Evening star., 1896-10-19
BASKET BALL SEASON
Promising Outlook for tho Local
League.
PROGRESS OF TEE CHESS TOURNEY
Big Foot Ball Games of the Com
ing Week.
1RE% OF TEE CHESS TOURNEY
SPORTING NOTES

The third season Of the Basket Ball
League will begin this fall with perhaps
more changes than in any previous year.
The tendency appears to be to make the
game one in which science Is at a pre-
MUM and brutality and force at big dis
count. While the change in this direction
Is important, there are q number of changes
all along the line tending to improve the
playing. and thereby adding to the value
OF the game as a pastfme and sport. With
these improvements, and the radical change
In the methods Of playing the game, it is
quite certain that the games of the league
larger number Of people than at any pre-
vious season.
The league starts with a membership as
large as last year, but much stronger.
While the season of last year opened with
seven clubs, before the close there were
only six clubs, and one other that was In
tottering condition. This year the league
starts with seven strong clubs represented
ana strong possibility of an eighth club.
Many of the old players will be in the
game this year, although there is a con-
siderable amount of new blood to strength
en- weak points and improve the quality OF
the play ers. The Washington Light In
fantry Is about the only team that has not
made many changes, and the basket ball
team this year which will represent the
corps will be practically the pennant-wln-
the handsome Schafhrt trophy
Last year, at the beginning of the league.
the first game of which, by the way, was
played = November 2. each club con-
tributed S to defray the expenses of the
organization, for postage. stationery and
minor things. This year it Is proposed to
compel ach club to deposit SO as a guar
antee of it's good faith and intention of re-
the season. Upon winding. up the affairs
OF the IL que last year there was balance
of just $13 in the treasury, to be divided
among six clubs, giving back almost as
much as was placed in, the expenses OF
the organization during the year amount
ing to about 81.
Another change which is contemplated
is securing hall in which the games will
be played. The different teams will, under
the proposed change, meet or mutual ter
ritory and neither side have the advan-
tage. Last year not all of the clubs had
playing grounds of their own, and as a re-
suit the clubs without large enough hall
were thrown upon the mercy Of the clubs
which had suitable playing ground. 1t
SO happened that games were scheduled
for certain dates at certain places, and
other places had to be secured. The teams
were inconventenced and the spectators
were disappointed after reaching the loca-
ton where the game was to have been
played to find the place in darkness.
The decision that the games this year
commence not later than November 10 will
cause many of the clubs to hustle in order
to have the teams in any shape for the
opening of the season. AS agreed upon at
the meeting, the playing season will last
for four months. making the year close
about the middle of March. Last year the
schedule was put out in two sections, the
last game being played March 2s, which
was regarded as almost too late in the sea-
son to continue playing, The schedule for
this season will be made up in few weeks
and strictly adhered to. A staff of umpires
will be appointed by the president with
full power to act AS the duties of the
referee are comparatively light it was de-
cided not to appoint any official referee
but permit the selection to be settled be-
tween the clubs just before playing in
the matter of scoring more accuracy is de-
sired this year, and the system used by
the District Bowling League will in al!
probability be adopted. Postal cards, self
directed to the secretary. with rulings on
the other side. will give the lineup the
goals made by each man, the free throws
and the fouls. This will be signed by the
scorer for the evening. and also by the
captains of the two teams, and then be
forwarded to the secretary, who will keen
the list on file for reference and for the
computation Of averages at the end of the
season.