In the news this week was an article stating that the NCAA college basketball rules writers are probably going to move the three-point circle a foot farther from the goal than the present rules require. I have no real opinion for or against that change.

The three-point goal has been around college and high school basketball for over 20 years, and the National Basketball Association has allowed the three-point goal for many more years than that. The three-point goal is an exciting part of basketball at all levels of play. The professional game instigated the “three pointer” as a way to diminish the effect of the big-man, and to allow a trailing team to maybe more quickly catch up. The rule accomplished the latter, but certainly has failed to hinder the big man’s effect on the game.

From what I understand, the National Federation has given no indication that they intend to move the high school three-point line. As college female basketball players will continue to use the present three-point circle, it is highly possible that you might see, on some courts, three different three-point lines. That will certainly put a lot of pressure on the officials.

While on the subject of court or field markings, it is interesting to look over the history of markings on a college football field. When the game first came on the scene, it was played on a field measuring 120 yards long by 75 yards wide. That size field changed regularly until 1912 when the present 120 yard by 53 1/2 yard size became the standard.

In 1882 five-yard lines were added, because a team had to gain five yards in three plays to gain a first down. In 1906 each five yards across the field was marked, because the first player to receive the ball from the snapper had to move laterally five yards before he could cross the neutral zone. That rule, along with those lines, was removed in 1920.

For the 1927 season the goal posts were moved from the goal line to the end line. The National Football League kept the posts on the goal line until the 1950s.

Other changes to the field were minor, except that in 1947 the “in bounds” markers were added, each being 53 1/2 feet from the side line.

Until that time, plays had to be run from wherever the ball had become dead. The “hash marks” remain at that distance today, except in the NFL, which places them even with the goal posts.

Flags (they were red) were first placed at the intersection of the goal lines and the side lines in 1940.

Pylons came in to general use in about 1966, and in 1975 it became mandatory to place them at the intersection of the end line and the in bounds line (hash marks.)

The 25-second clock on the field began to show up in 1982. Before that the 25-second count had been handled by the back judge on the field.

And, that’s official.

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident. He can be reached by e-mail at AlanWard39175@aol.com.