The heart of Short AND Tall -- the allowance of five Tallness Units -- neutralizes the team height advantage.

After tallness selection, ordinary-height teammates, at 0 Units, complete the 10-player format.. Tallness allows six five-unit arrangements:

4-1
3-2
3-1-1
2-2-1
2-1-1-1
1-1-1-1-1

Any of the full tallness arrangements may be a team goal, but they are far from automatic. In the populace, height clusters near the tallness minimum. Most tall people are "just tall," 1 Unit. A typical practice squad may contain only one or two such single-unit members. A taller clubmate may lack hoopability and be bypassed. Even a totally under-sized squad, all zeroes and no tallness Units, is valid .

Following are typical squad formations:

On this three-tallness squad of 10, the tallest player is 2 units. Eight teammates are 0-Units. 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This squad of nine claims the entire five units of allowed tallness. Ttwo players are f 2 Units plus a single, 6 ordinaries and a vacancy. 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 V

Here there's one very tall player, a single, seven ordinaries, and a vacancy. 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 V

Next, you're a coach whose Available tall men, on practice squads, are Ray, the tallest, 4 Units; Bill and Sam. 2 each, and Fred, who measures just above the 6:00 tallness minimum. The five-Unit allowance prevents you from teaming Ray, 4, along with Bill, 2 or Sam, 2. You must decide for or against 4-1. Weighing abilities and Units, you choose 2-2-1 with 7 ordinaries for format 10.. Why did you omit Ray? (Less hoopability?)

You prepare an optional Game List to exchange with the opponent. Your nine-player list includes a V to certify format 10 and confirms that tallness units are within the allowed 5. Player ID's may be names, nicknames, uniform numbers, or initials.