GROUND.–The ground is divided into two equal parts by a line across the center. In each part a series of small rings or bases is arranged in a circle at equal distances apart the number and distance depending on the space at disposal and the number of players the small base rings should not be closer to each other than four or five feet and should measure from two to four feet in diameter. The captains place is in one of these bases nearest the center of the ground or dividing line.

TEAMS.–There should be from eight to thirty players on each side exclusive of the captain. Half of these players stand in the bases on their own side the captains base completing the circle and being nearest the dividing line. The other players of the team called guards are stationed at the opening of the game each near one of the opponents bases on the opposite side of the ground from his own basemen. Each guard is chiefly responsible throughout for guarding his particular base but all guards may move about freely in the opponents territory without stepping within the rings (bases).

OBJECTS OF GAME.–The objects of the game are (1) to pass the ball from baseman to baseman in one circle or (2) entirely around one of the circles without its being caught by the opponents guards who seek to gain possession of it and (3) for any baseman or guard to throw the ball as many times as possible to his own captain. The guards try not only to prevent the passage of the ball around the circle or its reaching their opponents captain but also to gain possession of the ball and throw it over to the opposite side to their own basemen and captain.

START.–The ball is put in play at the opening of the game and after each catch by a captain and after each foul by being tossed by a neutral person in the center of the ground the guards on both sides trying to get possession of it. The ball is not considered caught unless it be held in both hands. Any guard so catching it has an opportunity to throw it to his own captain or one of his basemen. The guards on the opposite side of course try to prevent such a catch.

RULES.–It is considered a fair catch for any baseman including the captain if the ball be caught on a bound either from the floor ceiling or any other object or from hitting another player.

A ball that goes afield is secured by the guard standing nearest the point where it left the circle. He puts it in play from the point in the circle where it went out.

Other rules are indicated under “Fouls.”

FOULS.–It is a foul (1) to kick the ball (2) to run with the ball (3) for a guard to step over the dividing line or inside one of the bases (4) for a baseman to step outside of his own base even with one foot (5) to hand the ball instead of tossing (6) to snatch or bat the ball from an opponents hands (7) to hold the ball longer than time enough to turn around quickly or three seconds.

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

SCORE.–One point is scored for a team every time a baseman catches the ball from another baseman of the same team.

Two points are scored for a team every time its captain makes a fair catch whether the ball has gone around his circle or not and whether the ball was thrown by one of his basemen or one of his guards on the opposite side of the field. Three points are scored if the ball reaches two different basemen and the captain successively whether in regular rotation around the circle or not.

Four points are scored if the ball reaches three different basemen and the captain successively whether in regular rotation around the circle or not. Five points are scored whenever the ball passes entirely around the circle on one side in regular rotation of basemen whether the start and finish of that circle be with the captain or some other baseman. Each foul scores one for the opposing team as described under “Fouls.” After the captain catches the ball no further points may be scored on it in that play and it then goes back to the center to be put again in play.

GROUND.–For large teams this game should be played on a ground measuring fifty feet long and twenty-five feet wide. For smaller teams a smaller ground will answer.

A tennis net or net two feet wide preferably the latter is stretched across the center of the ground from side to side extending one or two feet beyond the boundaries on either side. The upper edge should be from six feet six inches to seven feet six inches above the ground.

PLAYERS.–Any number of players up to thirty may play. The players are evenly divided into two parties which scatter over their respective courts without special arrangement. There is a captain for each side. An umpire is desirable.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.–The object of the game for each party is to keep the ball in lively play toward its opponents court as each party scores only on its opponents failures to return the ball or keep it in the air.

The ball is put in play by being served by the party which is to score. The service of the ball and with it the privilege of scoring pass to the opponents according to the rules described hereinafter.

START RULES FOR SERVICE.–The ball is put in play by being served by a member of one side who should stand at the rear of his court with one foot on the rear boundary line and the other behind the line. From this position the ball is tossed upward lightly from one hand and batted with the palm of the other hand toward or into the opponents court.

Each server has two trials in which to send the ball into the opponents court. The service being over a long course with a comparatively heavy ball the following privileges are allowed a served ball may be assisted on its course by any two other players on the servers side no player so assisting the ball on the serve may strike it more than twice in succession and the server under such circumstances may not strike it more than once but should the ball then fail to land in the opponents court the server loses his second serve.

In serving the ball must be batted at least ten feet by the server before being touched by any other player on his side.

No “dribbling” is allowed in serving.

A successful server continues serving until his side allows the ball to touch the floor knocks it out of bounds or fails to return it to the opponents. A server may also lose as follows

If a returned ball hits a player on the servers side and bounces into the opponents court it is considered in play. If it hits such a player and does not bounce into the opponents court the server is out losing his second trial.

If the ball hits the net during service it is counted a dead ball and loses the server one of his trials.

If a served ball falls outside the opponents court the server loses his turn.

The players on a side take turns in serving.

