says that a bucket can only be scored by someone who hasn’t dribbled. The ball must be passed to a player before he can shoot for goal. A dribbler cannot shoot for a field goal and can only dribble once, and then only with two hands.

1903-04

        The AAU rules committee requires that court boundaries be specified and that they be straight lines.

1905-06

The AAU adopts a series of rules in an attempt to standardize play, to wit:

Personal fouls are separated into two classes: “A” for general fouls and “B” for flagrant fouls, which could lead to immediate disqualification, or automatic qualification for two flagrants have been committed. General fouls are delay of game, touching the ball when a teammate has possession, kicking, striking, “advancing” or hugging the ball, shooting after dribbling, tackling, holding or pushing an opponent, or addressing an official. Flagrant fouls are striking, kicking, shouldering, tripping or hacking an opponent, unnecessary roughness, or using profane or abusive language.

Players fouled during the act of shooting are awarded one point and one free throw attempt. If the shot goes in, it counts for two points. The player is still awarded an extra point and a free throw attempt.

Each game has one referee, one umpire and two inspectors. The referee is in charge and calls fouls. An umpire can call fouls, reporting them to the referee. Inspectors are stationed at the end of each court. They cannot call fouls but are responsible for reporting to the referee whether a field goal was made in accordance with the rules. An official scorer is responsible for keeping a record of the field goals and fouls.

The home team is responsible for appointing a timekeeper. The visiting team can appoint an assistant timekeeper if desired.

A timeout called while the ball is in play results in a jump ball when play resumes. If the ball was out of bounds, the team which had possession, keeps possession.

The clock continues to run when the ball is out of bounds or someone is shooting free throws. Time stops only when ordered by the referee.

Games are played in two 20 minutes halves, with a 10-minute rest between halves.

If a ball is touched by a player or knocked off, while it is sitting on the rim, a point is awarded to the shooting team.

1906-07

The AAU rules committee standardizes the free throw line at 15 feet.

1907-08

“Inspectors” are eliminated as officials.

1908-09

        The rules committee defines the dribble as “the continuous passage of the ball.” Players had been stopping and starting their dribbles, as many as four or five times. Essentially, it creates the violation of double dribbling.

        Shooting off a dribble was made legal for college players only.

        A five foul limit was introduced, after which players are to be disqualified, irrespective of whether they are Class A or Class B fouls.

        It also requires that a second official be required for all games because one could not handle all the rough play that was becoming typical.

        The Canadian Amateur Athletic Union gained jurisdiction over basketball (then largely an intramural sport) across the country. The Canadian School Athletic Association had been formed in 1896 but “did not endorse basketball as an approved interscholastic activity” until 1909, so it had not felt compelled to standardize rules in any way.

1910-11

        Double-dribbling is re-classified as an infraction but not a foul.

The rules are changed back to only allow players to commit four fouls before being ejected. The fouls also had to “be of a more flagrant nature such as holding, blocking, pushing or tripping.”

        Glass backboards are given conditional approval.

        The International Basketball Rules Committee passes a rule that states “there shall be no coaching during the progress of a game by anybody connected with either of the teams. For the violation of this, the offending side shall be warned once by the referee, and if the offence is repeated the opposing team shall be given a free throw for the basket.”

1911-12

        The two-handed dribble is officially banned. In some jurisdictions, it had been banned by as early as 1897.

1912-13

Naismith had said that when the ball went out of bounds, it should be awarded to the team that first touches it, once it crossed the boundary. That led to mad scrambles for the ball once it was out of bounds, in which players were diving after loose balls like a rugby scrum, often trampling spectators. That had led, in turn, the basketball courts being surrounded by cages, wire mesh and chicken wire. New Jersey businessmen Fred Padderatz had been the first to surround courts with chicken wire eight feet high, leading to basketball players being called cagers. Other schools had surrounded the courts with rope netting.

The AAU rules committee adopted a practice that was becoming increasingly common, that the ball be awarded to the opposing team than the one which had knocked it out-of-bounds.

1913-14

        The AAU rules committee said that the bottom of the nets must be left open so that the ball could fall through.

        The AAU proposed allowing substituted players to return onto the floor but did not officially decide whether it would be allowed.

1915-16

The NCAA, AAU and YMCA form a joint rules committee of the United States and Canada. A set of uniform rules is created for all amateur basketball. The committee includes representatives from the YMCA, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Several conflicts immediately ensued. Shooting off the dribble was prohibited in all but the colleges because it was believed to discourage teamwork.

Players are disqualified upon committing their fourth personal foul.

Class A fouls are changed to violations, while Class B fouls become technical and personal fouls (the pair are distinguished from one another).

If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, his team is awarded two free throws regardless of whether the original field goal is made. If it was made, the two points count.

Defensive interference with the ball or basket while the ball is on the rim results in a free throw attempt for the shooting team.

All players are required to have jerseys with plain numbers at least 6 inches high and 1 inch wide fastened on the back of their jerseys.

1916-17

        The end walls were declared to be out-of-bounds. Players were prohibited from using the walls to propel themselves to dunk.

1920-21

        Substitutions are permitted, but a player can only re-enter the game once. Prior to that, a player who left the game was not permitted to re-enter it.

The backboard is moved two feet from the wall so as to prevent players from jumping up, or essentially climbing the often-padded wall to improve their chances of successfully scoring. Essentially, the new rule makes the wall out of bounds.

1921-22

        Travelling is declared a violation, rather than a foul.

1922-23

        Interference with the ball or the basket while it is on the rim results in a successful field goal.

1923-24

        Commencing this campaign, the player fouled must be player that takes the free throws. The so-called team “designated” free throw shooter is eliminated.

1924-25

Time is stopped for injuries, substitutions, two-shot fouls and timeouts requested by the team captain. The clock kept running at all other times including dead-ball situations, such as out-of-bounds.

Two timekeepers are to be used, one from each team, sharing a watch that is to be placed on a table between them. The timekeepers are to keep track of all the incidents that time was out and add that to the game time. The timekeepers are to indicate when time expired by using a gong, pistol or whistle.

Only team captain can call timeouts. Each team is allowed three timeouts.

1925-26

Players on the same team cannot wear duplicate numbers.

1927-28

On uniforms, are urged not to use the numbers one or two.

        Dribblers are limited to just one bounce.

1928-29

        The rules committee, on the heels of its highly-unpopular decision of a year earlier, allows dribblers to bounce the ball more than once.

        The rules committee introduces a new foul, charging, in which a dribbler who runs into a fixed opponent is deemed to have committed a foul.

1929-30

        Cages or rope netting around a court are scrapped.

        The National Basketball Coaches Association urges that players’ dribbles be limited to one bounce and that the centre jump be retained. Wisconsin coach Walter Meanwell, a member of the rules committee, argues that the game would speed up as a consequence and there’d be far less stalling. Instead of a centre jump, the coaches argue that the team that was scored upon should inbound the ball from under the opponent’s basketball. But the coaches argue that retaining the jump ball after each basket would make for a better game.

It is recommended that there be two officials on the court, rather than one.

1930-31

A held ball is to be called when a closely guarded player withholds the ball from play for five seconds. A jump ball is to follow. It has since become a violation, resulting in change of possession.

The maximum circumference of the ball is reduced from 32 to 31 inches, and its maximum weight from 23 to 22 ounces.

The NABC rules committee changes the awarding of free throws after a foul on a field goal attempt. If the shot is missed, the player gets two free throws. If made, the player gets the two points but just one free throw. Essentially, the “and-one” is created.

1932-33

The international rules committee created the midcourt division line and adopted the 10-second rule requiring a team to get the ball into the opponent’s half of the floor within a prescribed time period, commencing in the 1931-32 season. Teams that were leading were taking upwards of minutes to cross the line as a stalling tactic. Essentially, it introduced the concept of the centre line to prevent full-court stalls. They allowed teams which got offensive rebounds, however, to go back over into their own end and start over. The rule is adopted for all amateur basketball in 1932-33. It remained the same until 2000, when FIBA adopted the eight-second rule. The NBA adopted the 8-second rule in 2001. The NCAA still retains the 10-second rule. In the US, the National Federation of High Schools retains the 10-second rule.

Players are prohibited from standing in the lane for more than three seconds. Prior to then, players often camped in the lane all night and never moved.

