Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-30
STYLES Of play
IN BASKETBALL
Expert Says Defensive Teams
Nearly Always Excel
HOW TWO SYSTEMS CONTRAST

~ Often hard FOR Spectators and
oMeisis 60 Recognise ceseh's Method
Of Play-Peintsrs to Players OF In.
door Game. f
Styles Of play used by basketball
coaches i'm tutoring their proteges in
the rudlments OF the winter game vary
to a large extent. but several experts
insist that teams coached IN defensive
play are, as "A rule. superior Ia fives
which use the aggressive method that
OF following the ball all over the floor
and shooting for baskets from any
position by either forwards. center or
guards. They argue that this is so at
the beginning of the season. and many
think II will hold good throughout the
year.
Coaches declare that the average
basketball fQn could not tell after
watching game what style OF play
the teams had been coached in. ex-
cept in dazed way. II is said that
defensive teams strong in this style
or play arc scored upon seldom and
when opportunity arises their for.
wards send over goal fter goal. VIII al,
In the tired condition OF the players
appears easy and often gives specta
tors the idea that the losing tears has
been outclassed. nF
Il. B. Robey, coach OF the George
Washington university team, and con-
sidered one OF the best centers In the
south, talked recently on the two styles
Of play.
I'm coaching the men. in defonsive
play the start Is made with the pri-
mary idea that each man must keep
between his opponent and that play
ers basket. The guards must moi, come
up to their own goal except on signal
when the ball Is tossed uIflin tips GEN
ter of the floor or when it4s otfts,ide of
playing space. When the latter oc-
currence takes place a team knows
which guard Is TO come pup TO receive
the ball. and the forwards and Gen
ter help I'm clearing a SPOT for tiim&to
shoot from. This Is easily done in the
vicinity OF ones own basket. for n for
ward or center is followed by the op.
posing player. and all he must do is to
move away. and his man will follow.
Ii is in the opponents iptcrestto do
so. This. however leaves the guard
almost free throw
Good Guard Needed, .,.. =
when q Guard OF The opposing
team seeks lourels by dasihn GOODWIN
the floor for II basket one of the for.
wards Is assigned 10 cover him, On
some teams The forward piucl against
the particular guard Is clnplOyed in
this role. while an agreemeilf as To the
man who shall act I'm this capacity Is
made by other cnpches before The start
OF The game. rho INN who. fwuuId
make the hest Y'inrd nR,lallv takes iIp
ambitious g'url of tie opposing team
"On u defensive team Tic scnidi"s
position ~ y" hardest 10 ,flky ferthe
must plny uRrus,"ely NICER his cwn
basket and dcfrnslvrlc ,''tler the o.
ponent's. \ defensive tsail ustAj lung
passes ne i1I,' IN The forwards IN.
der their own hngbct while m" Nd.
gressivc squad on's H. b,,iJriJJ mI it's
men under their G2al '.'iop.tho, IsFli
is In that vicinity az" s'lo"t II away
The leather Is brought ip.R uqgltinu
by snort pussrs and mDI,jne mgu
jump in;u the mir attn thd rtlf. fhis
Is necessary because Gf the d'nseness
Of the men on The opposing tenn.
The coach who uses the aggressive
style woulG have his men Chase Fthc
ball all over the fonr. keeping with II
every minute. aud when by series
OF short passes II reuchps tho desirwg
goal there arc. ~ rulc. 1--WE men Of
the same tennl 60 shoot for - basket
When this taAes place Il is generally
FIVE men against thrph o. four ana
the advantage is IN favor ~ The iedtn
punched about thc basket rr
Aggressors Tire Rapidly.
"A team which uses the aggressive
style OF play must be extremely clev.
er fast and have plenty Of wind be
fore being able 10 succeed ut this
game believe tho defensive play
evens W. tie work between the for.
wards aud guards. for the guard may
stay under his own basket and lie
compelled 10 work only when the .iclt
is tossed In his direction. while tho
forwards exert themselves to ~
greatest extent when chasing their
guards down The field.
"In the aggressive style of play fbc
guards must work themselves tu o
frazzle. for il * their duty. along wifi
the center. 90 chase the ball an oyc~
the floor and then come up and throw
baskets. As result they grow thin.
xUhfIo fhn f,rtyord ,,.t fot srg