The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-28

baskets. which are the goals. eighteen
inches wide. and placed ten feet above
the floor level. one at each end of the
room. Every goal counts three points.
and no other points are counted. The
game according 10 these rules must be
played entirely with the hands and the
ball: that Is, fouls are called by the UNI
pire for tackling. pushing, kicking the
ball. striking IL with the fist, running
with the ball. holding 1t IN any way ex-
cept by the hands, needless rough play
striking or tripping an opponent. ad-
dressing the umpire or referee except
by CAPTAINS For each foul a free throw
to the basket is allowed for the side of
the "foulee" II should In a strict sense
therefore be almost pass game. but
there are many tricks In IL which make
Ii otherwise.
How the Game Is Played.
The forming of the men on the floor is
peculiar 10 the game itself. For nine
men to each team three play guard
three center, three as goal throwers, for
ward Each side has liberty 10 play In
any part of the territory, so that every
man closely guards. and in turn is close
ly guarded by one man of the other
side. This would seem to eliminate OPP
portunity for team play, but in practice
il does motif compels the prettier ma
neuyering Primarily the object or the
guards Is 10 prevent the goal throwers OF
the opposing team from throwing at ALL
of the centers 10 play aggressive and get
the ball forward, and of the goal throw
ers to get the bali directly In the basket
Beyond this tho scheme OF the play Is
complicated, II involves so many tactics
Apparently there are no tactics what
ever but though in the melee men
tumble over like skittles and are jumbled
,.4.-e ~ x1srskr ha
to involve no more science proper than
railroad accident, tactics are there just
the same.
Suddenly the ball shoots on some APP
parently almless message, butt lands
right in the hands of goal thrower
who. as luck 60 would have II, is all
alone. deserted. and before YOU know 1t
"our" side is yelling goal Or a CEN
ter man has made lunge as the ball
came flying by, and drihbiing 1t along on
the floor with his hands is in fair way
to throw for goal before his guard over
takes him: the guard is behind. however,
coming after him like a cyclone; center
sees him and. calculating swiftly how
many thousand feet per second this fell
low Is travelling. Just in the nick of time
drops on his knees and over goes the
other fellow neatly tripped and no foul
involved. and he has now two clear sec
onds to get within distance and clear OF
all obstruction. 10 make deliberate
throws al the basket above him. OR he
may play team and. seducing some one
OF the opposition to tackle his progress,
with a quick feint and a sure throw al
most at the same instant will have
avoided the threatened danger and have
passed the bali 10 his partner, who has
been left unguarded.
Basket ball. I'm fact is a pretty piece
Of team play all through. and - team
that Is not trained with this idea will
lose the laurels always. One OF the ia
vorite tricks is for a center or forward 10
make a flying trip all around the field
with the ball enticing the other side out
in chase when. swift as a dart. the bali
has reached the hands Of one OF his
friends standing in some vacant SPOT
and swifter still Il is In goal This is
nice pass work. but It IS the team gen
eralship before the pass is. made that
gives merit 10 the result Get the hall
IN the hands Of player thirty feet from
goal ant six feet from his guard and
the goal is almost won.
individual Work an Essential.
II will be seen. however that individ-
ual work Is a sine qua non 10 the game
The players IN every station have the sat
isfaction Of knowing at the end OF
contest that that goal was partly his
fault' Individually. tho first requisite is
staying power. Ii is not a sprintinC
match. nor a wrestling match nor Ave
'pile run l. s. simply a combination OF
alt-tear and wear o8 every faculty and
muscle for the twenty-minute halves
/ With hut ten-minute rest between In
/ side the first five minutes Of the play
/ every man feels as porous as sponge.
/ and. no matter what his condition. Is
{ dripping Nitb porSpiration. Il is a severe
strain. I'm she tlssle for supremacy
I knocks blows. bruises Of every imagina-
/ HE Kind pass uunoucfd AS though they
! were no more ineouvepient than the halrnv
breath OF our present spring time. Ras-