old discussion revisited

[fiasco]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

I am really tired of hearing about fairness.

Perhaps you should throw out your rule book then.

The restrictions which the rules place upon the players are intended to create a balance of play; to provide equal opportunity between the offense and the defense; to provide equal opportunity between the small player and tall player; to provide reasonable safety and protection; to create an atmosphere of sporting behavior and fair play; and to emphasize cleverness and skill without unduly limiting freedom of action of individual or team play on either offense or defense.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by fiasco

Perhaps you should throw out your rule book then.

fiasco:

Let's read the whole item at the beginning of the NFHS Basketball Rules.

THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE RULES
The restrictions which the rules place upon the players are intended to create a
balance of play; to provide equal opportunity between the offense and the
defense; to provide equal opportunity between the small player and tall player; to
provide reasonable safety and protection; to create an atmosphere of sporting
behavior and fair play; and to emphasize cleverness and skill without unduly
limiting freedom of action of individual or team play on either offense or defense.
Therefore, it is important to know the intent and purpose of a rule so that it may
be intelligently applied in each play situation. A player or a team should not be
permitted an advantage which is not intended by a rule. Neither should play be
permitted to develop which may lead to placing a player at a disadvantage not
intended by a rule.
It is the policy of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee that there be no
deviation from the rules unless experimental approval has been granted by the
NFHS liaison to the rules committee.
THE GAME – Basketball is played by two teams of five players each. The
purpose of each team is to throw the ball into its own basket and to prevent the
other team from scoring. The ball may be thrown, batted, rolled or dribbled in any
direction, subject to restrictions laid down in the following rules.

The phrase in red refers to player conduct. Nothing in the Intent and Purpose of the Rules says anything about the rules being fair. Players and teams commit infractions of the rules. When that happens there are penalties that are applied. That means that a team gains an advatage at the expense of its opponent commiting an infraction of the rules. There is nothing in the Intent and Purpose about the rules being fair.

MTD, Sr.