Ayrton Oneill
Six-on-six basketball, a variant of basketball usually played by women and girls, was a beloved sport in Iowa for decades. In 1993, the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union unanimously decided to end the six-player game, marking a significant change in the state's basketball landscape. This decision came after a long history of six-on-six basketball in Iowa, which began in rural communities and became one of the most acclaimed sports in the state's history. With unique rules and a high-scoring nature, the game captured the hearts of Iowans and left a lasting legacy that is still remembered and cherished today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year 6 on 6 basketball ended in Iowa | 1993 |
| Who ended it | Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union |
| Vote | Unanimous |
| Final game | Hubbard-Radcliffe vs. Atlantic |
| Last schools to play 6 on 6 | Hubbard-Radcliffe and Atlantic |
| Number of schools playing 6 on 6 in 1992 | About two-thirds |
| Number of girls playing basketball in Iowa in 2016 | Two-thirds of volleyball players |
| Number of girls playing basketball in Iowa in 1999 | Two-thirds of volleyball players |
| Years it took to phase out 6 on 6 basketball | 37 |
| Year 6 on 6 basketball began in Iowa | 1934 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union voted to end six-on-six basketball in 1993
- The format is still used by the Granny Basketball League, formed in Iowa in 2005
- Six-on-six basketball was played by three forwards and three guards
- Forwards were only allowed to dribble twice and had to stay in their team's frontcourt
- The 1968 state championship game is considered the greatest 6-on-6 game ever played
The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union voted to end six-on-six basketball in 1993
Six-on-six basketball, or basquette, is a variant of basketball usually played by women and girls. Each team fields six players, comprising three forwards and three guards. The forwards are responsible for scoring and must remain in their team's frontcourt, while the guards play defence and are restricted to the backcourt. Forwards can dribble the ball only twice and must shoot on the third possession, while guards cannot take the ball away outside the lane.
Six-on-six basketball was played in Iowa for decades, and the sport surpassed the boys' game in popularity. However, in 1993, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union voted to end this format of the game. The vote took place at a girls' union board meeting on February 3, 1993, where data was presented showing that most schools in Iowa planned to transition to the five-on-five format within two years. In a surprising turn of events, a recommendation was made to discontinue the six-player game after the next state championship. The board unanimously decided to adopt this recommendation, bringing an end to the six-on-six format.
The final six-on-six game in Iowa was played just a month after the vote, between small-school Hubbard-Radcliffe and big-school Atlantic. Fans of the six-on-six format picketed outside the arena, distributing buttons that read "I (heart) 6-on-6". The game was a significant event in Iowa sports history, with the Hubbard-Radcliffe team greeted by fire trucks on their drive home.
The end of six-on-six basketball in Iowa marked a turning point for girls' sports in the state. While the unique format had been beloved by many, its demise led to a surge in participation in other sports, particularly volleyball. The transition to five-on-five basketball, aligned with the rules followed by most women's basketball leagues, also contributed to the evolving landscape of girls' athletics in Iowa.
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The format is still used by the Granny Basketball League, formed in Iowa in 2005
Six-on-six basketball, or basquette, is a now-archaic variant of basketball, usually played by women and girls. The game is played with the same rules as regular basketball, with a few exceptions. Each team fields six players, comprising three "forwards" and three "guards". Only forwards are allowed to shoot the ball, and they must do so from their team's frontcourt. Guards are restricted to their team's backcourt and play defence. Forwards can dribble the ball up to two times, after which they must shoot or pass to a teammate.
In the United States, the last major sanctioning bodies to abandon the six-on-six variant were the high school state athletic organisations of Iowa and Oklahoma. The format is still used by the Granny Basketball League, formed in Iowa in 2005. The league consists of women aged 50 and older, playing by the rules and wearing uniforms from the 1920s. The league was founded by Barb McPherson Trammel, who organised an exhibition game in Lansing, Iowa, to raise money to preserve a historic building. The game gained popularity, and soon there were four teams and a tournament. Over time, more towns joined, and the league expanded to multiple states. As of 2023, the league has grown to more than 450 players on 41 teams in 10 states.
The Granny Basketball League has attracted attention and gained momentum, with national championships being held. The league has also raised over $200,000 for various charities, schools, and other causes. The league has a set of modified rules to prevent injuries, as older players may not be able to afford a long rehabilitation process. The uniforms are inspired by those worn by women basketball players a century ago, featuring pinny jerseys with a big bow in the front.
