"stuffed" = shot block

things you don't see any more = mega mismatches on jump balls.

things you don't see any more = jump balls.

Decent refs

The old 1+1 free throws are a thing of the past!

Still hate the possession arrow, defence hustles, makes a great play only for offence to retain the ball.
Brought in to speed up the game, meanwhile how long do reviews take. Used to have some nuances in jump balls to either steal the tip or start a break. Seriously takes maybe 15 to 20 seconds maximum to set it up if refs and teams don't fluff about. Could even live with a delay of game penalty if players don't immediately get into position.
Most disliked rule along with intentional fouls at the end of games. Need a biomechanics degree now so you know how to make a correct play on the ball. Liked the old days when the coach would tell the refs you were going to foul and just had to touch them after they caught it. This is where the game slows down whilst umpires have to keep reviewing fouls when everyone in the building knows what the intention is. If it's a mugging, that's what the unsportsmanlike foul is for. You nearly have to devote some training time to show kids how to do it.
As for old rules, I think college is the only real league where they have one and ones. To those that don't know, when the team gets in the foul bonus, the first few times if you miss the first you don't get the second foul shot. I like the added pressure and players have to make their shots and can make comebacks easier. Most games are foul a thons in the last minute, make it a bit more interesting. Even if it's just the 6th and 7th team foul.

Purist - yes a good mention.
Phantom - yes agreed

And before the end of 1+1 era, went to a choice of 1+1 or sideball?, then went to 2 shots, anyway.

Also, there's the "old fashion" visual call, "devils horns" for 1+1.

Or what about this one "time in thanks ref"

Used to love the term "cager" - from the very early days when the players were seperated from spectators by wire cage

I think they still refer to them as Cagers in the Philippines when they talk about hoops.


Yes, + "time in thanks ref" - haven't heard that for a while.

Love this old school. Was remarking to my assistant coach the other day about not having to give the ball to the ref on an inbounds in the backcourt. Out of bounds, chase the ball and throw it in as soon as you could. Also used to be zero inbounds from the baseline, was always sideball.

I noticed above the comment about "time in ref", is that a thing of the past? Is a time out 1 minutes always? I remember a junior coach doing that, quick 15 second time out to say something and "time in ref".

He also used to talk for over a minute and when ref came over to say "c'mon coach" and opposition are set up waiting, he'd call a second time out.

Aaahhh, Pfizzer - the good old days. I used the short and double timeouts so often - great for strategy.

So they're not allowed anymore? Or just no-one does it?

So they're not allowed anymore? Or just no-one does it?

And I remember them having to use a pole to knock the ball out of the peach basket after every score. And putting the backboard on to stop spectators deflecting the ball.

I vaguely remember the timein, but was it enforced tightly? By the time the ref would get to the other huddle there wouldn't be much difference between a full time out.

I also wonder how many kids these days truly play pickup for hours on an asphalt court? Playing with a second rate ball or even rubber, hands getting filthy. And finding a court that's rings were a few inches below regulation so there were dunks aplenty. And the pride of callouses that formed on the fingers until they finally ripped off. And the metal chain nets if you were lucky, otherwise there'd be arguments if the ball actually went in.

Short ones aren't allowed - must go for the full minute. (I think that might even be stated in the FIBA rules?)

Phizzer - you can still have double or even triple timeouts.

But no "time in thanks ref" anymore - wasn't there some monkey business at times with that "time out" then "time in" - that is 1970s

Hoopie - you are correct - has to be 1 minute - yes it is in the rules

The Phantom - Church Ball Saturday arvos over winter - bitumen outside courts with rings angled at 45 degrees, faded paint, playing in the rain, pools of rainwater that would kill a dribble, rubber basketball, gym boots, home dyed playing top that your folks cut a plastic playing number out and stitched at home. Losing a few layers of skin on the bitumen. Listening to the footy on the AM car radio going to and from the basketball game.
How about the old COOKING TIMER as the game clock ?
The old OBLONG paper scoresheet ! Crossing off the pre printed point score as it progressed.

The square with the X for 2 successful free throws or a O for a single shot.

I had a homemade ring in the backyard because there were no store bought contraptions available to buy or they were prohibitively expensive.

Schoolmate came over and slam dunked it way too hard (not regulation height) and the whole thing collapsed on him. Kid brushed himself off and left with a huge smile on his face.