The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-28
BASKET BALL IS
NOW THE GAME.
Played scientifically it is One Of the
Most Interesting Sports of
the Winter.

Now that football is at an end for a
year to come, interest viii be taken in
basket ball. Basket ball is not dan
SerOus to life and limb, but, like any
other game its good and bad influences
are determined by those who play it.
There are regular positions for the
players to assume, and the players who
come first in order are the attacks. The
attacks are three, two or one in num-
Der, according to the area of the play
ing space, of which more win be said
later. The attacks are 1.-The ground
gamers" of the team. They throw the
goals and do the scoring, hence, good
attacks are a prime necessity to a win
ming team They should be small,
witty and agile, quick with the hands
and light on their feet, are the men who
are wanted at this end of the team
Anyone who is slow or clumsy has no
place among the forwards.
There are many who can throw goal
after goal in practice, but can never
throw one in a game. The mere fact
of opposition puts them entirely at
loss. Especially is this the case with
a Wide-awake opponent in the defense.
Attacks in practice should not adjust
the ball in their hands before throw
ing, or, in fact, do anything which
could not be done in game. In prac-
tice, as in the game, the instant the
ball touches his hands he should throw
or shoot to the basket or pass to one
of his comrades AS a rule one-half of
the goals scored in games are made
Immediately after a throw to the bas-
ket. So to throw a goal the following
is the best:
METHOD OF SCORING.
One attack throws 10 the basket and
the ball fails to enter; another attack
quickly places himself under the bas-
ket, catches the ball as it descends and
pushes or losses it upward into the
basket. If it does not enter the basket,
as is frequently tLe case, he may be
able to toss it again before the defense
can prevent him. For this reason the
tallest attack should play under the
basket. Some attacks are tall enough
to be able almost to place he ball in
the basket. On some teams one of the
attacks never attempts to throw goals,
but puts in his time getting the bah
and then passing to the other attack
for a throw.
The players must wo-.1 together;
team work counts more than individual
play. A player should never think of
himself in the game The ball should
be passed well; good passing goes
great way in confusing the defense
men. OF course, when the playing time
has almost expired the player should
not waste time passing the ball, but
should throw from any position. If the
three attacks are. unable to score, but
are able to pass the ball, and so keep
it at their end, they should do so by
all means. Remembering that so long
as they retain the ball at their end it is
impossible for the attacks of the other
team to score. This method is an ex-
cellent one to adopt when your own
team is well ahead and your defense
is in need of a breathing spell. While
the ball is at the other end the attacks
should change their positions frequent
ly in the endeavOr to deceive their Op
pOnents. If a player gets the ball and
his opponent is at some distance from
him it is comparatively easy to throw
a goal, so the player should do all he
can to work this deception.
A free throw is obtained when the
other side makes a foul which is no
ticed by the umpire. Now that the
distance of the free throw has been
reduced from twenty to fifteen feet,
the attacks. with practice, should have
this part of the game down almost to a
certainty. If five fouls are called and
scored. When this is done players will
have to be more careful with regard to
a strict adherence to the rules as a
for his team by so doing. When a free
throw is taken and the ball fails to