The late Edward S. Steitz, former secretary-rules editor for the NCAA Basketball Rules Committee, crafted the following guidelines that to this day continue to serve as a resource for NCAA playing-rules committees as they deliberate changes that affect the rules of the game.

Marcy Weston, who served as secretary-rules editor for women's basketball for 13 years, said Steitz's document played an important role in committee deliberations. "We read them before every rules meeting. They're even part of the coach's video. They are as solid today as they were then. They are right on," Weston said.

• Fair play. The rules must basically guarantee fair play to the end that no player and neither team gains an unfair advantage over an opponent. This criterion is basic and transcends all other considerations.

• Balance. There must be a relationship maintained between the offense and defense to the extent that neither phase of the game dominates the other. A game in which it is too easy to score becomes uninteresting. By the same token, a game in which the participants are unable to score also is uninteresting. If the offense dominates the defense or vice-versa, an unattractive contest develops.

• Definitions. Carefully defined words and expressions are necessary in a workable code of rules. Definitions eliminate the need for detailed and lengthy explanatory wording used in the various sections.

• Codification . Game rules must be arranged so that related provisions appear under a common heading and are properly "connected" to each other. Unless a set of rules is codified, it becomes extremely bulky and contradictions are bound to appear.

• Brevity. The best code essentially is brief and concise. Repetition should be avoided whenever possible. Detailed explanations and illustrations of coverage must be left to related and corollary rules publications.

• Exceptions. Exceptions to any portion of the code can be made only in exceptional cases and must be authorized as a result of coverage that would, without the exception, result in serious inequity. Too many exceptions make it difficult to learn and apply rules.

• Safety/well-being . The safety of the participants is paramount in all games in which there is physical activity. It is acknowledged that in certain games more attention must be given to this matter than others, but appropriate penalties to assure safety procedures are required in all athletics contests.

• Workability. The code must ensure that the coverage is practical to the extent that game officials can apply and enforce its provisions. Provisions that cannot be enforced tend to reduce the effectiveness of the entire code and, therefore, must be avoided.

• Continuity. An interesting game for participants and spectators keeps the action continuous as much as possible. In other words, it is desirable to keep the ball alive. Causing the ball to become dead for the purpose of avoiding infractions, or to provide opportunity to change personnel or some other artificial reason, does not contribute to an interesting contest. In addition to the desirability of keeping the ball alive, the better codes have opportunities for choice of strategy. The limitations of tactical maneuvers stereotype a game and cause it to become dull.

• No profit. Good rules do not permit situations in which an offender can profit from a foul or other infraction. Penalties must be provided in order to deter participants from fouling.