GROUND.–The playground or court should measure about forty by forty feet in outside dimensions the basket ball goals being placed at the usual height (ten feet) on opposite sides of the court. One basket belongs to each team. For instance the teams are designated as Red and Blue one basket belongs to the Red team and the other to the Blue team. The ground is then further divided into nine even squares. This may be done in any of the usual lining methods as described on page 301. The small squares are numbered in consecutive order around the outside starting in one corner the ninth one is in the center. When players are learning the game it may be advisable to mark these numbers on the ground but for players familiar with the game this may be dispensed with.

TEAMS.–While from eighteen to sixty players may play this game at once eighteen makes the best playing number. Where there is a larger number it may be found best to divide them into two sets each set to play for ten minutes and then give place to the other and so on alternately.

The players are divided into two teams each with a captain. The teams are chosen by the following method

The players are lined up according to height and either by marching (one to the right and one to the left) or by numbering off (the even numbers stepping out of the line) are divided into two files standing side by side. Each file constitutes a team and each member of a team is paired off with the opponent standing in the file beside him. By this method the two opponents forming a couple are of practically equal height.

The couples are numbered as they pair off the number indicating to which court they shall go for the opening of the game. Thus couple Number One will go to the small court marked 1 couple Number Two to the court marked 2 etc. Should there be more than nine couples the tenth couple will go to court number 1 the next couple to court number 2 etc. Usually only one or two couples go to each small court but sometimes three or four couples must be so assigned to accommodate a large number of players. Where there are so many however it will be found best to divide the number into halves one half playing at a time as previously mentioned. Should there be an odd player (without a partner) he is placed in the center court (number nine) and remains there throughout the game. A good leader however will see that some player changes off with this odd individual during the game.

It will thus be seen that each court contains an equal number of players of each team. For instance if there be but two players in a court one of them belongs to the Red team and the other to the Blue team. If there be four players in the court two of these belong to the Red team and two to the Blue team etc.

OBJECTS OF THE GAME.–The objects of the game for each team are (1) to throw the ball into its own basket this may be done from any court in the diagram and (2) to prevent the opponents from putting the ball into their basket.

One of the marked characteristics of this game is the constant change or progression in the position of players as every time that a goal is made with the ball the players all move to the next square or small court. This is done in order to give each player an opportunity to play from all positions on the field. This makes all-round players and gives the retiring less aggressive ones a fair share of the play. It also prevents certain players having the most desirable positions throughout the game.

START.–The game is started by the teacher or referee tossing the ball in the air between two opposing players in court nine each facing his own basket. Each player tries to send the ball toward his own basket others playing upon the ball immediately.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.–The ball may be thrown for a basket from any of the courts. In other words it is not necessary for the ball to be passed to a player in court two to be thrown for the red basket or to court six in order to be thrown to the blue basket though that may be a desirable play. Experience has shown however that when a player on the Blue team is standing in one of the courts farthest away even in court two it is not usually wise to throw to court six by way of the center (court nine) as too much massing of players results. The Blue team player in court two will often find it better to throw the ball to a player of this team in court one or three and so on around the outer edge to court six although there is no rule to prevent throwing the ball wherever a player pleases. As a general rule the more zigzag the path of the ball the more open the game. Short passes make a better game than long ones.

Players must remain in their own small courts except when progressing. It is optional however whether any penalty shall be attached to momentary stepping over the lines between small courts in the excitement of rapid catching and passing. This point should be decided before the game opens and would probably be used only with experienced players. No player may step over the outer boundary lines except to get the ball when it goes afield. A throw for a basket made with even one foot outside of the outer boundary lines is a foul.

Guarding is done by holding the hands or arms over the opponents ball to hinder the aim but neither the ball nor the holder of it may be touched. Only one player is allowed to guard a thrower no matter how many players may be in the small court where the thrower stands. The two opponents who first pair off at the opening of the game when places are assigned act thereafter as guards one to the other no other players being allowed to fill that office.

When two players have possession of a ball the one who touched it first has the right to it. If this cannot be decided instantly the ball is thrown up between them as at the start of the game the nearest player tossing it. For a good game this rule should be strictly enforced no discussion over the possession of a ball being allowed.

When the ball goes outside of the outer boundaries of the court only one player may go after it. All of the players in the small court through which it left this boundary may start for it but the first one over the line continues and secures the ball. Players from other courts may not try to get a ball that thus goes afield. When a ball has gone afield the player picking it up must throw it from the point where it is picked up to any court player. No running or walking with the ball is allowed in thus returning the ball to the courts.

In playing on the ball no player is allowed to hold the ball or to run or walk with it. A player may turn around quickly with the ball but must throw it at once. A player transgressing these rules must give the ball to his opponents–that is to the opponent who has been paired off with him.

FOULS.–No scoring is made on the fouls. Transgression of any of the rules given above is punished by giving the ball to the opponents the transgressor in each case giving it to the opponent paired off with him.

SCORE.–A team scores one point each time that it makes a goal. The game is played on time limits the team winning which has the highest score at the end. Where a large number of players is divided into two parties to take turns at playing the time limits for each are generally ten minutes with such rest intervals the two parties may play indefinitely. Where all of the players are engaged in one game the period may be anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes.

A team consists of three players two of whom stand a long throwing distance apart (thirty yards or more) with the third player (Number One) halfway between and on a line with them. Number One (the pitcher) starts the game on a signal by throwing the ball to one of the end players (Number Two) he throws it over the head of the pitcher to the opposite end player (Number Three) who throws it back again to Number Two and he makes the last throw sending it to the center player or pitcher Number One from whom it started. This is called one trip and the pitcher as he catches it calls out “One ” or “One trip ” and immediately begins the next round. The players standing in the following order 2 1 3 the order of the throwing is thus 1 2 3 2 1. Ten trips complete a game.

The competing teams stand in line sideways with the first team and the pitchers of all teams start at once on a signal. The team wins which first completes ten trips. Any number of teams may play at once.

PLAYERS.–The players are divided into two equal teams each of which selects a kicker for the ball. There should also be one leader who serves for the two teams. The kicker for each team stands five feet within his half of the ground measuring from the center and should be halfway between the two side boundary lines. The rest of the players for each team line up on the line previously designated for that purpose. The leader stands at one side of the field near a boundary line.

OBJECT.–The object of the game is to kick the ball over the heads of the opposing team.

START.–The leader puts the ball in play by throwing it so it will touch the ground between the two kickers. Both kickers at once run for the ball and try to kick it over the heads of their opponents.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.–The players on the line-up may intercept the ball only with their hands. They may not grasp or kick the ball but merely bat it with the hands. At no time may they leave their places on the line.

SCORE.–A point is scored whenever a kicker succeeds in sending the ball beyond his opponents line-up. Players then exchange fields for the next round. Ten points win the game.

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.