Players are required to have their numbers on the front of their jerseys as well as the back. The rule book states “it may seem needless, but it will save correspondence for the editor, to add here that the same number appear on front and back.”

In June, the International Amateur Basketball Federation, the predecessor to FIBA, was established in Geneva, Switzerland. For years, FIBA rules were played everywhere in the world except Canada and the United States. Now, the United States is the sole holdout, as Canada adopted FIBA rules in 1973 but only for national competitions. The Canadian Amateur Basketball Association (now Basketball Canada) did not have jurisdiction over universities, colleges and high schools, and most continued to use NCAA rules, as they’d become the norm.

1933-34

        The first international rules are introduced. They ban play on grass courts.

Rules committee modifies substitution regulations to allow relieved players to re-enter the game twice, not just once.

West coast schools eliminated the centre jump, allowing opponents to take the ball out-of-bounds after a made field goal.

1934-35

The National Basketball Rules committee votes to eliminate the center jump after each made free throw.

        The circumference of the ball is officially fixed at between 29.5 and 30.25 inches, rather than 32.

        The committee also proposes that the ball be put in play at the end line after a free throw.

        The committee allows shot that go in while a player is fouled are to be counted. The intent was to prevent defenders from shoving shooters to prevent field goals.

1935-36

        FIBA introduces a height restriction (6’2”, or players above 190 cm), a rule that is objected to by dozens of countries. It technically remains on the books until 1952.

The key is introduced to prevent domination by large players. Initially, a six-foot-wide lane is created, though it was eventually expanded to 12 feet in 1951, and by the NBA and FIBA to 16 feet.

No player on an offensive team, with or without the ball, is allowed to remain in the lane for more than three seconds. The rule is generally attributed to have been the produce of a game between the University of Kentucky and New York University. Wildcats coach Adolph Rupp did not take Kentucky’s travelling referee with him and his 6-5 post Leroy Edwards was pummelled in the blocks, which led to demands for changes to reduce roughness between big men.

As a pilot, after made free throws, the opposing team is allowed to put the ball into play at the end of the court where the free throw is made.

1936-37

The pilot having proven successful, the rules are officially changed to eliminate center jump after each bucket so as to make the play more continuous and to prevent the physical free-for-alls that often ensued as players scrapped for position. The ball is re-entered by way a throw-in from the team that was scored upon. At some levels of play, the change is not made until the following season.

Defensive players were prohibited from touching the basket while the ball was on the rim.

Laceless balls are made illegal.

The number of timeouts that a team is allowed is increased from three to four.

1938-39

Rule changes to increase number of allowed fouls from five to four.

It was also proposed that an acceptable option to 20 minutes halves was four 10-minute quarters.

        The NABC rules committee votes to allow college teams to take five timeouts, rather than four.     

        The committee allows for options use of four quarters, rather than 20-minute halves, with two minutes rests between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters.

        The committee says that the three seconds in the lane rule does not apply to the outer half of the foul circle, but only to the lane starting from the free throw line.

        Substitutions are prohibited immediately after a basket is made unless the inbounding team calls a time out.

        Schools are given the option of extending the end margin of the court from two to four feet from the face of the backboards.

        The ball is to be thrown in at midcourt by the team shooting a free throw after a technical foul. Previously, it was put into play by a jump ball at midcourt.

        The circumference of the ball is established at 30 inches.

1939-40

The backboard is moved an additional two feet of the end line, to four feet, largely because players were stepping out of bounds too easily when they put up a shot in the paint. The change allows for more movement under the basket.

Teams are given the option of taking a free throw, or taking the ball out at midcourt, following a foul. If it is a two-shot foul, they are given that option on the second of the free throws.

1940-41

        Fan-shaped and plate glass backboards are made legal.

1942-43

        Targets are required to be painted on all transparent backboards so that players have something to shoot at.

        Players are given an extra foul in overtime games, so disqualification occurs after five fouls, instead of four.

1944-45

        The NABC/NCAA rules committee adopts a rule prohibiting offensive players from being in the key for more than three seconds.

In March/44, the NABC rules committee votes to allow unlimited substitutions (rather than just two, after leaving the court the first time).

        The number of timeouts is increased to five from four.

        The number of fouls before a player is ejected is increased to five from four. But an extra foul is no longer permitted in overtime.

        The goaltending rule is expanded to prevent a defensive player from touching the ball on its downward path, not just while it is on the rim. Essentially, defensive goaltending is prohibited. The rule is largely attributed to be product of behemoth posts Bob Kurland and George Mikan, who basically stationed themselves in front of the basket and swatted away all shot attempts. The shot counts if it swatted on its downward path.

        Officials are given the authority to suspend play immediately in the case of an injury to a player, rather than just when his team is in possession of the ball.

1946-47

Transparent backboards were authorized.

        The NBA is created as the Basketball Association of America. It stipulates that games are to be 48 minutes, long, that players are to be allowed six personal fouls, that zone defences are to be allowed, and that after a team scores, the opposing team is given possession of the ball. But in January, 1947, zones are outlawed.

1947-48

FIBA introduces the three second rule in the paint.

FIBA prohibits goaltending.

The NABC rules committee adopts a rule that the clock is to be stopped on dead balls in the last three minutes of the second half and in overtime periods, including when a team scores a field goal. It starts again when the ball in inbounded. The rule was abolished in 1951.

The NBA increases player fouls to six from five, as had envisioned by the league’s original rules.

The NBA reduces maximum roster size to 10 from 12.

1948-49

        Coaches are allowed to talk to players during a timeout.

        Rectangular glass backboards become official in NCAA games.

        In March, 1949, the U.S.-Canada rules committee declares that fouls committed in the final 120 seconds results in a technical. The offended team has the option of a free throw or possession of the ball at midcourt.

1949-50

        Molded basketballs are made mandatory.

1950-51

        The rule stopping the clock on dead balls in the last three minutes of the second half and during overtime periods is abolished.

        To eliminate rough play, the NBA introduces a rule that if a free throw is made in the final three minutes of game, a jump ball is to be held between the player who committed the foul and the player fouled, instead of possession for the team that committed the foul.

1951-52

        FIBA adopts a rule that in the last three minutes of the game, the clock is to be stopped on all whistles.

        FIBA adopts a rule that all fouls are to result in two free throws.

The NABC rules committee dictates that players must take free throws. Teams would no longer have the option of taking the ball out of bounds. But if a player missed the first free throw, he would get a second opportunity, during the first 37 minutes of play. In the last three minutes of play, every foul is a two-shot foul. In some jurisdictions, the new rule is not implemented until 1952-53.

        The NCAA rules that games are to be played in four 10-minute quarters, not 20-minute halves. The rule was rescinded five years later.

        The NBA widens the foul lane is widened to 12 feet from six feet to prevent the constant cluster of big men in the paint. The change is largely attributed to the dominance of George Mikan.

1952-53

        The NABC rules that players fouled in the act of shooting must shoot two free throws, eliminating the option of taking the ball out of bounds.

        A bonus free throw is awarded if the first is made (i.e., one-and-one). In the last two minutes of a game, a player automatically gets two free throws on every foul).

        The NBA modifies its late-game free throw rule to require that the jump ball occurs between the player fouled and the player who guarded him (so as eliminate the edge that occurred when a tall man fouled a short man).

1953-54

        The NBA limits players to two fouls per quarter. If a player commits a third in a quarter, he must sit out the remainder of the quarter. The rule is implemented essentially to prevent late game fouling.

1954-55

        Don Biasone, owner of the NBA’s Syracuse Nationals, persuades the league to adopt a 24-second shot clock. He achieved the formula by take the number of seconds in a game (2,880) and dividing it by the average number of shots the teams took (a projected 120 between them.) The first game in which the shot clock is used is on October 30, 1954. A series of dull, slowdown games led spectators to complain that the game was becoming boring, with teams trying to stall and run out the game clock once they were in the lead. The shot clock was to be reset when the ball touched the rim or the backboard, or when the opponents gained possession. The shot clock essentially eliminated dreary stalls, endless fouling and a parade to the foul line. The NCAA did not adopt the shot clock until 1985, after a pair of games saw players form UCLA and USC, and Missouri and Kansas, actually sit down on the floor as there was no need for their participation.

