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For games at least, attempting to be highly prescriptive in the rules risks strangling the game. Basketball was designed to be played without dribbling. By the time players started single-handed dribbling it was pretty clear what's the more interesting, exciting game to watch and play


It also changes the nature of the game.

If you can move with the ball, then a single highly competent player becomes very valuable. A superstar.

If you are forced to work as a team since you can’t move, the team has to setup formations to get the ball across the court.


That's how its close cousin netball is played.


What, it was supposed to be pass-only, like ultimate frisbee?


Yeah, reading the original rules, that's exactly how it sounds.

And then some Yale players realized they could "pass it to themselves" by moving while it bounced off the floor.




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