The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-24

began TO develop i'm 1897, when the
number OF men was cut 10 five, ard
some idea of team work began To take
hold OF the players IN 1900, the pro
fessiOnal coach made his appearance,
bringing with him signals and team
play, and the game began 20 shape it
self into a scientific contest, In place
of a mere tumble OF players. The men
were assigned to regular positions and
had their regular duties 10 perform.
passing was made in some order.
and goal shooting was developed to 81
high degree. Then the rules of the
game were put into a more definite
form, and the present form OF the
game gradually began to shape itself.
The middle west, although much later
in taking mp the game. has developed
it TO a much higher degree than ia
the east, and the contests played here
are much freer from roughness and
hard playing and much fuller OF nice
passing and good team work than the
ones in the east. either in the colleges
or in the Y: NJ. c. A.
The colleges Of the east practically
have broken away from the rulings OF
the Amateur Athletic union on basket
ball, and have allowed the players "a
more liberal reading of the rules. leav-
ing the game only a small degree less
strenuous than football, while the pro-
] fessionaI games played in Philadelphia.
all Of which are contested inside a
netting, with only enc Official. are
rough enough To satisfy even the most
ardent football followers. But at that
we have found il possible. when play
ing in the east. To more than best their
rough tactics by keeping out OF their
way and playns the western game
The game has the advantage Of al
most all other sports for the winter
! in that it does not need a large area OF
| floor space, and almost any hail o.
medium size can be changed into an
/ excellent floor for the game, and while
| the interference game is fast and hard
| enough 10 afford good exercise for the
! best OF athletes. the uon-interference
game can be played by girls without
| danger OF injury.
| The prime requisites for a good has
| ket ball player are speed, ability o.
/ keen his feet, duickness Of thinkiug
and, above all, a sound heart and good
pair OF lungs. The game offers no
! great drawing powers for q man who
| is awkward in the least or liable Ia
| lose his temper, as one must be ali
| over tho floor and ready TO take the
! ball at all times. with the situation
| thought out as how best he can set rid
of il.
THE forwards are the ones on which
/ the greater part OF the scoring Tespon-
| sibility lies. and they must be fast OF
/ their feet. quick and accurate think
| ers. with plenty of practice 10 develop
| team work They must be practiced
! in catching or throwing the ball with
] either hand. and must be ready TO
4 stand for some hard accidental knocks
/ without losing their tempers.
/ IL possible. the center should be tall,
/ and must be able 10 jump well so he
may get the start on his opponent at
| the toss up, but his duties do not end
! here as ne must be ready TO aid the
| forwards in passing the ball, and ia
| raFer occasions must be able TO make
| good on try at the basket.
| The backs, or guards, as they are
! more commonly known, are the posi-
/ tions which are least chosen by the
! basket bah aspirants, as they they give
! little or no chance at fancy work Or
| at scoring baskets. / played the pO-
! sitiou for several years on q champion
| ship team, and in that time ! did not
/ score a point. The position, however
] is no less important than any Of the
! others, and a good guard saves many
/ points for his team. often the cause or
/ q victory. He should understand thor
| oughly the best manner in which 10
block an opposing forward, and the
| art Of making the lOng, quick, over
hand passes to his forwards, whose po-
] sitions he should always keep in mind