        The NBA introduces a penalty free throw following a team’s sixth foul in a quarter. The rule was deliberately introduced in tandem with the 24-second shot clock. The shot clock reduced the need for deliberate fouls, while the foul limit made it costly to foul to prevent field goal attempts.

        The NBA makes backcourt violations two shot fouls, or three to take make two if a team was over the limit.

        The NBA makes offensive fouls violations, with no free throws awarded the defensive team getting possession of the ball. Offensive fouls counted toward a player’s six-foul limit.

        The NABC rules committee adopts the five-second closely-guarded rule for dribbling. Flagrant technicals are awarded two free throws instead of one.

        The NCAA/NABC rules committee eliminates four quarters in favour of two halves.

        The NCAA adopts the one-and-one free throw so that the bonus is given only if the first is made.

        The NCAA changes games back to 20-minute halves from four quarters.

1955-56

        FIBA adopts the 30-second shot clock. The shot clock is to be reset when the shot is attempted.

        FIBA makes the three-point lane a trapezoid.

        The two shot-penalty is eliminated for the last three minutes of the game, making the one-on-one rule in effect for the entire game, not just the first 37 minutes.

The NABC rules committee follows the NBA lead and widens the lane from six to 12 feet.

1956-57

The rules committee adopts the requirement that basketballs be a natural tan colour.

In the line-up for free throws, the two spaces adjacent to the end line are to be occupied by the opponents of the free thrower. Previously, one space was assigned to the home team and the one directly across from it to the visitors.

Free throw shooters cannot extend a foot beyond the vertical plane of the free throw line or the boundary until such point as the ball touches the ring or backboards, or the free throw attempt ends.

Grabbing the rim or net becomes a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct.

1957-58

        Teams are allowed to shoot a free throw for the first six personal fouls of a half. The one-and-one is used thereafter for common fouls.

        The bonus rule varies by jurisdiction. In FIBA play, teams get possession of the ball until the fifth foul of a quarter and thereafter two, free throws. All overtime periods are continued an extension of the fourth quarter for the purpose of the foul count. In NCAA and US high school player, the bonus doesn’t kick in until the seventh foul of a half. For fouls seven through nine, the player gets a one-and-one, and needs to make the first to get the second. Once a team has 10 fouls, the player automatically gets two free throws (the double bonus). In high school ranks, even if the game is player in quarters, the fouls are counted (and accumulate) through the half. The foul count continues into overtime periods. In the NBA, a team gets possession of the ball for team fouls one through four, and begins shooting two free throws on the fifth foul. The count does not extend into overtime. Rather, the bonus kicks in on the fourth foul. Foul counts are reset in the last two minutes of a quarter or in overtime if a team has not reached its limit. The first team foul in those final two minutes of a quarter or overtime results in possession of the ball. Thereafter, a foul results in two free throws.

        The NCAA adopts the offensive goaltending rule, so that only the shooter can touch the ball or basket when the ball is on the rim or above the cylinder. The rule is often referred as the Bill Russell Rule, as the University of San Francisco post was adept at using his hands to guide teammate’s shots into the basket.

        The NCAA prohibits the use of single digit number one and two, and any digit greater than five, on uniforms.

        The NCAA adopts a rule that the balls that pass over the backboard, whether front to back, or back to front, are out-of-bounds.

1959-60

        FIBA allows differing rules for men and women.

        FIBA eliminates its rules creating the midcourt line and the 10-second backcourt violation.

        FIBA adopts a rule that stops the clock for all whistles in the last five minutes of the game.

Orange basketballs are approved. Prior to that, balls had to be a natural tan colour, or yellow.

1962-63

        The rules committee recommends that black-and-white striped garments be worn by officials.

        The wording is changed in the rules back regarding how timekeepers must signal the end of periods, from “by the timer’s gong, pistol or siren,” to “by the timer’s signal.”

1963-64

        The clock is stopped for all violations, including when the ball goes out of bounds. The rule is aimed at eliminating delaying tactics, particularly dawdling out-of-bounds.

Players who are called for personal fouls are asked to raise their arms to make it easier for the scorer to identify who committed the foul.

1964-65

        In the NCAA, coaches are obliged to remain seated on the bench except when the clock is stopped or to direct or encourage players on the court. The rule is introduced to prevent coaches from attempting to incite the crowds from slagging officials.

        The NBA adopts what is called the Wilt Chamberlain rule, by widening the lane to 16 feet from 12, so as to prevent the dominance of big men.

1966-67

The NBA reduces the team foul limit to five per quarter. In the last two minutes of a quarter a team is allowed to foul before reaching the limit, even if it hadn’t used up its allotment.

The NBA redefines to zone defense rule to include the following: “After the offensive team has advanced the ball to its front court, a defensive player may not station himself in the key area longer than three seconds if it is apparent he is making no effort to play an opponent. The three second count starts when the offensive team is in clear control in the front court.”

1967-68

        FIBA modifies its goaltending rule to allow both offensive and defensive players to touch the ball after it hits the rim. If it’s on the rim, on the offensive team can touch it.

FIBA reintroduces the midcourt line and 10-second backcourt violation but only for the last three minutes of the game.

        FIBA reverses its rule on whistles in the last five minutes stopping the clock, returning to whistles in the last three minutes stop the clock.

The NCAA outlaws dunking, both during games and in pre-game warmups. The rule is often described the “Lew Alcindor Rule, as it was adopted to offset the dominance of the UCLA post. After he graduated, the rule was rescinded.

        The newly-formed American Basketball Association adopts a three-point shot for all shots outside of 25-feet.

1970-71

        The NCAA prohibits players from shifting positions during a jump ball once the official is ready to make the toss, or until after the ball is touched by a player outside the circle.

        The 30-second shot clock is introduced for women’s basketball.

1971-72

        FIBA brings back the midcourt line and 10-second backcourt violation, for the entire game.

        FIBA modifies its goaltending rule so that defensive players can also touch the ball when it is touching the rim.

        FIBA limits substitutions to five per game, or seven in cases of tournaments in which there are more than five games in the tournament.

        FIBA creates the team foul rule and sets the limit for team fouls at 10.

1972-73

        Canada adopts FIBA rules and a smaller ball for women.

        The NCAA eliminates free throws on the first six common fouls in a half.

The NCAA adopts a rule that players can be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct if they attempt to create the impression that they were fouled in charge/block situations, or in screen situations. Such “acting” or “flopping” was held to be making a travesty of the game. (The rule was deleted in 2002 because of lack of use).

The NCAA allows for freshman eligibility.

The NBA adopts a rule free throws are not to be attempted, except for shooting fouls, until the fifth team foul in a quarter.

The NBA lifts restrictions on players (except for the shooter) entering the lane on free throw attempts.

The NBA requires disqualified players to be replaced within 30 seconds.

The NBA adopts rule that table errors in the fourth quarter or in overtime must be discovered before the end of the period if they are to be corrected.

1973-74

        The NCAA adopts a rule allowing officials to penalize players for fouls occurring off the ball, such as grabbing, holding or setting an illegal screen.

1974-75

        Dunking is reallowed in Canada. The National Association of Basketball Coaches of Canada also urges that a 30-second shot clock be introduced to prevent stalls.

        The NCAA allows players in a jump ball situation to move around the circle once the ball has left the official’s hands.

        The NCAA no longer requires players to raise their hand if called for a foul.

The NBA increases fines for unsportsmanlike conduct technical fouls to $100 from $50 for either players or coaches.

The NBA allows the alternating possession to be in effect for the start of quarters 2-4, rather than a jump ball.

The NBA adopts a rule that timeout requests made as the clock expires on a quarter shall not be granted.

The NBA prohibits timeouts in the last two minutes of a game, or in overtime, until the ball has been inbounded and advanced to the frontcourt.

The NBA clarifies the “force out” rule to mean incidental contact near a boundary line, which causes a player to commit a violation or go out of bounds. The offensive team retains possession.

The NBA adopts a rule that states that in cases of simultaneous punching fouls, the ball is awarded to the team that was punched last.

1975-76

FIBA introduces the three-to-make-two rule, giving players three free throw attempts to make two points.

The NBA adopts rule that the ball is to be inbounded on the sideline after court violations.

1976-77

        Dunking is reallowed in the NCAA ranks.

        The NBA makes excessive swinging of the elbows, without contact, a violation.

