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.
[Illustration diagram: (The ground for End Ball.)]
NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL
This form of Captain Ball has been officially adopted for the
Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York
City. Its particular merit is in the scoring, a premium being
placed on skillful play by the award of extra points for
passing the ball entirely around the outer circuit of bases on
a given side; and further extra points are given for following
this circuit by a successful throw to the captain. This does
away with the tendency to short-circuit the plays with too
frequent throws to a captain, and encourages interplay and
quick resourcefulness between members of a team.
No inter-school competition is allowed for girls in the public
schools of New York City; all competition is between clubs in a
school.
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:
(1) After being caught by the captain; (_i.e._, the captain's
catch scores, but no throw made by him scores if caught).
(2) When it gets to the hands of a baseman who has previously
had it in the same play; (_i.e._, this catch does not score).
(3) When it gets to the hands of an opponent.
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.
[Illustration diagram: GROUND PLAN FOR NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL]
Printed in the United States of America.