Nine-court Basket Ball

Source: Games For The Playground, Home, School And Gymnasium
Category: BALL GAMES



_18 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

This is one of the comparatively few games that gives a large
amount of activity to a large number of players playing at the
same time. The game as here given is the invention of Miss Cora
B. Clark and Miss Caroline M. Wollaston of New York City, by
whose kind permission the game is here printed. It has proven
to be a most popular and interesting game.

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 opponent's 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 opponent
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.


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