        The NBA adopts a rule that in cases where the ball is knocked out of bounds by the defensive team, there will be at least five seconds on the shot clock (instead of 10) for the inbounding team to get off a shot.

        The NBA allows teams to inbound the ball at midcourt following a timeout (or take it at the nearest spot in the backcourt, if they so desire) in final two minutes of play.

        The NBA abandons the “force out” rule (incidental contact near a boundary line that cause a player to go out of bounds).

        The NBA adopts a rule that says the team that won the opening tip-off gets to inbound it to start the fourth quarter. The team that lost the opening tip-off gets to inbound at the start of the second and third quarters. While inbounding the ball in those situations, a player can run along the end line, or pass it to a teammate who is also out-of-bounds, the same as after a score.

        Late in the season, the NBA proposes to subject all players who get into a fight to fines of $10,000 and a suspension, as determined by league officials. The rule takes effect March 7, 1977.

1977-78

        The NCAA allows the “option” of a third official.

        The NCAA “strongly recommends” that players called for a foul raise their hand.

The NBA adopts a rule that both coaches must be present if a coach wants to discuss a rule prior to the start of a quarter.

The NBA adopts a rule that field goals intentionally scored in the wrong basket are disallowed.

The NBA moves to reset the shot clock to 24 seconds on all violations, as well as after an official issues a zone warning.

The NBA rules that balls that enter the basket from below constitute a violation.

The NBA increases fines for players who leave the bench to join a fight to $150 from $100.

The NBA introduces a $25 fine for players who hang on the rim during the pre-game warm-up.

The NBA allows tip-in field goals off missed free throws (eliminating a requirement that players had to return to the floor with the rebound before getting off a shot.

The NBA adopts a rule that limits substitutions after a 20-second timeout to only one person coming in for an injured player. The opponent is then also allowed a substitution.

The NBA allows teams to inbound the ball at midcourt following a timeout in the last two minutes of play or in overtime.

The NBA adopts a rule requiring at least a one-game suspension (and possibly a fine) for any player or coach making intentional contact with an official.

The NBA requires that protests be filed within 48 hours after a game. Protests cannot be filed after midnight on the last day of the regular season.

The NBA adopts a rule that players who are ejected from a game after being fouled cannot shoot the free throws and must immediately leave the court. In such a situation, the opposing coach picks one of the players who were on the floor at the time to shoot the free throw.

1978-79

        The NBA adds a third referee.

        The NBA allows players to roll the ball along the floor in inbound it (eliminating the penalty of loss of possession).

        The NBA modifies its illegal defence rules, and requires a technical (rather than warning) to be called the first time a team uses an illegal defence, and two technicals for every similar violation thereafter.

        The NBA requires players and coaches to immediately go to the dressing room at half-time, not just after the game.

        The NBA clarifies hand-checking to allow a defensive player to retain contact with a foe so long as he does not impede forward progress.

        The NBA experiments with the three-point arc during preseason games.

1979-80

        FIBA reduces the team foul limit to eight from 10.

FIBA moves to automatically eject coaches after they have received three technical. Prior to that, ejection was at the discretion of the referee.

The NBA adopts the three-point arc, from 23-9” at the top of the arc to 22” in the corners.

        The NBA returns to two referees.

        The NCAA introduces a mandatory 30-second shot clock for women.

        The NBA adopts a rule that requires teams to continue to get ball across midcourt within 10 seconds, even if a defensive player knocked the ball out of bounds. Previously, the 10-second count restarted.

        Out of concern that the scorer’s table was being interfered with, the NBA limits coaches and players to a 28-foot area between the baseline and a hash mark 19 feet from midcourt. Straying over the line results in a technical foul.

1980-81

        A few conferences in the NCAA are allowed to pilot the three-point arc.

        The NBA eliminates 20-second injury timeouts. Teams are entitled to one-second timeout per half, and a total of two per game.

        The NBA requires red lights, synchronized to the horn at the end of a quarter, to be added behind the backboard.

        The NBA outlaws hand, arm, face, nose, ear, head or neck jewelry. Facemasks and eye or nose protectors must conform to the countour face and not have sharp edges. Equipment designed to increases a player’s height or reach, or which results in some other advantage, are also outlawed.

        The NBA rules that the shot clock cannot be reset on technical called on the offensive team (previously it was reset on all technical, whether the technical was on the offensive or defensive team).

        The NBA moves to reset the shot clock after all zone warnings.

        The NBA prohibits deflecting or touching the ball on free throw attempts prior to it reaching the basket.

        The NBA allows opposing coaches to choose the free throw shooter on all flagrant fouls.

        The NBA rules that if a period starts with players improperly lined-up and a field goal is scored, it does not count if less than 10 seconds have elapsed on the clock. In such instances, the quarter is restarted. If 10 seconds have elapsed, the game goes on and the points count.

1981-82

        The NABC rules committee follows the lead of the NBA and all but eliminates jump balls by introducing the alternating possession rule. Jump balls are only allowed at the start of a game, the start of the second half and the start of overtime.

        The NCAA adopts a rule that all fouls charged to bench personnel are assessed to the head coach.

        The NBA clarifies its zone defence rules to read that weak side defenders can come into a 16-foot pro lane, but not in a 12-foot college lane, for more than three seconds; that defenders on a post player (defined as anyone adjacent to the paint area) are allowed in the defensive three second area; that a player without the ball may not be double-teamed from the weak side; that offensive players above the foul line and inside the circle must be played by a defender inside the dotted line; that when an offensive player is above the top of the circle, the defender must be above the foul line; and that the defender on a cutter must either follow the cutter, switch or double-team the ball.

The NBA revises zone rules to reset the shot clock to 24 seconds after the first violation. Subsequent violations result in a free throw and possession of the ball. Violations in the last 24 seconds or a quarter or in overtime result in a free throw.

The NBA adopts a rule that eliminates two-to-make-one free throw on successful field goals. Two-to-make-one is entirely eliminated and replaced with three-to-make-two.

The NBA requires substitutes to report to the eight-foot box in front of the scorer’s table, rather than just “report to the scorer.”

The NBA makes backcourt fouls common fouls, awarding two free throws only if the offending team is over the limit.

1982-83

The NCAA adopts a rule that when the closely guarded five-second period is reached, it is no longer a jump-ball situation. Rather, it is a violation and the ball is awarded to the defensive team out-of-bounds.

The NBA allows teams, rather than officials, to make the determination on who should throw in the ball when it goes out of bounds.

The NBA adopts a rule that requires the ball to return to the original throw-in spot if it was inbounded and not touched by a player (rather than be inbounded where it crossed the boundary).

1983-84

        FIBA replaces the three-to-make-two rule with the one-and-one rule, requiring that a player make the first to get the second.

        FIBA introduces the three-point shot.

        FIBA reduces the team foul limit to seven from eight.

Canada adopts the use of a smaller ball for women in Ontario, B.C. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland high schools.

        The NCAA adopts a rule that two free throws are to be taken for each common foul committed in the last two minutes or a half, or in overtime, if the bonus rule is in effect. One month into the season, the rule is rescinded.

The NBA prohibits free throw shooters from faking a free throw attempt.

The NBA allows shots to count if they were made simultaneously within a whistle for an illegal defence.

The NBA revises the rules for jump ball locations in cases where the ball became lodged between the rim and the backboard, or there was a double-free throw violation.

The NBA rules that mandatory timeouts (such as TV timeouts) take precedence over simultaneously called 20-second timeouts. In such instances, the latter will not be charged.

1984-85

        FIBA adopts the three-point arc (6.25 metres).

        The NCAA adopts a 28-foot-long coach’s box, requiring the head coach and all bench personnel to remain within its confines unless they are seeking information from the scorer’s table.

        The NCAA adopts a clear-path-to-the-basket rule in which a player who is fouled is awarded two free throws and his team gets possession of the ball.

        The NCAA approves the 29-inch ball for women.

        The NBA increases the number of timeouts allowed in overtime to three from two.

        The NBA hikes fines for players or coaches who do not go immediately to the dressing room at the half or after the game to $500 from $100.

        The NBA increases fines for players who leave the bench to join in a fight to $500 from $150.

1985-86

        FIBA allows seven substitutions per game for any tournament with more than three games.

        The NCAA adopts the 45-second clock, with the ball having to leave the player’s hand before expiry of the clock.

