Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-02-17
BY JAMES NAISMITH.

BY JAMES NAISMlTH.
Nowhere in the world Of sport has
the theorist taken the bump the
bumps with such unerring accuracy
In hitting every hillock as in the bas-
ket ball field. The game is no place
for the coach, captain or player who Is
not practical and theories which sue
coed, l find, are only those which are
the outgrowths of incidents in actual
competition. Active imagination In
evolving a play or maneuver which
fits certain condition during con-
test is reaching a high basket bail
plane, but the line is drawn when
the coach plans schemes which can
not win when given practical demon
stration.
For instance, l read of case In q
Chicago publication which turned out
as grand argument for the practical
and a blow at the theorist. The ar.
ticle told of q Chicago basket ball
coach who figured that he could get
his men in condition for the hard sea-
son by running them a mile or so be-
fore each practice. l took pains to in
Quire Of Chicago friend Of mine how
the plan worked out Well, it seems
the men became superb milers but
uselessly slow basket ball men. The
coach saw they were becoming slower
and he lay awake nights revolving
more theories in his mind for speed
ing them up. He allowed few prac.
tice evenings to slip by without the
Marathon event and was pleased to
notice that each evening the scrubs
we're trimmed by larger score.
In the first place the "wind' &C.
CURED by hong distance running Is not
basket hall wind" tor the reason
that other muscles than those used in
the lengthy grind are brought into
play In hard competition on the floor.
This coach is NO longer 4 theorist.
This season he IL turning out a likely
lot OF players and his plan is hard
scrimmaging three nights each week.
take this stand against the theo-
rist policy at this point in order that
my readers may understand that these
plays which am presenting are sue
cessful only when backed up by hard,
conscientious work. Teamwork Is at
q premium and these formations teach
teamwork. No squad can win great
er part of its schedule without play
ing together as machine. Therefore
there must be set purpose In view
when each contest for points opens
and the plays must be down pat" In
the minds of every member Of the
quintet.
In this article I am presenting an
other pair of guard plays, in which
both left and right occupants Of that
position may take part. The forma-
ton in the diagram to the left Is
known as left guard to left forward
in right forwards position" As the
referee losses the ball up. between
the centers the left guard mo.
~ takes a position to the left Of the
center, Just az did the forward In 9th
or plays, while the left forward mo.
u crosses the floor to the right, re-
ceiving the sphere diagonally across
the floor in the station which a mo-
ment before was the realm Of the
right forward (No. y. From that
point the left forward tries for q goal.
Then comes the covering Of posi-
lions after the ball 10 passed: Prt-
marily the left guard drops back to
take care Of his individual opponent,
the right forward of the opposing
SQUAD, while the center Of the team
represented as aggressor holds forth
In front of the basket, the left forward
stands fast in right forwards position
and the right forward (No. p crosses
the floor to the vacated position Of
the left forward. This covers every
point of 4 possible carom Of the ball,
II the left forward missed in his ef-
fort to cage the leather sphere.
In the diagram to the right the
combination is demonstrated with q
setting on the opposite side Of the
floor. The right guard mo. 81 re-
ceives the ball from the center and
shoots it diagonally across the playing
area to the right forward mo. ~ who