Officials' Authorthy (2.6)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

No. It's the specific part of the rules book titled "The Intent and Purpose of the Rules."

THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE (NFHS) 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.

[Coach Bill]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE (NFHS) 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 [B]between the small player and tall player[/B]; 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.

Provide equal opportunity between the small and tall player. What does that mean? Take away the advantages a tall player has over a shorter player? For example, allow to the small player to push in the back on rebounds he wouldn't normally get because he's small? I don't get why this is in the rulebook. Does anyone have an example?

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Provide equal opportunity between the small and tall player. What does that mean? Take away the advantages a tall player has over a shorter player? For example, allow to the small player to push in the back on rebounds he wouldn't normally get because he's small? I don't get why this is in the rulebook. Does anyone have an example?

5'2" player goes to the rack, takes a bit of body & misses the layup... TWEET shoot 2

6'7" player goes to the rack, takes a bit of body, but plays through it & makes the layup... play on NOT an And 1.

Similar contact, bigger player can play through, but the smaller player cannot. Equal opportunity...
It is up to the officials to determine who can play through what & who cannot.

[Coach Bill]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

5'2" player goes to the rack, takes a bit of body & misses the layup... TWEET shoot 2

6'7" player goes to the rack, takes a bit of body, but plays through it & makes the layup... play on NOT an And 1.

Similar contact, bigger player can play through, but the smaller player cannot. Equal opportunity...
It is up to the officials to determine who can play through what & who cannot.

Don't understand the example. That's strength and has nothing to do with height. The 6'7" guy was strong enough to finish, despite contact. Basketball is not an equal-opportunity game. The taller players have an advantage. But, there's a specific rule, to try to minimize that advantage? That doesn't make any sense. And, I'd also like to hear other examples from officials that gave an advantage to a small guy for some reason.

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

The taller players have an advantage. But, there's a specific rule, to try to minimize that advantage?

I don't think that's the case, there's no rule to minimize the advantage of being tall.

[Coach Bill]

Originally Posted by Ch1town

I don't think that's the case, there's no rule to minimize the advantage of being tall.

Then, what does provide equal opportunity for the tall and small player mean?

[mbyron]

Don't confuse equality of opportunity with equality of outcome. Tall players have an advantage in basketball when it comes to rebounding. Small players have an advantage when they're quick and good ball handlers. The rules give both an opportunity to play to their strengths.

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Then, what does provide equal opportunity for the tall and small player mean?

That's the one where they let the smaller guys just batter the bigger guys ("because they should be able to take it") ... and then of course, the smaller guys are told they have to slow down because the bigger guys can't keep up.

Ironically, we've probably all heard the former (either from a fan, coach or players themselves). But funny how the latter point never seems to come up, though.

Coach B, I don't think you're going to get a satisfactory answer to your question.

[dsqrddgd909]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Then, what does provide equal opportunity for the tall and small player mean?

The only two I can come up with is there is no "over the back" call unfairly penalizing tall players and you are not allowed to hinder a player with your arms (4-24-6) or use an arm or forearm to prevent an opponent from attacking the ball (4-24-7) which may unfairly give an advantage to taller players.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Don't understand the example. That's strength and has nothing to do with height. The 6'7" guy was strong enough to finish, despite contact. Basketball is not an equal-opportunity game. The taller players have an advantage. But, there's a specific rule, to try to minimize that advantage? That doesn't make any sense. And, I'd also like to hear other examples from officials that gave an advantage to a small guy for some reason.

What rule? I thought the passage you referenced came from "Purpose and Intent".

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Coach Bill

Provide equal opportunity between the small and tall player. What does that mean? Take away the advantages a tall player has over a shorter player? For example, allow to the small player to push in the back on rebounds he wouldn't normally get because he's small? I don't get why this is in the rulebook. Does anyone have an example?

It could mean the NFHS doesn't want tall players unfairly penalized.