        The NCAA adopts a rule to award possession of the ball, as well as two free throws, when a player is fouled intentionally and the shot is missed.

        The NCAA requires that all bench personnel, other than the head coach, be obliged to remain seated during the game. If he likes, the coach can remain standing the whole game.

        The three-point arc is officially adopted by the NCAA for women’s play.

1986-87

        Canadian universities adopt the three-point field goal, using the standard of 19-9”. The NCAA concludes its pilot and adopts the three-point arc for men, setting it at the same distance.

        The NCAA allows coaches to leave the confines of the bench to correct a scorer’s or a timer’s mistake. If no mistake had been made, the coach is charged with a technical. A year later, that rule is changed so that if no mistake was made, the team was charged with having used a timeout.

        The NCAA allows television replays to be used to rectify a scorer’s or timer’s mistake, or to correct a malfunction of the clock.

        The NCAA requires shot clocks to be placed on both ends of the court and that the scorer’s table include a shot clock operator.

1987-88

        High schools and clubs adopt the 19-9” three-point arc.

        The NCAA adopts a rule that intentional personal fouls result in two free throws and team possession of the ball, irrespective of whether the shot is made or missed.

1988-89

The NCAA adopts a rule that any player who participates in a fight is ejected from the game and placed on probation. If he gets embroiled in a second fight during the season, he is suspended for one game. If he gets into a third fight during the season, he is suspended for the remainder of the season, including postseason play.

The NBA re-adds a third referee.

1990-91

The NABC adopts a rule that two free throws are awarded on all common fouls, commencing with the 10^th in a half, except for player control fouls.

The NABC moves to award three free throws when a player is fouled while attempting a shot from beyond the three-point arc.

The NCAA amends the fighting rule so that when any player, including those on the bench, becomes involved in a fight, he is suspended for the next game. He is suspended for the season if he is involved in a second fight during the campaign.

The NBA adopts a rule that flagrant fouls are to be penalized by two free throws and possession of the ball, and ejection, if in the opinion of the right the contact was so excessive it could’ve resulted in injury, or there was no attempt to play the ball. Ejected players are to be fined $250.

The NBA adopts rules that at least 0.3 seconds must expire on the clock when the ball is inbounded and immediately knocked out of bounds; that at least 0.3 seconds must elapse to catch and shoot a ball; that at least 0.3 seconds must elapse for a ball to rebounded off a free throw and a timeout called; and that 0.1 seconds is needed on the clock for the ball to be tipped toward the basket.

1991-92

The NCAA rules that contact technicals count toward a player’s five fouls before disqualification and toward the count for the bonus. A year later, unsporting technical are included in those counts.

The NCAA adopts a rule that the shot clock is reset when it hits the rim or basket, not when the ball is released by a player, as it had been since the rule was first introduced in 1986.

The NBA requires that players who are bleeding must be removed from the game until they’ve received appropriate medical attention.

1992-93

The NCAA makes unsporting technical, in addition to contact technical, count toward a player’s five-foul limit and a team’s count toward the bonus.

The NBA rules that the shot clock is reset only if hits the rim (previously, hitting the backboard also resulted in a reset.

The NBA allows timeouts to be called by either team if a player needs treatment or is bleeding, and that the treated player can return to the floor if he treated within the 20 seconds, otherwise he must be substituted. If a team has no timeouts remaining, the official will allow 20 seconds for treatment.

The NBA adopts a rule that any player who throws a punch must be ejected, suspended for at least game and be fined. A punch that connects an opponent results in a rejection, suspension for 1-5 games, and a fine. Players who leave the bench to join in a fight will be fined $2,500 (rather than $500) and teams will be fined $5,000 for each player who left the bench.

1993-94

The NABC and NCAA reset the shot clock to 35 seconds from 45. The team must shoot within 35 seconds after it got control of the ball.

It also rules that fouls are intentional if a player causes “excessive contact” with an opponent.

The NCAA also moves to stop the game clock after successful field goals in the final minute of the game or the last minute of an overtime. No substitutions are allowed during the stoppage.

The NCAA eliminates the five-second dribbling violation when closely guarded.

In a bid to curb verbal abuse, the NCAA adopts a rule expanding the definition of profanity to include “abusive” or “obscene” language as part of a bid to curtail verbal misconduct.

The NBA adopts a “five-point” flagrant foul system, in which a player is suspended for a game after his total tops five points, and for a game after each additional flagrant foul committed during the season.

1994-95

The NCAA eliminates the inner circle at midcourt.

The NCAA restricts scoring to a tap-in when 0.3 seconds or less remains on the game or shot clock.

The NCAA expands the fighting and suspension rules to include all coaches and team personnel.

As an experiment, the NCAA allows teams just one 20-second time out per half. The rule is adopted a year later.

The NBA shortens the three-point arc to a uniform 22 feet around the basket.

The NBA moves to award three free throws if a player is fouled shooting from beyond the arc.

The NBA moves to automatically suspend a player for one game and a fine of $20,000, as well as 1/82^nd of his salary for each game a player is suspended.

The NBA moves to automatically eject players who commit two flagrant fouls in one game.

The NBA eliminates handchecking from the end line in the backcourt to the opposite foul line.

The NBA imposes $500 fines for all technical. Previously, it was $100 for the first technical and $150 for the second.

The NBA amends its “clear path” rule to included contact in the backcourt. So, if a defender grabs a player with a clear path on a break, two foul shots are awarded.

The NBA rules that back-to-back timeouts when the ball has not been awarded will result in a maximum 45 seconds for the second timeout.

1995-96

The NCAA rules that unsporting technical fouls charged to someone on the bench count toward a team’s foul total.

1996-97

The NCAA rules that teams have to warmup at the end of the court furthest from the bench. Prior to that teams had a choice.

The NCAA adopts a rule that teams are entitled to four full-length timeouts and two 20-second times per game, except in televised games, when they are entitled to two full-length times and three 20-second timeouts.

The NBA adopts a rule that imposes a technical and loss of possession if a team calls a timeout without having one available.

The NBA adopts a rule than illegal defence violations cannot be called when the ball is in the backcourt.

1997-98

The NCAA reinstates the five-second dribbling violation when closely guarded.

The NCAA allows head coaches, as well as players on the court, to call timeouts.

The NBA restores the three-point arc to its original distance of 23 feet, 9 inches from the top of the key and 22 feet in the corners.

The NBA bans the use of a forearm to impede the progress of an offensive player facing the basket in the frontcourt.

The NBA prohibits a player from calling a timeout if both his feet are in the air or if a part of his body has broken the plane of a boundary line.

The NBA expands the “no charge area to a half circle with a four-foot radio from the middle of the basket.” A blocking foul is automatically called if a player is in the restricted zone. The rule is adopted to prevent defensive players from parking in the lane in an attempt to draw offensive fouls.

The NBA revises the illegal defense rule to allow a player on the weak side to enter the lane to double-team the ball, defend a player who is open because of a double-team, or as a normal reaction to a ball fake. After a ball fake, the defender must return to a legal position, or double-team the ball. Previously, both players had to be positioned above the free throw line.

1998-99

The NCAA rules when the defensive team initiates a held ball, it is awarded possession of the ball. Previously, possession was awarded by the direction of the arrow. The rule is rescinded a year later.

1999-2000

        FIBA adopts the eight-second rule for crossing midcourt.

        FIBA reduces the shot clock to 24 from 35 seconds and changes the resetting to the moment the ball touches the rim rather than the release of the shot.

        FIBA requires that games be played in four quarters, rather than two halves.

The NCAA extends timeouts to 30 from 20 seconds.

The NCAA allows for the introduction of media timeouts.

The NCAA allows uniforms to include the numbers one and two.

During the season, the rules committee passes a rule that compels officials to look at courtside monitors to determine if a potential game-winning or game-tying shot was released before expiration of the game clock.

The NBA revises its rules for contact with hands and forearms by defenders. In the backcourt, no contact is allowed. In the frontcourt, no contact is allowed except below the free throw line extended, in which case a defender may use a forearm. In the post, no offensive or defensive player can dislodge someone who has legally obtained a position. A defender may not use his forearm, shoulder, hip or hand to reroute or hold up a player going from point A to point B, or who is attempting to come around a legal screen. Impeding the progress of the screener by grabbing, clutching, holding, “chucking” or “wrapping up” is prohibited.

