Jessie Hubbell Bancroft

This game, originated under the direction of Mr. William A. Stecher, of Philadelphia, is probably the best game ever devised for introducing players to some of the intricacies of team work and advanced ball play.

The practice which it gives in throwing, catching, guarding, scoring, the observance of rules, and attention to fouls, makes it an admirable training for the more complicated games, and should be used as a preparation for them.

The Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City has officially adopted this game for this purpose in elementary schools, where its use precedes Captain Ball or other team games of similar type.

No competition for girls is allowed between public schools in New York City. All competition is confined to the clubs of a given school.

BALL.—The ball used in all match games shall be Spalding's Official Basket Ball.

THE GROUND.—The ground is not invariable in dimensions. A space measuring 30 x 30 feet is sufficient for the game, and the usual size, though a larger space may be used for a very large number of players. This space shall be outlined, and then divided across the center by a straight line from side to side. At either end a narrow goal strip, 3 feet wide, shall be made by drawing a second line parallel to the end line.

For all match games clubs should agree on the dimensions of the field, and all preliminary practice should be on the same sized field.

PLAYERS.—The players shall be divided into two equal teams. One third of the players of each team shall be basemen, and take their places within the goal at one end of the ground; the balance of the team shall be guards and stand in the large territory in front of the goal on the opposite side of the ground. No regular arrangement for the players is required, but they should scatter over the field so as not to leave unguarded spaces.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.—The object of the game is for the guards on one side to throw the ball over the heads of the guards on the opposite side to their own basemen, at the end of the opposite field. Each ball so caught by a baseman shall score one point for the side catching it. The baseman should at once throw the ball back over the heads of the intervening guards to his own guards for another throw.

The object of the intervening guards is to intercept the ball before it can reach the basemen at their rear, and to throw it in turn to their own basemen at the rear of the opposite court, over the heads of the intervening opponents.

START.—The game shall be started by a referee (usually the teacher) putting the ball in play in the center of the field. This is done by tossing it upward between two opposing guards, each of whom shall try to catch it. The one whose hands touch it first shall be the possessor of the ball. The guards shall step forward in rotation to try for the ball whenever it is put in play, so that each guard shall have an opportunity.

When a goal is made the ball shall remain in play.

SCORE.—The ball shall score one point for a team whenever caught by a baseman from a throw from his own guards or whenever a baseman gets possession of the ball by its rolling into his territory.

The ball continues in play when a point is scored. The game shall be played in two halves of 15 minutes each (for beginners the half may be 10 minutes, until endurance is acquired). There shall be a rest of from 3 to 5 minutes between halves. At the beginning of the second half the players shall change goals.

The team shall win which has the highest score at the end of the second half.

FOULS.—It shall be a foul for any player to step outside of his assigned territory, either over the side lines or into his opponent's court. A ball so caught shall not score, and the foul shall be punished by the ball being given to the nearest guard of the opposing team, who shall immediately put it in play by a throw to his own basemen or guards. This rule of overstepping territory shall apply to both guards and basemen and for one foot or both.

It shall be a foul to carry the ball; i.e., to take more than one step with it.

It shall be a foul to touch the ball while it is in the hands of another player.

It shall be a foul to hold or push another player.

A foul shall be punished by the loss of the ball, which shall be given to a guard of the opposing team for a free (unobstructed) throw.

ADDITIONAL RULES.—Should a ball roll or be thrown beyond the rear boundary line, the baseman nearest the ball shall leave his base to secure it, bring it within the line at the point where it passed out, and from there throw it to one of the guards of his team in the opposite court. A ball that goes over the side lines shall similarly be secured by the guard nearest where it left the field.

NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL

BALL.—The ball to be used in all match games shall be Spalding's Official Basket Ball.

GROUNDS.—The ground shall be divided by a neutral strip, 3 feet wide, in which the ball shall be put in play. To enter the neutral strip at other times shall constitute a foul.

On each side of the neutral strip a series of small bases shall be drawn, in number equal to one quarter of the entire number of players. These bases shall be in the form of a circle, 2 feet in diameter, or they may be square, measuring 2 feet.

The series of bases on each side shall outline the arc of a circle open to the center, with one base in the middle of each side for the captain. The bases in the outer circle shall be not closer than 6 feet to each other or to the neutral strip separating the fields, and not nearer than 10 feet to the captain's base.

PLAYERS.—Any even number up to forty may play the game. The players shall be divided into two equal teams; each team in turn shall be equally divided between basemen and guards, the captain being a baseman.

The basemen shall take their places in the bases on one side of the field, and the guards of the same team shall stand near the opponents' bases on the opposite side of the field.

The game shall be played in two halves, and for the second half the teams shall change sides, and the basemen and guards of each team shall exchange places, basemen becoming guards, and vice versa. For match games a club shall be represented by a picked team.

OFFICERS.—The game shall be in charge of a referee who shall call score and fouls and put the ball in play at the beginning of each half, and after each foul.

The referee may be assisted by an umpire and inspectors, if desired; but for other than match games this is not necessary.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.—The main object of the game is for the basemen of a team to pass the ball from one to another, each pass successfully made scoring for the team, as described under "Score."

The object of the guards is to intercept the passage of the ball and send it back to their own basemen for similar play.

RULES.—The game shall be played in two halves of 15 minutes each, with a 5-minute rest between, except at final meets, where halves may be shortened to 6 minutes, if desired.

Guards may move around freely on their own half of the ground, but each should be responsible for guarding one particular baseman. Guards may not step within bases.

Guards may not enter the neutral strip except when called there in rotation, as explained under "Start" to put the ball in play.

The play of the ball need not be in consecutive order from base to base, but may zigzag across the circle. It does not score when caught a second time by the same baseman during a given play, such a catch ending the possible score for that team for that round of the ball; and it cannot score after being caught by the captain, though his catch scores.

START.—The ball shall be put in play by the referee, who shall toss it up in the center of the neutral strip between two guards, one from each team, who shall try to secure it. To touch the ball shall not give the guard possession of it; it shall be held in both hands. In case of dispute, the referee shall again toss the ball.

Guards shall be called in regular succession to the neutral strip to put the ball in play. The two called shall be from similar positions on opposite sides of the field.

The ball is put in play from the center at the opening of the halves, and after a foul, but not after a score made in regular play; in other words, the ball continues in play until a foul is called or the half ends.

SCORE.—One point shall be scored for a team whenever one of its basemen catches a ball thrown by any other of its basemen except the captain. When the entire succession of outer basemen have thus caught the ball, whether in regular rotation or not, two extra points shall be scored; thus with 5 basemen, 6 points would be scored for such a play.

Two points additional shall be scored when such a play ends with a successful throw to the captain. With 5 outer bases, this would mean a score of 8 points.

Under all other circumstances, one point only shall be scored whenever the captain catches the ball from a baseman of his team.

No score shall be made on a catch by a baseman or captain from a guard.

One point shall be scored for the opponents whenever a foul is made, and the ball shall then be put in play again from the center.

The ball shall cease to score:

The ball continues in play under all of the above-mentioned circumstances. When a foul is committed it goes to the center for a new start.

FOULS.—It shall be a foul: to carry the ball (i.e., to take more than one step with it).

To hold it longer than time enough to turn around quickly, or three seconds.

To touch the ball in any way while it is in the hands of any other player.

To touch or trip an opponent.

For guards to step into the neutral strip or the opponents' territory.

It shall be a foul for a baseman to step out of his base with more than one foot at a time, or for a guard to step within a base in any way.

One point shall be scored for the opponents whenever a foul is committed, and the ball is then put newly in play.