RULES OF PLAY.–The ball must always be batted with the open palm. The ball should be returned by the opponents before it can strike the ground. Any number of players may strike the ball to send it across the net but no player may strike more than twice in succession. Having struck the ball twice a player may resume his play only after some other player has struck it. The ball is thus volleyed back and forth across the net until one side fails to return it or allows it to touch the floor or until it goes out of bounds. A ball is put out of play by hitting the net in returning after a serve. A ball which bounds back into the court after striking any other object except the floor or ceiling is still in play. It is permissible to strike the ball with both hands at once (open palms).

If a player touches the net at any time the ball is thereby put out of play. Should this player be on the serving side his side loses the ball and it goes to the opponents. Should this player be on the receiving side the serving side scores one point. Should the net be touched simultaneously by opponents the ball is thereby put out of play and the serving side serves again.

No dribbling is allowed at any time through the game i.e. no keeping the ball in the air by one player hitting it quickly and repeatedly.

In sending the ball across the net players should aim for an unprotected part of the opponents court or try in other ways to place them at a disadvantage.

SCORE.–This is entirely a defensive game the score being made on opponents fouls and failures. Aside from fouls only the serving side scores. A good serve unreturned scores one point for the serving side. A point is similarly scored by the serving side at any time when the opponents fail to return a ball which is in play. Failure of the serving side to return a ball to the opponents court merely puts them out that is the serve passes to the opponents but no score is made on the failure. Should a player touching the net be on the receiving side the serving side scores one point. A ball sent under the net is out of play and counts against the side which last struck it their opponents scoring one point. If the ball strikes any object outside the court and bounds back although it is still in play it counts against the side which struck it out their opponents scoring one point. A ball sent out of bounds by the receiving side in returning a service scores one point for the serving side. One point is scored for the opponents whenever a player catches the ball or holds it for even an instant. The game consists of twenty-one points.

Any player failing to catch the ball should sit down the player winning who remains standing the longest.

When all are seated the same game may be played in a sitting position.

For a more advanced form of this game see Round Ball.

For very little children the spaces between players should be less and the tossing done in regular order from one player to the next working up gradually to the more varied modes of play suggested above. Several balls or bags may be used following each other in quick succession. The number of these may be increased until there is but one (or two) balls or bean bags less than the number of players.

GROUND.–The ground is divided into two equal parts by a neutral strip about three feet wide through the center. In each half are marked five or more bases in the form of small circles from two to five feet in diameter (or rectangles) outlining part of a large circle or square open toward the center. In the center of each half is marked a small circle or base for the captain. The interest of the game may be enhanced by placing a springboard in the captains base on which he should stand.

TEAMS.–The players are divided into two equal teams consisting each of (1) a captain (2) a baseman for each base in the outer circle (3) guards. There should be one less guard on each team than the number of players in its outer circle. For instance for five basemen as in the diagram there should be four guards. The guards belonging to a team are stationed in the opponents field and generally begin the game lined up near the neutral territory that runs through the center of the ground. As the game progresses the guards may scatter in any way that they choose. There are no center runners or fielders in this form of the game as in some others An umpire is desirable and a scorer and referee are needed for skillful teams.

OBJECTS OF GAME.–The objects of the game are (1) for the ball to be thrown and caught around the complete circle of basemen (2) for the outer basemen to throw the ball to their captain in the center the guards trying (1) to intercept the ball before it can complete a circle (2) to prevent it being caught by the captain and (3) to secure possession of the ball and send it to the basemen in their own (the opposite) field.

START.–The ball is put in play in the center of the neutral strip by an umpire or referee. He tosses the ball and the guards from both sides try to gain possession of it. For this purpose the guards may run anywhere they choose being permitted on the neutral territory but as soon as possession of the ball is decided the guards must return to their respective fields and may not again leave them until the ball is again put in play. To touch the ball does not give a guard possession of it he must hold it in both hands. In case of dispute the referee should again toss the ball. When a guard has secured possession of the ball he and the other guards return to their home fields and the one having the ball throws it to one of his basemen in the opposite field. The ball is put in play from the center after every point scored and after it goes afield.

RULES.–The guards are not allowed to step within the bases they may not cross the boundary lines into the neutral territory except when the ball is being put in play. Basemen may not step outside of their bases even with one foot. Should the captain in catching a ball step over his base the catch does not score but if this be with only one foot he has the privilege of throwing the ball to one of his basemen without interference from the guards. A throw from a guard in the opposite field to his own captain does not score. Kicking or striking a ball out of a players hands is allowable. In trying to block a throw guards may not touch basemen nor step within the bases. Guards will naturally be very watchful of the center as successful catches by the captain score.

FOULS.–Transgression of any of the previous rules constitutes a foul penalized by giving the ball to the opposite side or by allowing them to score one point. Which of these two methods is to prevail during a game should be decided before the game starts.

SCORE.–One point is scored for a team every time that the captain catches a ball thrown by one of his basemen. One point is scored for a team whenever the ball is thrown from base to base successively until it completes an uninterrupted circle. Fouls may score or not as explained under “Fouls.” After every point scored the ball is returned to the umpire and put again in play.

The game is played in two halves of fifteen or twenty minutes each with a rest of five or ten minutes between the halves. Teams change sides at the beginning of the second half but they do not change players that is guards do not become basemen and vice versa as in some other forms of this game.