Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-24
INDOOR PASTlMES IN FAVOR
Athletes Are Driven Into Gymnaaiums by
Advent Of Cold Weather.
HOMEMADE SPORT BECOMES POPULAR
Hoop BnII, Product OF Local Talent,
Spreads Through the Country
Interest Grows in the
Whist Contest.

Basket ball and hoop ball, the latter the
same game in a more advanced stage, are
the recognized winter substitute for foot
ball and are coming to have a considerable
patronage OF their own at other seasons.
Both games bring into play every muscle
Of the body and are favored by gymnasium
Instructors for the all-around training they
lmpart. The simplicity Of the rules and
apparatus allow Of their being played in any
large room or gymnasium with small eX-
pense or trouble.
Hoop ball is entirely a production Of local
talent, having been conceived two years ago
by William H.. Hastings, physical director
Of the University of Nebraska. 1t has
grown more popular with each season until
it has spread through the east and has
been adopted by colleges, Young Mems
Christian associations and athletic clubs in
various parts Of the country.
The first regular game in Lincoln was
played on Charter day, 1897, and since that
time the sport has been a permanent feature
of the university gymnasium. This season
a series of twelve games was played by
the different sections of the physical train
ing classes at the university resulting in
a victory for the team composed Of the fol
lowing players: Wells, Hall Babson,
Bowman, Rvon, Burr and Anchor.
Details of the New Game.
The positions in the game are the first and
second centers, first and second forwards,
first and second guards and first
substitute. The game is, in many
respects, similar to basket ball, but
the %roughness and contention arts
ing in that game when the ball passes
out Of bounds has been eliminated, the
players being restricted to certain terri
II RI 49, a-A ,,,~Nn
definite and, altogether, hoop ball is the
well developed game of which basket ball
is an amateur stage. There are five hoops
on either side of the gymnasium, at an ele-
walton of ten feet, each supporting a sack.
IT is the design of the contesting players
to toss the ball into each {. the opponents
hoops, it being obligatory to fill the sacks
consecutively.
Hoop ball has not yet been experimental
with to any extent in this city, basket ball
being found a sufficiently absorbing pas
time. There are nearly 100 men who play
the game at the Young Mems Christian as
ISOLATION gymnasium. The class teams meet
daily and the enthusiasm shows no signs
of tagging, as the sport as an exercise has
all the merits OF chest weights, clubs oil
dumbbells without the deadly dullness o.
those methods of development.
There are twenty candidates in the class
sections who are training for the cham
pionship team which will meet some out,
side aggregation on New Years night. As
a team is made up of only five player:
there is prospect that the ultimate aggre'
cation will contain scme excellent material
Negotiations have been carried on with TIL
Kansas university, University of Nebrask;
md Stony City Young Mems Christian aS
ISOLATION teams for the championship con
test, and it is expected that one OF thost
or some equally good team will be here.
The gymnasium Of the Young Mems Chris
tian association is frequented this winter b,
a larger number of young athletes thai
ever before. The regularly attended classe
are made up as follows: Business men, ele
mentary juniors, intermediate juniors, work
ing boys, professional men, leaders, athlete
and basket ball players. The record of at
tendance for November during the las
three years, showing the increase durinj
that time, is as follows:
November, 1897, siXty-fve classes; tota
attendance, 953.
November, 1898. eighty-nine classes; tota
attendance, l,215.
November. 1899, 100 classes; total attend
ance, PAS.
The contest on New Years night is terme
a "pentathlon,' made up of n series of fv
events. To win the prize the contestan
must secure the highest average on all G
the tests, proving himself worthy of frs
place as an all-'round athlete. The event
have been chosen with a view of combin
Ing excellence in different directions and ar
as follows: SiXty-yard potato race, fenc
vault, putting twelve-pound shot, hitc
kick and high kick. The victor will be pre-
sented with q handsome silver cup. the eli