Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19

for IL mon run they must be stopped by
"tackling." which Ia considered rough
play. ~ - ~
Tho attention OF the man should be on
the ball-not on his opponent.
6. II should be easy to learn.
Hand-ball, tennis, lacrosse, etc., re-
ouire time, IL one hopes 10 become an ex-
pert. Many men play Basketball quite
well even the first time.
HOW THESE CONDITIONS WE'RE
MET
These. then, were the conditions as they
presented themselves to Mr.. James Maj
smith, Instructor at the training-school.
How we'll they were met Is shown by the
growth and popularity of the game. Start
ing at Springfield In 1884, 1t spread north.
south, east, ana west, until It is now
played all over the country by both men
and women, in colleges and gymnasia,
and last year was officially recognized and
adopted by the Amateur Athletic Union.
Little did Mr.. Naismith dream that he
was TO establish game that would be
so great an addition to American sports.
The rules OF the game have been changed
but little during the six years of its ex-
istence, and all notifications have been
simply to preserve the clean sport.
THE GAME AS 1T Is.
Briefly, then. the game is as follows:
Given five men on a side, each arranged
on the floor as centre. right and left
forward Ito throw into goaD, left and
right-guard TO keep the ball out OF goaD.
These take positions on the floor, centres
in middle, forwards to the left and right
or their respective goals, the guards be-
ing their opponents.
The officials OF the game are referee,
two umpires. score-keeper, and time
keeper The referee is the superior
official. All regulations of the game are
under his control, and he Is judge Of tho
ball when in play. The umpires are judges
OF the men. and shall call all fouls.
A game consists Of two Commute
halves. with 10 minutes intermlssion.
The ball is put in play by the referee
In tossing it into the air al right angles
to the side lines, so that 1t will drop near
the centre
A goal made from the field counts 2
points; one thrown from a foul, point
Fouls are classified as general and dis
qualified.
RESTRICTIONS OF THE GAME.
!. No one but the captain can talk 70
officials. Only centre men may touch the
ball when tossed up. Kicking the pail
or striking with the fist: carrying the pail;
tackling holding, pushing opponents; uh-
necessarily delaying the game.
2. Players are disqualified for strlKins'
kicking, shouldering. tripping, backing
or unnecessary rough play.
The goal are hammock-nets OF cora
suspended from metal rings; are IL inches
inside diameter and are placed 10 feet
from the playing surface.
OF course it can be made rough. VI
course slight injuries are often caused
But because the game is an open, though
a fast one. there is no such possibility OF
serious injury as football affords. The
danger Of basketball is not that OF per-
sonal injury, but that tt will, through us
very popularity, detract from the more
important, though more sedate, class
work of the gymnasia. Like fire, tits
good servant. but bad master.
To my mind basketball Is not calou-
lated to, or will Il ever, supplant base
bali or football. AS great popularity
however, is anticipated for IL as an out
door game as 1t has as an indoor one
Such a popularity would rival that OF the
other games mentioned. Basketball oer-