Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-18
By Paul j. Davis.

Ability to handle a basketball is the
only difference between a good player
. and a poor one A player may have
every other qualification, but If he
cannot handle the ball easily and
properly he can never be a real star.
A forward must be a good shot. a
good guard, have a good eye, a good
ness and a willingness to take punish
ment and still fight clean. Ability to
keep uncovered results from the
above characteristics. All of his
shots should be executed as quickly
as possible and every shot followed
up. Whom following up a shot it Is
hest to bat the ball into the basket.
and not allow it to come to rest in
the hands, because a guard will be
able to stop the shot. -
A good forward must be able to
shoot from any position. The MOI
quickly a player a shoot after res
ceiving the ball, the more baskets he
will make. Practice shooting quickly
at all times and also practice shooting
unusual shots, shooting with one
hand and then the other, shots back
over the head and hook shots. I'm
usual and unexpected shots will gen
orally upset an opponent. However,
tries for unusual shots when IN
called for are a detriment and often
spoil chances OF winning. In other
words, do not go SO far as TO leave the
impression OF Notwithstanding" but
,ticed the easier it will be to make the
\ common mes. ).
Must Keep in Motion:
"A forward must be continually in
motion, taking the shortcuts with a
pivot or reverse, thereby sending his
guard the wrong way. Speed alone
means nothing, if the player does not
know the art of quick stopping, res
versing, etc. A poor guard can take
care Of any forward no matter how
much speed he has If the forward
runs straight away. Basketball is a
game Of quick starts. quick stops, re-
verses Inc turns-a game Of angles
If you please. =.
A forward must be free when his
team has the ball and must cover VI
the minute possession is lost. The
fewer basket Hazards a team ha.
the better it is of. The game was
never invented for loafers.
When plays are used the forward
has varied duties to perform but II
case Of a straight offensive g~enerall,
plays the sideline where he ha!
fmuch freedom and is away from TIL,
~offense. The whole floor must b,
they must work together II they ar,
successful. A forward seems to b.
the logical man to give the signal
and direct The play as he Ia facing
tho whole team at all times. TIL
most natural movements of the bod,
are the best signals. a
Take paJl O,,t ~ pourds
"A forward, since he plays the floor
is tho most logical man to. put tn
ball in play from Of bounds. /
man out Of bounds, putting the bal
In play should be covered Is soon a
he steps on the playing court, as h
will generally receive the ball agai:
the second he enters the court. 10,
the defense the forwards should be o
the outside of the group, one leadin
, on a trife to be in a position to sto
!, long shots and to be in. a position t
start the offensive Is soon as a;guar
or the center RECEIVERS the ball.
, The push shot Is preferable to tn
long free-arm shot. The FRI
named Is harder to guard and :
quicker and can be used the mos
often. Guards can use the free arr
shot because they have more tim
and must shoot from q greater dis
lance than forwards.
Pass the Ball.
, To pass to a teammate who has
! better chance to score from q close
shot is q cardinal virtue to be II
!, ers.
: The short, Anappy passing game
the hest. However, never put a
your eggs in one basket. Mix tn
short passes with a few long one
This applies also to short shots.
there is a man on the team who
good at long shots. it will help ma,
ters II he drops,one in when the or
portunity presents itself.
!. Don't put too much faith in TIL
J dribbles Poor and untimely dribbltn
3 passing team Don't try to NAL
guards head. TIA short pass came
be. made to q teAmmate, bounce tt
ball to him, but every pass. short Z
long. or q bounce, must have snap.
j Need Not BE F1sshy.
!. The work, OF q good forward nee
mot be fiashy. In fact, the work
? some OF the best forwards In Il
. country would look disappointing
Z " Wer0 NOt A0T tne AdcI lNaI Int
! have q habit Of dropping the ba
Into the basket confidently. N,
doSS q good forward have to kee
running wildly and madly over Il
court. He works With q change =
|-Ipace.s goinf slowly and deliberately
Y times ind 1T other tiIneS bufstir
-Iaway sWtthSGpeed to strive IT. u
eIFight place at9 thS right time. spec
sdoes not mean rlpidSSdrs fioyenien
b,it rather stgategy that leads