dunking in the warmups

[so cal lurker]

The no-dunking rule came in *long* before springed rims and even break-away rims. Part of the logic was protecting the rims. With modern rims, not as much chance- though there are occasional incidents. I suspect the rule remains for two reasons. Some coaches are worried about their smallest teams being intimidated and some coaches are worried about their team thinking more about dunking than getting ready for the game.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

With modern rims, not as much chance- though there are occasional incidents.

How many high schools (not college, or professional) in anybody's local area would be able to fix this (below) that night, in time to start, or finish a game?

In almost all cases, I'm sure that there would be a postponement, and that no more basketball would be played there that night.

[DRJ1960]

Rumor has it...

A few years ago here in Central Virginia the refs were "asked" to stay in their locker room in a few schools until two minutes were left in warm-ups so that the players could dunk without consequence. The refs that told me that shared that the noise from the gym was deafening. True home court advantage.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The prohibition of dunking a dead ball was adopted by the NBCoUS&C (now the NFHS and NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committees) back in the late 1960s: The rule originally prohibited the dunking of the ball during the game and pre-game dunking was allowed. The rule changed in the early 1970s so that dunking a live ball was allowed and dunking a dead ball was not allowed. The reason for not allowing the ball to be dunked in both cases was a safety rule.

MTD, Sr.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

... The rule changed in the early 1970s so that dunking a live ball was allowed and dunking a dead ball was not allowed. The reason for not allowing the ball to be dunked in both cases was a safety rule.

MTD, Sr.

It wasn't the early 70's that the rule was changed, it was 1976. I remember Marques Johnson of UCLA being the first great college dunker after the rule change.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

It wasn't the early 70's that the rule was changed, it was 1976. I remember Marques Johnson of UCLA being the first great college dunker after the rule change.

BNR:

Give me a break, I am 63 and started officiating basketball in 1971; I was writing from memory and without climbing up into the attic to look up the exact year, so please do not fault me for not listing the correct part of that decade.

MTD, Sr.

[APG]

The only reasonable reason for the rule today is to protect the basket from damage...especially since no level, except for the schools in the Power 5 conferences, are going to have a standby basket ready. I saw this play out at a local AAU tournament 2 weeks ago.

I also laugh at the "intimidation" reasoning. If a team is "intimidated" by the fact that the other team is dunking during pregame...well they've lost the game already. With that reasoning, let's just ban dunking from the game entirely cause the other team might get scared.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

BNR:

Give me a break, I am 63 and started officiating basketball in 1971; I was writing from memory and without climbing up into the attic to look up the exact year, so please do not fault me for not listing the correct part of that decade.

MTD, Sr.

I'll be 51 next week, don't have an attic, and didn't start officiating until I was 37 years old. But I remember the rule changing, and when, b/c Bill Walton and David Thompson were not dunking when they were in college.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Rumor has it...

A few years ago here in Central Virginia the refs were "asked" to stay in their locker room in a few schools until two minutes were left in warm-ups so that the players could dunk without consequence. The refs that told me that shared that the noise from the gym was deafening. True home court advantage.

The schools can "ask" all they want but my partner(s) and I will be on the court at the time required by the rules and proper mechanics.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

A few years ago here in Central Virginia the refs were "asked" to stay in their locker room in a few schools until two minutes were left in warm-ups so that the players could dunk without consequence.

Our brother, and sister, officials in Texas sound their whistles before entering the visual confines of the court to warn players to stop any pregame dunking that might be occurring.

I wonder if they do this for a middle school girls game?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Our brother, and sister, officials in Texas sound their whistles before entering the visual confines of the court to warn players to stop any pregame dunking that might be occurring.



I wonder if they do this for a middle school girls game?

Just another case where game management doesn't do its job and the officials are the bad guys.

Why do they need us to enforce this at all? Aren't the coaches and administrators adults?

"Hey, don't dunk."

That said, I'd be thrilled to not come out till 12 minutes or so. In our state, we take the floor at 20 minutes...

[Rob1968]

1967, in HS, dunking during the game was deemed illegal, understood to be associated with the NCAA making dunking illegal, to avoid Lew Alcindor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from dominating the college game while he played for UCLA.
Then, as an afterthought, in 1970, dunking was prohibited in warm-ups.
In 1972, a clarified definition of dunking was expressed, which was expanded in 1975.

With interest in our current Rules set, NFHS decided to allow dunking except before the game or during intermission, in 1976.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rob1968

... NFHS decided to allow dunking except before the game or during intermission.

You got most of the rule covered, but don't forget that you also can't dunk a dead ball.

Interesting story, even if it is NCAA, and happened forty-five years ago, and the details are a little cloudy. Springfield (MA) at Southern Connecticut State College (now University). SCSC "wins" at the final buzzer and a SCSC player dunks, after the final horn, in celebration. Officials charge player with a technical foul for dunking a dead ball, Springfield hits the free throw(s), game goes into overtime, and Springfield wins the game.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Rumor has it...

A few years ago here in Central Virginia the refs were "asked" to stay in their locker room in a few schools until two minutes were left in warm-ups so that the players could dunk without consequence. The refs that told me that shared that the noise from the gym was deafening. True home court advantage.

You didn't mention whether or not the officials actually adhered to the request, but game administration wouldn't be dictating when I enter the court.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

... the refs were "asked" to stay in their locker room in a few schools until two minutes were left in warm-ups so that the players could dunk without consequence.

Good luck to those guys to take care of any scorebook problems before the ten minute mark, and possibly preventing some technical fouls.