2018 NFHS basketball survey

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bas2456

16. Eliminating start of game/OT with jump ball--Coin toss in the captain's meeting? Nope...let's toss it up.

NFHS did not suggest starting the game with a coin toss:

21. Eliminating the jump ball at the beginning of the game. The visiting team would get first possession and the arrow would be set after legal inbounds.

I would love to hear those who want to keep the jump ball recite, by memory, no peeking at the rulebook, all the jump ball restrictions for jumpers, nonjumpers on the circle, and nonjumpers off the circle, before the toss, during the toss, and after the toss.

Note: This challenge does not apply to Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. I'm sure that the could recite all the jump ball restrictions, verbatim, all in one breath, blindfolded, with one hand tied behind his back, with no problem.

I've heard, many times, otherwise great officials, tell all ten players, "Don't move", right before the toss. And I'm sure that that's just the tip of the jump ball restriction myth iceberg.

Some, otherwise competent officials, just toss it up and hope that none of the players do anything obviously weird like a jumper illegally catching the ball, or one of the jumpers tapping the ball on the way up, or one of the jumpers tapping the ball more more than twice. Those are easy violations to catch. The subtleties of the many other jump ball restrictions are lost for some, otherwise good, officials.

[bas2456]

One of our local clinicians always tells us "All you're doing with the jump ball is setting the possession arrow". I tend to agree with that...I also think that learning the rules of the jump ball administration is not difficult, as it's just like any other rule.

I think taking the jump ball out of the game takes away some of the excitement at the beginning of the game, like the opening face off in hockey or the kickoff in football.

For most of the proposed rules changes, I can see the reasoning behind it. Not this one though...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bas2456

... learning the rules of the jump ball administration is not difficult, as it's just like any other rule.

Very few rules are used once a game (sans overtime) for only a second, or two. Blink, and it's over in a flash.

Sure, back when there were possibly up to a dozen jump balls in each game (to start each quarter, and for all held ball situations) at three different circles, involving many different players, it was worth knowing all the intricate jump ball rules.

Then, inspired by God, someone came along and invented the possession arrow.

We've gone from dozens of jump balls per game, to one. Let's put the horse out of its misery.

The jump ball should join the peach baskets, and laced basketballs, in basketball heaven.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Very few rules are used once a game (sans overtime) for only a second, or two. Blink, and it's over in a flash.

Sure, back when there were possibly up to a dozen jump balls in each game (to start each quarter, and for all held ball situations) at three different circles, involving many different players, it was worth knowing all the intricate jump ball rules.

Then, inspired by God, someone came along and invented the possession arrow.

We've gone from dozens of jump balls per game, to one. Let's put the horse out of its misery.

The jump ball should join the peach baskets, and laced basketballs, in basketball heaven.

I'm with BAS, I like the tradition and ceremony of how the game is started.