In 1985, the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee made the then-controversial decision to introduce a smaller ball into the women's collegiate game with hopes of speeding up the game, inspiring fewer turnovers and improving ball handling.

Although the ball is just an inch smaller in circumference and 2.5 ounces lighter than the men's ball, the switch caused a stir.

Lynn Hickey, director of athletics at the University of Texas-San Antonio and current chair of the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee, was coaching when the smaller ball was adopted.

"I just remember when we first changed it, there was a lot of debate and everybody felt it was an insult to women that we were going to a lighter ball. It'd be like if everyone decided to lower the baskets," she said.

But nearly 20 years later, the smaller ball is an accepted and appreciated part of the women's game and is used in the women's professional league, the Women's National Basketball Association.

Now the international basketball governing body, FIBA, has announced that it, too, will switch to the small ball in all international women's competition, including the Olympics. The change, effective in October 2004, affects 212 national basketball federations, including the United States, and applies to all age groups in which FIBA officially conducts play.

Carol Callan, assistant executive director for USA Basketball, said that FIBA's Women's Commission has been discussing the change for years and forwarded a recommendation to the organization's decision-making body, the Central Board, for approval.

"The United States has been using the small ball in its developmental programs at the high-school, AAU and college levels, and a lot of the international community looked at that and decided that the development of the women's game in the United States is being helped by the ball being smaller," she said. "They began discussing it at the international level and they decided it would be a good way to improve the women's game internationally."

Small impact

FIBA's move to the small ball more closely aligns the international game with the game being played at the collegiate and professional levels in the United States.

Becky Geyer, head women's basketball coach at Trinity University (Texas) and chair of the Division III Women's Basketball Committee, said she agrees with FIBA's decision.

"I think it's a great move," she said. "I don't know if that will necessarily impact the college game. Before the WNBA started, so many players were going abroad to play and then they had to switch balls, or if they played an international game they might be using the international rules with the larger ball."

Geyer thinks consistency will be the most noticeable result.

"I just think the consistency should make the women's game better because women are getting better all the time," she said. "With the consistency of the ball, I would think it would elevate the game."

Tom Jernstedt, NCAA executive vice-president and president of USA Basketball, agrees that the change in ball size shouldn't significantly affect collegiate women's play, but he does believe it will make the game better overall.

"It will be helpful to those who are chosen from NCAA institutions to participate on USA Basketball international teams from the standpoint that they will not have to adjust to the bigger ball," he said. "Whenever the whole world can play under the same rules, I think it's beneficial to the game as well as to the participants. In this instance, we will have more women playing with the same ball and that's a positive."

Hickey thinks that the introduction of the small ball in international play will stop any questions about whether the women's college game will return to using the bigger ball.

"If there was a concern now, it was from the kids having to go back and forth from having to play international ball," she said. "If they made that concession, then I think that would stop any thoughts on our part about going back to it."

Distinctive game

The smaller ball is just one of a few differences between the women's and men's game with regard to rules. But Amy Ruley, coach at North Dakota State University, hopes those difference will continue to exist.

"I think our game is designed for female athletes," she said. "I think it's good as it is, and I hate to see us change just for the sake of men's and women's being one sport. I don't think it's necessary that we do that."

DePauw University coach Kris Huffman agrees that the differences are good for the women's game.

"I would like to see the women keep the ball and keep the shot clock," she said. "Those are two major differences. I think it's OK to be unique."

Hickey said needs may be different for the men's and women's games.

"I think we really want to try to be together as much as we can," she said. "At the same time, one of the things we focus on at every rules committee meeting is listening to the needs of our constituency and making the game the best we can for the women.

"If that calls for some differences, then I think that would continue to happen because we want to do what's best for the game."