Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-21

PROF. GEO. e.. ALLISON.
Director of Athletics, Y. VI. &. \.


nth, practice until YOU can pass from
any position. Fast. accurate passing
wins many game. and is the key to
successful teamwork
II is AN agreed ana understood fact
since basketball has boon invented az
q game that the overland loop shot"
is IN" proper ana most accurate way
IN shooting a goal. The easiest way
To shoot tn. BASKETBALL at the basket
is By tn" und.rhand toss Il method in
experienced players US. when they first
handi" tn" ball. but it * not the most
scientific method. The great difficulty
with IN. undcrhand toss * the fact
That it can be easily blocked.
:, good guard. by guarding close.
VIII prevent this shot being effective
with III" overland loop shot. where the
guard has difficulty in rca ching IN.
ball, his chances in blocking tn. shot
are NOR" difficult. In emphasizing the
us" OF the overland loop shot. let m.
state this to beginners and others who
nave begun to use tn. Undcrhand toss:
the average coach viii give much more
attention TO the player who is able TO
use the overland loop shot than To
tn" player using the und.rhand toss
the question perhaps by this time
arises m your mind as the best manner
TO learn the overland loop shot" In
II
upward and forward close to the face
of the thrower. The bali does not
leave the hands until somewhere in
the region of the face or above il. In
this manner the ball describes loop
az ii passes through the air and thus
enters tn" basket DO not twist the
ball in shooting or put english" on
IL. Do not attempt long shots in learn
ing this style OF shooting. Loop the
ball high for Il period until you begin
to get used TO handling this shot and
then work for accuracy.
During games. use the overland loop
shot for all long distances. and do not
try TO bank the ball of of blackboard.
Rim your shots and you viii find that
though YOU will ovcrshoot at times. the
board will only be Of help on a long
shot by accident. Bank your shots off
the blackboard only when YOU are close
up TO the basket. and in position that
you haze Il proper angle to shoot off
OF board INTO basket Hurry your shots
only when YOU are in difficult posi-
ton and with no opportunity to pass 20
another player. Try I" use your gray
matter quickly in these situations in
order To do the best thing possible. re-
gardlcss Of the style Of shot.
Passing on quickly to the proper
methods Of playing the forward posi-
tion on a ba skethall team. the writer
will in q few words cndcavor to state
some characteristics about this posi-
ton. Agility and alertncss are TWO Of
tho fundamental principal characters
istics Of a forward. place these
characteristics even before that Of
basket throwing. for believe tho
ability to shoot goals can he cultivated.
but tho ability To move around quickly
and perceive accurately are largely
native gifts. These qua litics ar. very
noticeable when ii becomes necessary
for Il forward TO lose his guard
some time in years back il was
| thought that height and weight were
/ the main requisites for forward. hut
during the last ten years many small
speedy mel. have been playing the for
ward position. All men and boys as
DirinE 10 become good forwards must
possess som" ability to shoot goals.
othcrwis" they would he utterly useless
in this capacity. Nowhere on team
can man do more to break up team
work than in III. forward position by
grand-stand playing. He should not
think that he is the only man on the
team or that he alone can score If
another man is free and closer TO the
basket than he is. he must be willinr
to sacrifice his own chances of scoring
| and pass the ball to his tcammatci
Ability TO dodge an opponent is an
other of the main requisites of n for
ward. and one which should be watched
for by the player in learning the game.
Besides the above. forward mus, he
abb" to guard we'll. He will. In tim.
no doubt, run,up against a guard who
can both shoot and guard. and for
ward must be prepared to break up Of
fensivc work when tho guard attempts
II. a forward ais" must become ac-
cuStomcd to being closely guarded. that
he can hold his temper under n II condi-
lions. and he able to shoot goals frOns
any position in which he happens to
receive the ball. He must be able to
| locate the basket almost unconsciously
| from any point lie must handle the
ball in clean manner. and not tumble
at critical moments. II" must be able
! to go down the floor. If need be- and
! start combination
| In fact, he must be on the alert all
! the time. and the boy or man who goes
| to sleep and simply allows his man to
! guard him had better not try for n for
! ward position. Practice makes per-
! feet, and every boy or man who reads
| this article and who desires to cxccll
as forward on a bnsk ctbnll team
! should work Lard. get training under
good coach IL possible. and watch
closely the men who have regulations
as all-around basketball players.
|