NABC Research Committee
Basketball Equipment Recommendation
NABC Board of Directors
March, 2002

A. Recommendation:
Ring testing rule change (NCAA Rules Supplement, Court and Equipment, Item #9) - replace rim testing as a recommendation (present rule) and make it a requirement plus require a height tolerance of 10 ft. ± 1/8 in.

B. Rationale:

• Impacts the game - determines rebound distance and shooting %
• Unfairly affects game outcome - rims too tight, too loose, or too different in the same gym.
• Problem getting worse - wear and team of rims and greater differences of rims (good and bad)
• Rim testing can make the game the same, rim to rim and gym to gym

C. Present Status:

• NABC Board passed this proposal unanimously at the Spring, 2000 meeting.
• Issue of cost ($1,400/testing device) options are one time purchase, teams share within conference, men's and women's programs split costs, or equipment companies test for free during annual maintenance check. Rule change means no cost or minimal cost
• Window of opportunity decreasing - problem increasing while the one company producing testing device is considering dropping product (sales of 91 devices in 10 years). It may be now or never.
• Required rim testing must be a major rules focus of the NABC Board in order to accomplish this rule change.