Quote:
|
Originally Posted by CecilOne
Of course, Iowa was the last State to play girls basketball with 6 on a side, defenders not allowed to cross mid-court.
|
Since I lived in Iowa during this transition period, from the media reports at the time, the issues that prevented the dropping of half-court basketball had little / nothing to do with having a less athletic game for girls (although I suppose that was he reason for the different rules in the first place).
The driving force FOR the change was college play and the notion that colleges were not giving the IA players a fair evaluation since they could not see them play 5 on 5 full court ball.
But, the driving forces AGAINST the change, and that delayed it for a number of years were 1) The HS girls basketball tournament was THE big event in IA. The tournament was very popular, was closely followed across the state whether "your" school was in the tournament or not. The HS league was cautious about killing the golden goose. 2) Participation. One more starting player per varsity team.
Those two arguments carried the day for many years. Finally, the state HS league went half-way and allowed schools to choose whether to play 5 on 5 or 6 on 6. I left IA a couple of years after the change, so I don't know if any schools continue to play 6 on 6. I'd guess not.