I've been searching around in an attempt to find a copy of a Fed rule book for a buddy of mine. He won't cough up the dough for it, because he is just interested in it as a spectator. Actually he is just tired of going to games with me and not realizing why when he and everyone else is booing a call, I'm clapping and shouting great call. I've let him skim my copy but am not going to loan it to him. He isn't too good about returning things.

Anyway, this got me to thinking...why doesn't NFHS make its rule book available in some way. I know they have to make their money, but assuming even 10% of the basketball community knew the rules, everyone from players to coaches to spectators (excluding officials who should know the rules and have hopefully bought a copy of the book anyway) the info would spread. Eventually knowledge would spread and our job would become maybe a little easier (people will always question our judgement). At least, we could avoid some of the popular myths like the over-the-back call and the airball-rebound-no travel call.

They do make it available. Your friend can own one by sending $6.50 to the NFHS. ;)

From BktBallRef:
<i>They do make it available. Your friend can own one by sending $6.50 to the NFHS</I>
<HR>

If I recall correctly, NFHS has a $10.00 minimum order requirement, so this person would have to buy two items.

Luckily I am still involved with softball, so I just get a softball book when I order a basketball book from them.

Right, like the rules book and the case book.

I think what this person is asking, is why doesn't the Fed put the rulebook on the website, like the NCAA does. They won't lose any money on it, as buying the whole book is cheaper than downloading the PDF file of it and printing the whole thing. People would rather spend $6.50 than to spend approximately $20 bucks (a friend figured that up, based on pages and potential amount of ink it would take to print out-thank God for computer geeks!).

If he really cares, he'll cough up the few bucks for a book.

Z

If the FED had the rule book in PDF on their web site, couldn't you just down load that PDF file onto your own PC? No need to print it out then.

In all seriousness, I think that we (including the Federation) could do a better job of making the rules of the game accessible. I would prefer free and total distribution of the rules and case books in electronic form, but I understand the reasons for a small fee.

Nonetheless, a "basketball rules for dummies" written and maintained by a small group of knowledgable people (like the folks on this board) could help. It could be free and freely distrbuted. Like an "FAQ" (frequently asked questions) in the computer world.

Frankly, most fans do not know the rules at all. Most youth coaches think that they "know the rules" but they do not really. Most high school coaches do not know the rules well. I am not speaking about the fine details (e.g. false double fouls), but about the most common fouls and violations (e.g. what is legal guarding position).

Amazingly, when most fans and coaches yell silly things at the officials they honestly believe that they make sense. Really.

I agree here. But let's understand that our interest in the rules is much greater than the average joe. There are many out there that would enjoy access to the rules but not spend time reading about the fine points. Heard the phrase, "I know enough to be dangerous." This is how parents would get. Dangerous.

Who needs some ignorant spectator trying to quote a rule that he only read part of?

It would not be $20. Not even close.

That computer geek is a neophyte.

You can also download "text only" from a pdf file, and save money.

As part of my dues with the local association(s) I get a new copy of the rule book and case book each year. Why not simply give your buddy last year's copy of the rule book and case book if he's interested. That way he'll be able to get the jist of the rules that he wants, and if he's still interested, then he can buy the current rule book for 6.50.

Why doesn't the Fed make it available at sporting goods stores? Put it in a rack next to the basketballs. While it wouldn't be on the non-fiction best seller list, I bet a lot of people would pick it up.

Gotta be careful about PDF files that would take up too much space on your computer. I downloaded the NCAA football rule book, and saved it on my computer. Computer started to run slow, and then I decided to buy the book online. Got my copy in the mail, then deleted the PDF file, and the computer ran much faster.

By the way, it can be expensive to print a rule book online, because it takes about 100 sheets of paper, and ink can go like crazy printing a PDF file, depending on how it's posted. I did a 150 page file once last year, on a new cartridge, then another 150 page file, and next thing I knew, time to replace the cartridge. I checked my printer settings, and it was on normal ink, etc. Friend explained that sometimes files will have little marks on it when they scan them, that eats up the extra ink. The cartridge I had should have lasted 500 pages. You'd be surprised.

I also like the idea of selling the rule books in sporting goods stores. I notice the NCAA basketball rule books are available at Barnes and Noble. However, it's not the actual copy that we would order from the NCAA, but the same rule book with a different cover distributed by some other publishing company.