The NBA clarifies the five-second count while closely guarded. It begins when an offensive player starts dribbling below the free throw line extended, or starts dribbling outside then then penetrates below the free throw line extended. But in the latter instances, the count starts when he penetrates the free throw line extended. The penalty is loss of possession.

The NBA adopts a rule that the shot clock is to be reset at 14 seconds when the ball is kicked or punched, or when there is common foul involving no free throws, or an illegal defence involving no free throws.

The NBA again refines the illegal defence rules, saying any defence is legal on the strong side. Weak-side defenders must remain outside the paint unless double-teaming the ball, picking up a cutter or closely guarding an offensive player.

2000-01

The NCAA divides technical into direct (two-shot penalty) and indirect (one-shot penalty), with possession of the ball returning to the point of interruption.

The NCAA reduces the number of players allowed to line up in the free throw lane to six from eight.

The NBA reduces the number of timeouts per game to six from seven, the number of fourth quarter timeouts to three from four, and the number of timeouts in the last two minutes of play, or in overtime, to two from three. Full timeouts are reduced to 60 from 100 seconds, except for the first two timeouts in each quarter and the two mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth quarters. The league also allows for unlimited substitutions during 20-second timeouts in the last two minutes or the fourth quarter or in overtime. A mandatory timeout is called in the second and fourth quarters if neither team has taken a timeout when there is 8:59 remaining on the clock, after the first dead ball. If neither team has called a timeout in any quarter and there is 5:59 remaining on the clock, there is a mandatory timeout after the first dead ball. Previously, the timeouts were to be called after 9:59 in the second and fourth quarters, or after 6:59 in any quarter.

The NBA allows teams calling a timeout in the final two minutes, or in overtime, to advance the ball to midcourt. A team can inbound into the frontcourt or backcourt. If it inbounds into the backcourt, the 10-second rule applies. Previously, teams could only inbound the ball into the frontcourt.

The NBA adopts a rule that if the offensive retains possession after a jump ball, the shot clock is reset to 14 seconds, or remains the same if there was more than 14 seconds on the clock. If the alternating possession gives the ball to the defence, the shot clocks is reset at 24. (Previously, irrespective of who got the ball, it was always reset at 24 seconds.

The NBA adopts a rule that if a player is fouled on a clear path to the basket, he gets a free throw and his team then gets possession of the ball at midcourt. Previously, the player got two free throws.

The NBA prohibits contact with the hands or forearms by defenders except below the free throw line extended, in which case the defence may use his forearm.

The NBA adopts a rule that neither a defender nor an offensive player can dislodge or displace a player who has legally obtained position.

The NBA adopts a rule that a defender cannot use a forearm, shoulder, hip or hand to re-route an offensive player going from point A to B, or coming around a legal screen.

The NBA prohibits slowing or impeding the progress by a screener by clutching, holding, grabbing, “chucking,” or wrapping him up.

The NBA again revises its five-second count rule. It begins when an offensive player, who’s not facing up, dribbles below the free throw line extended while being closely guarded, or who starts dribbling outside the free throw line extended and then penetrates the free throw line extended while being closely guarded. The five-second count begins when he penetrates the free throw line extended. The team loses possession if there is a five-second count violation.

The NBA adopts a rule that the shot clock stays as is, or is recycled to 14 if its below 14 seconds, for all common fouls requiring no free throws, kick balls, or illegal defence requiring no free throws.

The NBA revises its defensive rule to say that any defence is legal on the strong side, while on the weakside, the defenders must remain outside the paint unless they are double-teaming the ball, picking up a cutter or closely guarding an offensive player.

NBA allows zone defences??? And therein creates a three-second rule in the lane for defensive players.

2001-02

Both direct and indirect technical fouls were penalized by two shots.

The NCAA allows officials to use a courtside monitor to determine whether a shot was a two or a trey.

The NBA eliminates its illegal defence rules, while adopting a new defensive three-second rule for defensive players, prohibiting them from being in the paint for more than three seconds unless closely guarding an offensive player.

The NBA follows FIBA’s lead and reduces the time that a team has to advance the ball across midcourt to eight seconds from 10.

The NBA allows defensive players to make brief contact with an offensive player, provided they do not impede his progress.

2002-03

        FIBA adopts the alternating possession rule for the start of the second, fourth quarters. It is extended to the third quarter a year later.

        FIBA changes the shot clock rule so that a shot that released before the expiry of the clock remains live if it touches the rim. If it bounces over the basket, it’s a loose ball.

The NCAA eliminates a rule that requires mutual consent to use a composite ball.

The NCAA prohibits players from filling the two spaces closest to the player shooting the free throw.

The NCAA decides that team control fouls (committed while is in possession of the ball or during possession of the ball on a throw in) will not result in free throws.

The NCAA requires that Division I team mount and recess shot clocks the backboard, that a red warning light be added to shot clocks and that game clocks display tenths of a seconds. The same requirement for embedded shot clocks is introduced for Division 2 teams a year later. But the requirement for tenth-of-a-second displayers, and red or LED lights, or shot clocks mounted on the backboard is not introduced for Division 2 or Division 3 until the 2009-10 season.

The NBA revises its instant replay rules to allow review of plays at the end of each quarter and overtime. Replays are automatic, in such instances, for a foul resulting in free throws that could affect the outcome of the game with no time remaining on the clock, or a foul called with no time remaining at the clock at the end of the first, second or third quarter. The officials may review the play only to determine if the foul was called prior to the expiration of time, not whether they made the correct call.

2003-04

FIBA allows women to play with a smaller ball.

The NCAA allows officials to use a courtside monitor to determine whether a field goal beat the horn at the end of a half, whether a shot clock violation at the end of a half beat the horn, whether a game-winner beat the horn, or whether to check for a timer’s mistake, or to determine a shot clock or the shot clock expired at or near the end of period.

The NBA makes the timer responsible for tracking the duration of 20-second timeouts. It also requires that in cases where a 20-second timeout is taken because of an injured player, that a full timeout be charged to the team if play cannot resume after 20 seconds.

The NBA revises its shot clock rules to read that in cases where the offensive team gets possession after a jump ball, the shot clock remains the same, or is rest to five seconds, if there were fewer than five seconds remaining on the shot clock.

2004-05

        The NBA introduces new rules to curtail hand-checking, re-define blocking fouls and emphasize defensive three-second calls in a bid to open up the game.

2005-06

        FIBA adds a third official and begins allowing the use of video replays.

        FIBA allows teams to inbound the ball at midcourt following a timeout in the final two minutes of the game.

        In Italy, teams are allowed to make a coach’s challenge on any flagrant foul calls.

The NCAA allows officials to consult monitors to correct the game time, or determine whether a foul was committed before time expired, or to correct a timer’s mistake.

The NCAA rules that players who foul out must be substituted within 20 seconds, rather than 30, and that the timer had to signal with a buzzer when the player had only five seconds left to get off the court.

The NCAA rules that kicked balls no longer results in a reset of the shot clock to 35 seconds. But it is reset to 15 if it is kicked with less than 15 seconds remaining on the shot clock.

2006-07

The NCAA rules that players falling out-of-bounds, or into the backcourt, cannot call a timeout.

The NBA allows head coaches to call timeouts at any time his team has possession of the ball or when there’s been a suspension of play.

The NBA allows unlimited substitutions during 20-second timeouts.

The NBA awards two free throws and possession of the ball on the sideline on clear-path-to-the-basket fouls.

The NBA adopts a rule that players not listed on a team’s active list are immediately disqualified when an official notices them on the floor. The offending team is assessed a technical.

The NBA requires that players not occupying a lane space during a free throw must remain behind the arc or the free-throw line extended until the ball is released by the shooter.

The NBA rules that in cases where a fouled player is injured and cannot shoot his free throw, the opposing coach selects the free throw shooter from among the remaining four players on the floor. For unsportsmanlike fouls (elbows or punching fouls) or flagrant penalty two fouls, the player’s coach continues to select the shooter from anyone on the floor or bench.

The NBA adopts rules on conflicting calls by officials. Generally, the crew chief has the authority to overrule calls other officials. If two officials can’t agree on who tipped the ball out of bounds, there’s to be a jump ball between the two players if they can be identified. Otherwise, there’s a jump ball at midcourt between any two opponents. If a violation and a foul are called simultaneously, the violation takes precedence.

