Rule Change Is Greeted With Approval in Area

Local officials, including Orange County high school basketball coaches, have applauded a rule change by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Assns. that adopts the three-point shot for boys’ and girls’ games beginning next season.

The National Federation Basketball Rules Committee announced Thursday that it has adopted the 19-foot 9-inch distance, used this season on the college level, for the 1987-88 season. The rule will apply to varsity, junior varsity, sophomore and freshman games and all playoff competition.

Nine states experimented with the three-point field goal last season, and three other states had already adopted the shot for the forthcoming season.

“We knew it was coming. We just didn’t expect it to come so quickly,” said Stan Thomas, Southern Section commissioner. “Anything that creates interest in the game, we’re all for it.”

The Freeway and Sunset leagues experimented with the three-point shot this seasonm but the shot was not a part of Southern Section playoff games.

Three other leagues--Angelus, Garden Grove and South Coast--recently voted to add the shot next season.

“We unanimously approved the shot at our league meeting simply because we knew it was coming sooner or later,” said Tim Travers, El Toro coach. “I think it’s great that the shot has been approved nationally. It’s now consistent all through the CIF.”

Paul Orris, Corona del Mar coach, said the Sea View League recently voted against adopting the shot because it wasn’t a consistent rule throughout the Southern Section.

“We talked about it, but our feeling was that until the CIF adopted the rule as a whole, why have a three-point shot?” Orris said. “We felt the rule would adversely affect a team that had used it in league play and then couldn’t use it in the playoffs.”

Dick Schindler, assistant director of the federation, said the success of the three-point shot in some states and the need for uniformity across the nation was the reason for adopting the rule.

“With some states using the three-point field goal and others not using the shot, we’ve had two different games being played,” he said. “The committee wanted uniformity across the country.

“With the growing interest in the shot, the committee believed there was no need to delay the implementation of the play on a nationwide basis.”

Thomas said the rule would be accepted by the Southern Section without the formality of a majority vote of league representatives in the next general council meeting, as the section adheres to the federation’s by-laws.

“We follow the national federation’s rules to the letter,” Thomas said.

The 19-foot 9-inch distance is measured from the center of the basket to the outside of the existing two-inch line at the top of the key. “It might be a little too easy in college, but I think it’s a good length on the high school level,” said John Mayberry, Kennedy coach. “Our athletic director has already consented to paint the lines in time for our two summer tournaments.”