First Tests Long Ago

Obsolete Balanced Basketball I

In Balanced Basketball I experimentation every player's height was valued for units on a 1 to 9 scale. A ceiling of 25 restricted the combined units of the five active players. During a game, a coach could play any five teammates totaling up to 25, such as five 5's. Or, he could mix heights to no more than 25. A very short player might have been found to be a 1, a tall teammate 9 and others 2 through 8. Most were 4 or 5 units.

On February 4, 1967, the Scarsdale, N.Y. Department of Recreation. hosted observers from high school, college, recreation and YMCA basketball to a demonstration by ninth- and eleventh-grade boys. The rules worked well. Players were enthusiastic The fairness was praised.

The next season, the Westchester County, N.Y. Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation operated a league for about 200 eighth-grade boys of assorted heights from 14 municipalities. Hawthorne, N.Y. won the 1968 playoff with a starting five of units 8 5 5 4 3. Runner-up Mamaroneck was 9 7 4 3 2. Collegiate clubs competed in the New York area. Publicity spread.

The Iona College club team conquered Manhattan College, 71-67, March 24, 1970 at Fordham University. in a post-season New York City championship game. Manhattan had defeated Fordham, 96-84, on March 23, in the semi-finals.

As recreation departments climbed aboard, basic flaws of the five-player system became clear. Difficulties included the required display of height numbers, re-calculating of lineups upon a substitution and a fouling-out dilemma. By the 1972 season., BBI had faded out.