The NBA clarifies that coaches cannot go past the 28-foot coaching box unless they advance to midcourt to relay information to players but even them must immediately return to the box or be called for an unsportsmanlike technical foul. Coaches can never cross the midcourt line or will receive a technical. Assistant and trainers must remain on the bench and can only go to the scorer’s table during a dead ball situation.

The NBA rules that each team will have six timeouts in regulation time in addition to their 20-second timeout during a half. They cannot have more than three timeouts in the fourth quarter or more than two timeouts in the last two minutes of play.

The NBA adopts a rule that if a player is cut and bleeding, the officials must suspend play and allow 30 seconds for treatment.

        The NBA revises its instant replay rules to automatically trigger a review if a field goal is scored with no time on the clock at the end of any quarter; if a foul is called no time on the clock at the end of any quarter. There is no automatic instant replay if there is .2 or .1 on the clock and the call (whether foul or made field goal) is that of the officials to make. Reviewable matters are whether the ball the shooter’s hand before the clock expired, whether the shot was two or a trey, whether the shooter committed a boundary line violation, whether the 24-second shot clock expired, or whether an 8-second backcourt violation occurred. A call can be reversed only if there is “clear and conclusive” evidence. Both teams must remain on the court if a play is under review.

2007-08

        FIBA declares fouls from behind, or a lateral position, in an attempt to stop a fastbreak, unsportsmanlike fouls.

        FIBA rules that jumping from the frontcourt to the backcourt to establish new team control of the ball no longer constitutes a backcourt violation.

The NABC eliminates the first lane space nearest the basket and uses the second, third and fourth spaces on each side for alignment. Essentially, it means only six players can line during a free throw, rather than eight. The NCAA follows suit a year later.

The NBA rules that if officials differ on a block/charge call in the restricted area or defensive box and can’t reach a resolution after conferencing, it will be a double foul.

The NBA adopts a rule that all assistants and trainers must remain on the bench, even during a dead ball.

        The NBA clarifies that if a team has two or three full timeouts remaining in the last two minutes of the final quarter, one of the timeouts becomes a 20-minute timeout and they retain only one full timeout. If a team hasn’t used its 20-second timeout at that point, they’ll still have two 20-minute timeouts.

        The NBA rules that teams are not given 30 seconds to stem the bleeding of a player who’s bleeding from a reopened wound, unless the bleeding occurs as a result of additional contact.

        The NBA revises its instant replay rules to include automatic review of flagrant-2 fouls (to determine whether they were correctly called, or should be downgraded to flagrant-1 or a personal foul), as well as whether a player committed an unsportsmanlike act prior to the flagrant-2 call, or for all altercations, in the latter instances to determine the identity of players involved prior to and after the altercation, the level of involvement of players, and the appropriate penalty to be assessed. Reviews are to be a conducted as a crew but the crew chief makes the final decision. There is a maximum two minutes allowed for a review, except for flagrant-2 fouls and player altercations. Calls can be overturned only if there is “clear and conclusive” visual evidence.

2008-09

The NCAA extends the three-point arc to 20 feet 9 inches.

The NCAA rules that if the ball is above the ring during a shot and contacts the backboard, it is by definition on its downward flight, and therefore goaltending if touched by a player.

The NCAA allows officials to use monitors to determine whether a flagrant foul occurred or to assess fouls in the event of a fight.

2009-10

        FIBA adopts the restricted “no charge” zone under the basket, creating an arc with a 1.25 meter (4 feet, 1.2 inches) radius.

        FIBA revises the layout of the court, moving the three-point line to 6.75 meters from 6.25 m and making the restricted area a box.

        FIBA adds throw-in sidelines outside the court, located 8.234 m from the baseline.

        The NCAA introduces the notion of “contact technical” fouls, i.e., ones that involve “unnecessary, unacceptable or excessive” contact when the ball is dead.

The NCAA allows officials to use monitors to distinguish between flagrant, intentional personal, or contact technical fouls. If in the course of making that determination, it is determined that a flagrant wasn’t committed but rather than intentional foul or contact personal foul, they are penalized accordingly. But no other infractions may be penalized.

The NCAA introduces a rule that when a player is injured and is unable to attempt his free throws, the opposing head coach is allowed to select which of the remaining four players on the floor shoots the foul. But when the foul is intentional or flagrant, the injured player’s coach can select anybody (on the floor or bench) who shoots the free throws.

The NCAA rules that a blocking foul is to be automatically called on the secondary defender – in charge/block situations – if he is positioned under the basket.

2010-11

The NCAA creates a new category of fouls (along with common or flagrant), to be called intentional fouls, in which contact is made by swinging elbows. The rule gives officials another option.

2011-12

The NCAA adds a three-foot arc under the basket to help referees determine automatic block fouls of secondary defenders standing within the arc during a charge/block situations.

2014-15

FIBA requires that the penalty for a technical is a free throw and possession of the ball at midcourt, opposite the scorer’s table.

        FIBA adopts a rule automatically disqualifying any player or coach after their second technical.

FIBA modifies its timeout rule to grant teams up to two timeouts in the final two minutes of play.

        FIBA stipulates that a backover violation requires control in the frontcourt. A team is in control in the frontcourt when a player is touching his frontcourt with both feet while holding, catching or dribbling the ball in his frontcourt.

        FIBA changes the shot clock rule to reset the clock at 14 seconds after an offensive rebound.

        FIBA adopts the no-charge areas under the basket. The line is part of the no-charge area. No-charge rule applies if defensive player is touching the no-charge area with one or both feet.

Women’s rules

        When basketball is introduced for women at Smith College in Massachusetts by gymnastics instructor Sendra Berenson, the rules are modified to protect girls from rough play. Naismith’s court diagram envisioned the court divided into three sections, with three players per section. Berenson divided into 3 sections and allowed six girls to play, with each allowed to play two-thirds of the court. Two players defended, two defended the ball and two played offence and got to shoot the ball. All players could bounce the ball twice before they were obliged to pass or shoot.

        Others claim that the women’s game was crafted by Clara Baer at the Newcomb College in New Orleans.

        There were many early modifications. Some institutions allowed girls to bounce the ball three times – others, as many as five. Some institutions divided the court into two zones, rather than three, and did not allow women to cross zones. Only 2-3 players were allowed to a division, and hence, only 2 or 3 (depending on whether there were 6 or 9 to a side) were allowed to shoot. In some areas of North America, a player could only hold on to the ball for a maximum three seconds before they had to pass, dribble or shoot. Defenders had to stand a minimum three feet away and they were allowed to extend their arms, but only vertically.

        By 1899, Canadian women had typically adopted the rule that a girl could only dribble twice before she had to pass the ball or shoot.

        A four-woman committee officially established the women’s rules in 1899. The rules “forbade one player to steal the ball from another, mandated that a woman could not hold the ball anyplace on the court for more than three seconds and divided the court into three distinct sections. Any player who crossed a line was guilty of a personal foul.” Some U.S. states prohibited women from playing basketball because of the concerns that they’d pass out from exertion. The number of players in the women’s games varied significantly through the years. Until 1899, anywhere between 5 and 10 were allowed. That was subsequently changed from 5-9 players and in 1937, it was fixed at six, three on offence and three on defence. Until 1938, the court was divided into three sections and it took several decades before women were allowed to play on a regulation court. In the 1950s, women were still only allowed one dribble before they had to pass or shoot. In the 1960s, that was increased to three dribbles in some parts of North America.

        Because the game was considered too strenuous for women, in 1901, halves were shorted to 15 minutes from 20 minutes. In 1906, bounce passes were disallowed a three-foul limit was imposed. Dribbling was prohibited in 1910 and a single dribble allowed in 1913. But a bounce had to be at least knee-high. In 1918, teams were given the option of taking the ball out-of-bounds on a foul. Bounce passes were legalized. Substitutions could be made but a player could not re-enter the game. In 1921, the number of permitted fouls was increased to five. Unlimited substitutions weren’t allowed until 1939.

        In 1938, the women’s rules committee reduced the three sections of court to two. There were two stationary guards and two stationary forwards, as well as two rovers who could move around the entire court. Several states played women’s rules for decade. Oklahoma became the last to allow its high school players to play the full court in 1995.

