The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-02-17
GENERAL OUTLINE
OF INDOOR GAME
OF BASKET BALL
INTERESTING OBSERVATION ON
SOME FINER POINTS ARE
MADE.
Endurance and Speed Are Two Essen
tiaIs of Individual PIayer-Position
of the Players and Some of Terms
Are Defined by Expert.

| (By CAPT. ROBT. BRUCE MGEnEE)
This article will deal with the gen.
eral outline of the game together
with some insight into the workings,
| We shall mention the very elemental
ny things, so that nothing will be emit
ted, however small it may appear.
The regular basket ball court COM
prises 1000 square feet The court
| is supposed to be enclosed with net
ting, 30 that the game will not have
to be stopped on account of the inter-
ference Of spectators. The best
courts have the spectators above the
court 80 that the entire floor Is util-
ICED fro playing. On the regular court
where the spectators are above the
, floor the game is rendered very much
faster, and the only stops are those
called for fouls and after goal has
been pitched
Five men are used to play the
game The center takes his place
in the center of the court. In front of
him and in the right corner of the
court the right forward plays, while
the left forward Is stationed in the
left corner of the court. The two
guards play in the two corners of the
court behind the center The object
of this arrangement Is for the center
to have two men to slap the ball to,
one of which is expected to throw 1t
into the basket. To keep the for
wards from putting the ball in the
basket, the two guards on the oppos-
ing team follow them closely all ever
the floor. A great deal depends upon
the center who must be able to out
jump his opponent and thus enable
his man to get the ball. The center
has to be all over the floor, not only
keeping the other center from throw
Ing goals, but at the same time he
must be able to get goals himself. The
forwards should be fast men of plenty
of endurance. They must be always
on the go trying to elude their guards.
The guards must follow their own
man so that he is never far from him
at any time. A seconds delay in fol-
lowing a forward may give the for
ward time to shoot the goal.
The game is run by signals as in
baseball. Every one Of the five men
on the team dart into certain posi-
lions as the ball is thrown up in the
center. The center who is able to
jump the highest is able to work
his signals. The center who is handi-
capped by not being able to jump
must rely entirely upon his team
mates to rush in and break up the
center's schemes.
Endurance and speed are the two
essentials of the individual player.
Team work is the one requisite for a
team The player who starts
out for an individual record has no
place on any team, for his selfishness
will mar the whole team. When one
cog fails to work with the others |
the machine is worthless. Many |
young players begin with the idea |
that unless they are putting the ball
into the basket they are not playing
the game, when the truth is that this
Is the smallest part of the game.
Those players who have had the grit [
and endurance to get the ball within
striking distance of the goal are to
be praised more than the one who hap
pens to be under the basket and thus
Is enabled to get the basket. Ransom,
'or example, IL never seen trying to
make a grand stand stab at the bas-
set from a difficult position, but no .
nan ever kept following the ball more
han he, and many Of the points gain
ID were due to his rushing rather
han to the one who got the cheers
or putting the ball into the basket.
speed upon the floor, accurate lass
ng and handling of the ball while on
he run, and quick short throws at
he basket, are the essentials of a
rood team. Some teams are weak In
working the ball down the court with
n striking distance Of the goal, while
,thers are weak in taking advantage
II the opportunity to throw goal az
er they have superbly worked the
,all within striking distance of the
,oal Inability to rush the ball to
he baskets and the inability to throw !
basket when it has been rushed to
his point-either enc will mar
cam.
A ball thrown into a basket is call
ID goal from the field and scores
wo nointa free throw at tho has /