National Federation Rule Books

The National Federation rule booklets lineage can be traced back to the Spalding Guide for Men. In 1919-20, Spalding Men's Guides began to include a "Part IV"rules section at the back of their booklets. This was a "tear-away" or removable rules booklet. This booklet would be continue as a part of the Spalding guides until the last Spalding Guide was produced in 1940-41. Beginning in 1919-20, these Part IV sections would mention being "Adopted by a Committee" and then provided a list of organizations that contributed to the rules. That committee was the Joint Basketball Committee, a group formed in 1915, which was comprised of representatives from the NCAA, YMCA, and the AAU. It was in the 1933-34 edition of the Part IV that the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (H.S.A.A.) was first referenced on that front cover. They had become part of the Joint Basketball Committee in 1929. The 1933-34, 1934-35, and 1935-36 editions were published by the American Sports Publishing Company. However in 1936, the National Federation H.S.A.A published their first rules booklet. It might have just been a coincidence, but the first "Handbook of Approved Basketball Officials" came out that same year - 1935-36. It contained the Part IV rules too. The content National Federation H.S.A.A. rule book was very similar to Spalding "Part IV" rules and was published by permission of the National Basketball Committee of the United States and Canada. It was termed a special edition and was edited by Tower Oswald. It was sold for 10 cents. There is no doubt that the formation of the Joint Basketball Committee aided the consolidation of basketball rules. It also aided the merger of many of these booklets and their content.

Basketball Rule Book - 1933-34

Basketball Rule Book - 1934-35

Basketball Rule Book - 1936-37

Basketball Rule Book - 1937-38

Basketball Rule Book - 1938-39

Basketball Rule Book - 1939-40

Basketball Rule Book - 1940-41

Basketball Rule Book - 1941-42

Basketball Rule Book - 1942-43

Basketball Rule Book - 1943-44

Basketball Rule Book - 1944-45

Basketball Rule Book - 1945-46

Basketball Rule Book - 1946-47

Basketball Rule Book - 1947-48

Basketball Rule Book - 1949-50

Basketball Rule Book - 1950-51

Basketball Rule Book - 1951-52

Basketball Rule Book - 1952-53

Basketball Rule Book - 1953-54

Basketball Rule Book - 1954-55

Basketball Rule Book - 1955-56

Basketball Rule Book - 1957-58

Basketball Rule Book - 1958-59

Basketball Rule Book - 1959-60