Evening journal., 1906-11-28
ALL ABOUT THE GREAT WINTER
GAME, POLO ON SKATES
Sport is Very Exciting ant
Promises so Become Pop
ular in Wilmington
EdIted by Harold Harvey.

portant rules are given and it's to be
hoped they will prove very interesting
as well as instructive.
Rules of the Game.
Feeling that polo on skates viii be
very popular in Wilmington this winter
and knowing that very few people he e
are up on the sport the following ar,ic e
on the game and the most important rules
are given and it's to be hope they viii
prove very interesting as well as IN
structive.
How the Game is Played.
Roller polo can be played in any build
ing that has an mobstructed floor sur
face. The playing surface should not be
less than 40 by 80, but in cities where it
has been difficult to obtain as large a
playing field the surface has been as
small as Go by 3S. THIS makes the sport
not only extremely exciting but very dam
gerous as the players are so close to one
another that they have all they can do to
keep out Of the way of swiftly-driven
balls
Few have any idea Of the excitement
engendered In a game Of roller polo Even
the hottest of baseball cranks aver that
baseball games are tame in comparison
with polo, as far as excitement and inter-
est are concerned. There is not dun mo-
ment in roller polo, which explains large
ly its popularity. Like football it is
game Of contiguity. 1t requires skill Of the
highest order, and affords abundant op-
portunities for scientific play as well as
team work. 1t requires push, pluck. per-
severance and, above all. endurance.
Two rushers the centre, the half-back
and the goal-tend constitute the players
on eac Inside. The rushers must be swift
skaters, adopts in juggling and passing,
as well as accurate shots for goal. They
must cultivate the knack Of hitting the
ball for cage when It is shot to them at its
swiftest The centre must support the
rushers. 1t is his duty TO either hit for
cage or to pass the ball to the most avail
able rushers when it is sent to him. The
half back is a most difficult position This
play should be a sturdy, stocky fellow
who can block his man we'll He must be
able to pass the ball quickly. and with
good judgment and accuracy. To him falls
the task Of stopping as many balls as pos
sibie as are directed for the goal, and pro
tecting that place as far as he can. The
goal-tend must be a cool, active player.
He should leave his cage as seldom as
possible, never quitting it, except in case
Of the greatest emergency. when the ball
is in his territory he should give the ut
most assistance to his rushers. as he can
be Of great assistance to them in locating
the ball and advising them Of any danger
from the opposing players.
Every club should carry spare player.
preferably rusher, who can 90 into the
game in case Of accident
With few exceptions, polo is the same
to-day as 1t was when first played and
the rules governing the game changed
but little The change which is perhaps
greatest Of all is found in the equipment
Of the players, particularly in the foot
wear Of the defense, namely, the centre
halfback and goaltend
Originally all playing was done on the
rolls of the skates, whereas the flop shoes
OF to-day are so arranged as to allow
these players to instantly tip the skate
10 one side and stand firmly, allowing him
to very effectively block the oncoming
opponent when called upon to do so.
Such sturdy blocking Of a player going at
top speed gives to the game an aspect
Of roughness which to many patrons is
not desired. This fact was made evi-
dent during the last season West, after
teams Of the Western league, so-called,
were admitted to the Central League.
In the Western League me style of play
had been to block the man effectively.
regardless often of the ball. while teams
IN the Central League had been playing
for the BAH rather than for the man.
The man-blocking plays Of the ex-
Western League teams accordingly never
Aecame popular in the entral League CT
es. Some rushers are unable TO stand
throughout a season the hard persistent
blocking Of the opposing defense. and the
closing weeks Of a season finds them not
at their best. The goal tenders are now
compelled to wear mask defending the
face against accidents which, Judged bv
player or patron, was a detriment TO
the sport
Playing Rules.
/. Each team shall consist Of five play
ers. to be designated as follows: One
goaltend, one halfback, one centre. two
rushers.
3. The sticks shall not exceed four feet
in length, one inch and one-eighth in
diameter, or fifteen ounces in weight
The crook Of the stick may be covered
with leather but no metallic substance
will be allowed near that end OF the
stick
l. All games shall be played upon cir
cular running skates, in good order. with
out any extra appliances: the rolls to be
standard size. of paper fibre.
In case a skate is broken and a PLAYER
thereby is obliged to leave the surface.
his place must be taken by a substitute
in uniform. but the player retiring can
not resume his position until a goal IS
made or the time limit expired unless in
the meantime there has been necessitated
the retirement Of another player. when
he shall be permitted 10 re-enter the
game.
Should the ball become out of shane.
cut or ripped, so as to expose the yarn.
or in any way 50 injured as to be. in the
opinion Of the referee. unfit for use. the
referee, on being appealed to by either
captain, shall at once put the alternate
ball into use and call for a new one.
In case skate is broken. and a PLAYER
thereby is obliged to leave the surface.
his place must be taken by a substi
tute In uniform, but the player retiring
cannot resume his position until a goal
has been made OF the time limit expired.
g. The coal shall ho ttroo Co.. 49,. - =,