The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-21
THE STYLES Of PLAY
USED BY THE
COACHES
Of Basket Ball Teams Vary
Greatly-Defensive Team
is Best.

which use the aggressive method; that
of following the ball all over the floor
and shooting for baskets from any po-
sition by either forwards, center or
guards. They argue that this is SO at
the beginning of the season, and many
think it will hold good throughout the
year.
Coaches declare that the average
basket ball fan could not tell after
watching a game what style of play
the teams had been coached in, except
in a dazed way. 1t is said that de-
fensive teams strong in this style of
play are scored upon seldom, and when
opportunity arises their favorite for
wards send over goal after goal. which,
in the tired condition of the players,
appears easy and often gives specta-
tors the idea that the losing team has
been outclassed.
E. B. Robey, coach of the George
Washington university team, and con-
sidered one OF the best centers in the
south, says of the two styles of play:
I'm coaching the men in defensive
play, the start is made with the pri-
mary idea that each man must keep
between his opponent and that players
basket The guards must not come up
to their own goal except on signal
when the ball is tossed up in the cen
ter of the floor, or when it is outside
of playing space. When the latter oc-
currence takes place team knows
which guard is to come up to receive
the ball. and the forwards and center
help in clearing spot for him to shoot
from This is easily done in the vicinI-
ty Of ones own basket, for a forward
or center is followed by the opposing
player, and all he must do is to move
away: and his man will follow. It is
in the opponents interest to do So.
This, however. leaves the guard almost
a free throw.
Good Guard Needed.
When guard of the opposing team
seeks laurels by dashing down the floor
for basket, one of the forwards is as
signed to cover him. On some teams
the forward pitted against the particu-
lar guard is employed in this role,
while an agreement as to the man who
shall act in this capacity is made by
other coaches before the start of the
game. The man who would make the
best guard usually takes the ambitious
guard of the opposing team.
"On a defensive team the center's
position Is the hardest to play, for he
must play extensively under his own
basket, and defensively under the op-
ponent's. A defensive team uses long
passes as rule to the forwards un-
der their own basket, while the ag-
gressive squad aims to bunch all its
men under their goal, when the ball is
in that vicinity, and shoot it away.
The leather is brought to position by
short passes and making a man jump
into the air after the ball. This is nee,
essary because of the closeness of the
men on the opposing team.
"The coach who uses the aggressive
style would have his men chase the
ball all over the floor, keeping with it
every minute. and when by series Of
short passes It reaches the desired goal
there are, as rule, five men of the
same team to shoot for basket. When
this takes place it is generally five men
against three or four, and the advan-
tage Is in favor of the team punched
about the basket.
Aggressors Tire Rapidly.
"A team which uses the aggressive
style Of play must be extremely clever
fast and have plenty of wind before
being able to succeed at this game.
believe the defensive play evens up the
work between the forwards and guards,
for the guard may stay under his own
basket and be compelled to work only
when the ball is tossed in his direc-
ton, while the forwards exert them
selves to the greatest extent when
chasing their guards down the field.
I'm the aggressive style of play the
guards must work themselves to a fraz-
zle, for 1t is their duty, along with the
center, to chase the ball ain over the
floor. and then come up and throw
blankets. AS result they grow thin,
while the forwards get fat and healthy,
but on defensive team every one is in
the same sort of condition"
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