        Commencing in 1942, the team that didn’t score the field goal was given the ball at centre. Prior to that, the teams alternated receiving the ball at centre. In 1945, teams were given the option of taking a free throw or taking the ball out of bounds at the free throw line.

        There was some difference of opinion in Canada about the value of women’s rules. Many provinces adopted a variation of women’s rules and clung to them for decades. Universities in Eastern Canadian typically did allow women to play men’s rules until the late 1960s. The Canadian Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Union did not formally adopt men’s rules until 1970. In other parts of the Canada, particularly the West, men’s rules were the norm. The fabled Edmonton Grads adopted men’s rules from the time the program was created.

        In Canada, there was considerable inconsistency in the application of women’s rules until CABA was formed in 1923-24.

        Essentially, the women’s rules existed until 1971, when five-man teams were allowed to finally play the entire court.

FIBA

        The Fédération Internationale de Basket-ball Amateur (FIBA) or International Basketball Federation was created in Geneva, Switzerland on June 18, 1932 by eight founding nations: Italy, Czechoslovakia, Argentina, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Latvia and Switzerland.

        The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) had originally claimed jurisdiction over the sport in 1926 when it formed a commission to government ball games played with the hands, such as field-handball, court-handball, volleyball and basketball. The IAAF invited representatives from 10 countries to meet in 1928 to create the International Amateur Handball Federation (IAHF). The IAHF created a technical commission for basketball but it never met and was dissolved. On September 1, 1934, it ceded international control over the game to FIBA. By the end of the year, Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United States had joined.

raising FIBB’s membership number to 17 nations. By the time of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, FIBB’s membership had expanded to include 32 nations, 23 of which sent basketball teams to the first Olympic basketball competition in Berlin. The Federation headquarters moved to Munich in 1956, then returned to Geneva, Switzerland in 2002. Its membership expanded to 213 nations, organized into five regional zones: FIBA Africa (consisting of 53 National Federations), FIBA Americas (consisting of 44 National Federations), FIBA Asia (consisting of 44 National Federations), FIBA Europe (consisting of 51 National Federations), and FIBA Oceania (consisting of 21 National Federations).
        At a special FIBA World Congress in Munich, Germany on April 8, 1989, FIBA dropped the word amateur from its name but retained the acronym, with BA representing the first two letters of basketball. The membership voted 56-13 in favor of open competition, eliminating the distinction between amateur and professional and making all players eligible for FIBA competitions, including players competing in the NBA.

FIBA’s motto? We are basketball.

Canada Basketball

        Created in 1923 in Port Arthur, Ontario. Essentially a volunteer, kitchen-table organization until September 29/61 when the federal government approved the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act, which allowed it to become professional organization with an executive director and staff. Canada joined FIBA in 1973 but as Basketball Canada had no jurisdiction over high schools and colleges, most continued to operate by NCAA rules.

The major variations: FIBA/NCAA/NBA

	FIBA	NCAA	NBA
Duration	Four quarters, each 10 minutes	Two halves, each 20 minutes	Four quarters, each 12 minutes
Size of court	28 m (91.86’) x 15 m (49.21’)	28.65 m (94’) x 15.24 m (50’)	28.65 m (94’) x 15.24 m (50’)
Key	4.9 (16’) rectangle	3.66 m (12’) rectangle	4.88 m (16’) rectangle
Three-point arc	6.75 m (22.15’) at top of arc, 6.6 m (21.65’) at corners, or 90 cm from sidelines	6.32 m (20.75’)	7.24 m (23.75’) at top of the arc, 6.7 m (22’) at corners
Restricted arc	1.25 m (4.1’)	0.91 m (3’)	1.22 m (4’)
Shot clock	24 seconds	35 seconds	24 seconds
Bonus rule	Two shots on fifth team foul in a quarter.	One-and-one on 7th, 8th and 9th foul in a half. Two shots after the 10th foul in a half.	Two shots on fifth team foul in a quarter or second foul in the last two minutes of a quarter.
Free throw line	4.6 m (15.09’)	4.57 m (15’)	4.57 m (15’)
Travelling	First foot to touch is the pivot.	First foot to touch is the pivot.	Back foot is the pivot.
Backcourt count	8 seconds	10 seconds	8 seconds
Foul limit	Five (personal or technical)	Five (personal or technical)	Six personal or two technical.
Alternating possession arrow	Yes.	Yes.	No.
Running game clock after field goal	Until the last two minutes of second half. Never in overtime.	Until the last minute of the second half. Never in overtime.	Until the last minute of first three quarters, or the last two minutes of overtime. Several specific rules regarding type and number of timeouts in fourth period.
Zone defence	Legal.	Legal.	Legal, but defensive player cannot stay in key for more than three seconds unless he is closely guarding a foe.
Goaltending	Ball can be swatted off the rim.	Ball cannot be touched in its downward path or if it is on the rim and has a chance to go in.	Ball cannot be touched in its downward path or if it is on the rim and has a chance to go in.
Timeouts	Two in first half. Three in second half. One per overtime. All are of 60 second duration. Must be called by the coach through the scorer’s table.	Four full timeouts and two 30-second timeouts per game. Allowance for television timeouts. Can be called by a player or coach whose team is in possession of the ball, or by either team after a made field goal.	Six in regulation. Two in overtime. One 20-second timeout per half and in an overtime period. Some permutations. Can be called by player or coach.
Free throws	Five players. Three opponents of shooter. Two teammates. All spots designated. Five seconds to shoot free throw. All violations ignored if the shot goes in.	Six players in the lane. Four opponents of shooter. Two teammates. Ten seconds to shoot free throw. Violation by a player on the shooting team nullifies a free throw.	Five players. Three opponents of shooter. Two teammates. Ten seconds to shoot free throw. Violation by a player on shooting team nullifies free throw.
Ball over the backboard	Still in play provided it does not hit support.	Out of bounds if it passes over backboard in either direction.	Out of bounds if it passes over backboard in either direction.
Closely guarded	Five second limit, anywhere on court	Five second limit, front court only	None. But illegal to dribble with back to the basket for five minutes from free throw line extended.
Rebounding own shot	Legal.	Legal.	Violation if it doesn’t hit rim or backboard.

HOW DO NAISMITH’S RULES STACK UP?

        In many respects, the game no longer resembles the game that was played 50 years ago, let the alone the was played during the game’s first decade. The game that Naismith envisioned involved no dribbling, shot blocks, three-point arc or dunks. Goaltending was legal.

RULE	ADAPTATION
1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.	Essentially unchanged, with the exception of the backcourt violation.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).	Essentially unchanged. The ball may still be batted away with one or both hands. But with the adoption of goaltending rule, a defensive player can only bat the ball if it’s on an upward trajectory.
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed.	Significantly modified with the adoption of dribbling. No allowances made for catching it on the run, as a player who moves his pivot foot is called for travelling.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.	Unchanged.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.	Essential unchanged, although the foul limit is higher and distinctions are made between common and intentional or flagrant fouls, which alters the number of free throws a player receives. Ejections can still occur depending on the nature of the foul.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3 and 4, and such as described in rule 5.	Essentially unchanged.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).	Significantly revised, although the core principle of punishing teams which commit multiple fouls continues in the form of the bonus.
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponent moves the basket it shall count as a goal.	Significantly revised. The ball no longer has to stay in the basket (often a challenge when it didn’t have a hole through it). Precluding players from moving the basket is essentially a precursor of goaltending prohibitions.
9. When the ball goes out-of-bounds it shall be thrown into the field, and played by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds, if he holds it longer it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.	The principle of inbounding the ball within five seconds is unchanged.
10. The umpire shall be judge of the men, and shall note the fouls, and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.	Essentially unchanged in that most games still have at least two officials and higher levels of play now require three. But all can make foul calls.
11. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball was in play, in bounds, and to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.	Significantly modified. There are now 2 or 3 officials (depending on the level) who can call fouls. The scorer’s table includes “game officials,” i.e., a timekeeper, scorekeeper and shot clock operator.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes’ rest between.	Significantly modified. FIBA and NCAA games are 40 minutes. Most high school games are 32, while the NBA is 48.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made.	Significantly modified. Five-minute overtime required at FIBA, NCAA and NBA levels.