[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The NCAA Men's Rules Committee adopted the Alternating Possession Rule for the 1981-82 season, and the NFHS Rules Committee adopted the rule for the 1985-86 season. Dick Schindler, Editor of the NFHS Basketball Rules gave the following reasons for its adoption: "I think all the reasons for the alternating jump ball rule have been pretty well hashed out by the coaches, officials and media in recent years. Basically it eleminates the very difficult administration of the jump ball situation and allow for a smoother flow in action." This quote by Dick Schindler is from the Focus On The Rules section of the May 1985 (Vol. 2, No. 9) of the National Federation News. The National Federation News is the predecessor to the NFHS Officials Quarterly.

The difficult administration of the jump ball situation meant that too many officials were not doing a competent job of tossing the ball. Smoother flow in action meant to shorten the time from the held ball was called to getting the ball back into play and therefore the game will go quicker.

Even today, too many officials do a poor job of tossing the ball for the only jump ball during the game, but I still do not think that this was a valid reason for going to the AP Rule. As for smoother flow in action I never felt put out by having to get the players lined up for the jump ball.

MTD, Sr.