The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-12
Basket Ball
On Horseback,

In the larger cities basket ball on
horseback promises To be a permanent
addition to the sports of the riding
school and clubs Mounted football
went out OF favor because the tackles
OF the players and the wedge rushes
were injurious 10 the horses. Men
might injure themselves i'm the game
without unduly worrying the riding
school proprietors. but when it came to
hurting the horses IL was different.
Basket ball Is an easier game on the
horses while IT brings. out all the riding
skill of the players.
Basket ball is only rivaled by hockey
as a winter indoor game. and there Is
every possibility that the horseback
game will he as popular as the sport
played on foot. The game was FIRST
suggested 10 riders by Duncan Coleman,
a we'll known New York amateur. The
following is his set of rules, which vir-
tuaIly governs the game wherever
played:
The ball Shall he put I'm play I'm the
center by being thrown up by the referee
so that II will descend directly between 'he
. The center who first catches or touches
the ball has possession.
,. I'm case the ball falls 10 the ground me
center who first touches ~ has possession
and will be allowed 10 mount when the
ball will be in play.
(. In all plays the player must nave hold
OF his horse. III he does not III shdIl pe cum
sdered a foul.
more than one-quarter OF the ring; ,,.,,,.,
6. The quarters are marked by White
spots on the side Of the ring.
:. The bail cannot be taken from a player
by force 1t can only be blocked by the
hu W hginp thrown
s. When the ball falls To the ground dur
ing the play. the first player touching II
has possession and viii be allowed to
.. There must be no roughness. tackling
or pulling of any kind to players or horses.
If done IL constitutes "A foul.
10. When the ban is carried behind the
goal. II must be thfown into the held from
where the player gainS possession Failure
TO do this constitutes a foul
H. When foul is made, the ball Is given
TO the opposite side and player Is allowed
To go Is feet from the goal for free throw
at the basket and the player who throws
the ball must not cross the l5 foot line until
the bali has entered or missed the basket
Violation of this rule is foul ana III goal
is made il shall not be counted, and n
missed the ball Is dead and must be put in
play in the center again.
II. When player is making free throw.
he must not be intcrfered with In any way
whatever. The players must stay six feet
from the thrower and I'm line six feet wide
from the thrower TO the goal nor interfere
]
IL. There must be no shouting or swear
ing and all protests must be made by the
captain of the team. Play I'm silence, II pos
sible.
II. a goal mado from the field in play
counts two points.
15. A goal made from foul counts one
point.
Players may be disqualified for strik-
ing kicking. shouldering or any un-
necessarily rough play. while the foul
plays are: Players addressing officials
touching ball before center player: kick
ing or punching the ball: carrying the
ball more than quarter Of the ring:
holding the ball too long when mount
ing or i'm play; tackling. holding. push
ing or striking players or horses: de-
laying the game I'm any manner; letting
go OF horse.
The spirit of the rules Il To compel
dashing riding and the avoidance of all
mass plays by constant passing of the
ball The goals are usually netted hoops
| two feet in diameter. suspended from
posts some four feet above the riders.
! Polo ponies are the best mounts. from
| their agility i'm turning and stopping.