The present research clarified changes in Japan of the basketball ball from the end of the Taisho Era (1912-1926) through the first half of the Showa Era (1926-1989). This research also focused on, and investigated, the relationship between ball modificationsand the diversification of dribbling techniques.
The results of the investigations made in the present research can be summarized as follows.
1 . Made-in-Japan balls that appeared from the end of the Taisho Era to around the early Show Era were hand-sewn balls provided with a portion where the string was tied (knotted) for the insertion or release of air. Yet, since this ball had the defect of becoming deformed in shape during use, irregularities in dribbling were unavoidable. Further, the dribbling technique at that time was to keep the ball in front of the body, such that the ball remained in the visual field of the dribbler, and dribbling was thought of as simply “intermediate linking (connecting)” play to be used during a game only in those cases where one released a shot by oneself or before passing the ball to another teammate.
2. Over time, the bubble-shaped ball without the air-hole string made its appearance; however, this ball, too, like the previous ball, was hand-sewn, and thus was not remarkably superior in terms of its durability characteristics. It was thus possible for this ball, too, to undergo shape deformities. Therefore, there was no remarkable development of dribbling techniques with this ball compared to the past. In 1950 (Showa Era, year 25), a new type of ball was developed, This ball took a nearly spherical shape by gluing leather over a rubber inner tube. This ball was thus characterized by the fact that it was difficult for it to undergo shape deformities. Thus, from the decade beginning with Showa Era, year 30 (1955-1964), dribbling went beyond being a merely “connecting” (“linking”) stage — it instead became used as a means of keeping [and moving] the ball oneself, and also developed as an offensivetechnique directly linked to scoring points.
3. To summarize the above, it may be indicated that, in Japan from the end of the Taisho Era through the first half of the Showa Era, improvements of the capabilities of the ball exclusively used for basketball had major impacts on dribbling techniques.
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