The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-23
HOW The GAME OF BASKET
BALL SHOULD BE PLAYED
acts OF Interest Concerning Great
sport Which Was Born Of Necessity
Requires Speed, Skill, Agrees
'veness, Endurance and Team Work
to Win.


basketball is unique in that It Is a
product of necessity, having been in
venten about 20 years ago In Young
Mems Christian association training
school, Springfield. Mass TO SUNNY
definite need for competitive indoor
winter work. The game requires
sreed' skin, aggressiveness, endur-
a1ce and team work.
The picking of team depends up
on the available material. Every
team needs good center. who should
be rangy and a good Jumper. for mn
on him more than any other PLAYER.
depends the success of the game. The
plays are built around the leaning
ability OF the center. II he Is a cool
jumper he can direct the ball TO any
member Of his team on the iump off
An essential factor i'm the develop
ment of team play by signal. This Is
an advantage, because Il puts the OBJ
position on the defensive.
ON the center falls the brunt of
chasing the ball: now helping out
tha forwards and now the guards.
This necessitates of the ideal center
accurate throwing and good guard
as well as jumping ability
These qualities are seldom found in
one man, so plans are made To over
come the weakness. If the center is
good jumper and good guard, but
not aggressive i'm following the bail,
he changes position Immediately after
the jump off with guard who pos
sesses running and goal throwing abil-
tiles. or. If he is Il good goal thrower,
the center may change with one of the
forwards, who oxcels him i'm running
the floor. The change must be made
smoothly ard quickly, so as not 10
leave men unguarded. Practice will
develop this shift, which may be used
to trick the opposition.
Forwards must be quick starters
and fast on their feet, so as to escape
from their guards and get the bail
on the jump off. When the center. IN
response to signal. bats the ball in
a certain direction, a forward must
be there To get the sphere and he
must be able to pass accurately from
any position necessary to assume. 20
escape his guard. At least one for
ward must be an accurate basket
thrower. The other If the center can
throw baskets, may be used as n
feeder" or, i'm other words, take the
place i'm running the floor,
thus keeping the goal throwers sup
piled with the ball. In general, the
best basket throwers should be chosen
as forwards. They must be fast, as
speed. and the endurance to maintain
L for 40 minutes without stop, is
what wins games.
Guards should be rangy and good
Jumpers. This makes them valuable
m intercepting passes. Height Is d L.
sirable. providing it does not inter
'ere with speed. because the forward
mas harder time breaking away from
, tall guard for try at goal. 1t is diff
icult to make a successful pass over
, tall guards head. OF all men on
cam. a guard must not tumble the
)all. for il he is weak in this depart
nent his errors may lose games. He |
$ in the opponents territory most Of
he time. and fumbles mean chances |
or baskets by the other fellows. A
'ast guard is desirable for his ability |
% break up plays by quick rushing |
md intercepting passes But a SLOW, |
guard, who uses his thinker |
)ften shows up well. ! think a COM
of a fast guard to break up
plays and one who stays back ana |
works defensively most of the time |
s ideal.
In choosing men their ability for !
cam work must be considered. Often |
/ star Is found who cannot master
cam play. His idea is to get baskets
III of the time and to have the other |
supply him with the ball. This type |
must be avoided unless he can be |
aught to act i'm concert with the |
,thers. For whenever the star is off |
IN his goal throwing the team will |
De i'm the air. Another good quality |
hat must not be overlooked is ag-
;ressiveness. A player must not fear