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Six-on-six basketball was played by three forwards and three guards
Six-on-six basketball, also known as basquette, is a variant of basketball that is now considered archaic. It was played by two teams of six players each, comprising three forwards and three guards. The forwards and guards were restricted to their respective halves of the court, with the forwards playing offence and the guards playing defence.
The forwards were responsible for scoring and were only allowed to shoot from their team's frontcourt. They could dribble the ball a maximum of two times, after which they had to shoot or pass to a teammate. The guards, on the other hand, played defence, rebounded, and passed the ball to the forwards. The guards could not take the ball away from the forwards outside the lane.
This unique format of basketball was extremely popular in Iowa, particularly among high school girls, for several decades. It even surpassed the boys' game in popularity. However, in 1958, the Office of Civil Rights began considering banning six-on-six basketball in high schools, and in 1993, the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union voted to end the six-player game, with the final game played soon after.
Despite its official end, six-on-six basketball is still occasionally played recreationally, and it has been celebrated in various media forms, including a 2004 book, a 2008 television special, and a 2009 musical, all titled "Six-On-Six". The format is also used by the Granny Basketball League, formed in Iowa in 2005, which consists of women aged 50 and older playing by 1920s rules and wearing vintage uniforms.
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Forwards were only allowed to dribble twice and had to stay in their team's frontcourt
For six decades, Iowa high school girls played 6-on-6 basketball, which surpassed the boys' game in popularity. In this variant, each team fields six players, comprising three forwards and three guards. The forwards are responsible for scoring and are only allowed to shoot from their teams' frontcourt (the side of the court they shoot from). The guards, on the other hand, play defence, rebound and pass the ball to the forwards. Neither the forwards nor the guards are allowed to cross the halfway line.
The forwards' dribbling is restricted to only twice, after which they must shoot or pass to a teammate. This rule ensures that the game is fast-paced and dynamic, as players must make quick decisions and execute precise passes or shots. The forwards' role is crucial as they are the only players allowed to shoot, and their scoring ability directly impacts the outcome of the game.
The 6-on-6 format also affects the strategy and positioning of the players. With three players in each half of the court, the teams create a balanced attack and defence. The forwards must coordinate their movements and passes to create scoring opportunities, while the guards focus on disrupting the opposing team's offence and providing support to their forwards.
However, in 1993, the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union decided to end the 6-on-6 game, with nearly all schools planning to switch to 5-on-5 within two years. This change brought Iowa girls' basketball in line with the standard rules of the sport, creating a more unified set of regulations across the country. While the 6-on-6 variant may have ended at the competitive level, it still holds a special place in the hearts of many Iowans, with recreational leagues and films celebrating this unique version of the game.
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The 1968 state championship game is considered the greatest 6-on-6 game ever played
For decades, Iowa high school girls played 6-on-6 basketball, and the sport surpassed the boys in popularity. In this variant of basketball, each team fields six players, comprising three forwards and three guards. The forwards are confined to their team's frontcourt (the side of the court they shoot from), while the guards are restricted to their team's backcourt. Forwards are responsible for scoring and can dribble only twice, while guards play defence and are not allowed to take the ball away outside the lane.
In 1958, the Office of Civil Rights began considering banning six-on-six high school girls' basketball, and it took 37 years to phase it out. By 1992, about two-thirds of schools in Iowa were still playing 6-on-6 basketball, but change was imminent. On February 3, 1993, at a girls' union board meeting, data was presented indicating that nearly all schools planned to transition to 5-on-5 basketball within two years. In a surprising turn of events, a recommendation was made to end the 6-player game with the next state championship, and the board unanimously agreed. The final 6-on-6 game was played a month later between small-school Hubbard-Radcliffe and big-school Atlantic, with Hubbard-Radcliffe emerging victorious.
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Frequently asked questions
6 on 6 basketball ended in Iowa in 1993.
The game ended because of a unanimous vote by the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union. This was due to a combination of factors, including the growing popularity of volleyball and the pressure of consolidation and depopulation.
In 6 on 6 basketball, each team fields six players, comprising three forwards and three guards. The forwards are responsible for scoring and are restricted to their half of the court, while the guards play defence and cannot cross into the opposing team's half. Forwards can only dribble twice and must shoot on the third dribble.
While 6 on 6 basketball is no longer officially played in Iowa, it is still occasionally seen at the recreational level, such as during physical education classes. The format is also used by the Granny Basketball League, which was formed in Iowa in 2005 and consists of women aged 50 and older who play by 1920s rules and wear 1920s-style uniforms.
