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BASKETBALL ABUSES AND THEQ)aa©m*lt;b©BBvm£*T Orjjau{omTayr/ov /j faeoBy JAMES NAISMITH.Besides giving my readers another combination to work upon, I would like to speak of some of the abuses which have grown into the game of basket ball and a few possible remedies. Many exponents of the gamecomplain that too many rules have been enacted. They say that in the game as fostered by the Amateur Athletic union the strict calling of fouls by officials makes it possible for a referee to decide a game in favor of a team, which may, perhaps, be weaker than the losing aggregation.There are two remedies for this condition. Either the basket ball committee of the Amateur Athletic union of the United States should tone down the number of minor offenses for on his forward, which fouls may be chalked up or different section of the country should establish referee bureaus for the selection of officials for games. The latter, I believe, would be preferable, though perhaps much good might be derived from the use of both plans.If in the district in which your team plays there has been cause to complain regarding what you believe to be unfair officiating, start agitation for an officials' bureau. Select an A. A. U., college or preparatory school authority on the game, as the case may be, and allow him to choose a competent committee of two more persons familiar with the conditions of the game. Then let each team contribute a small sum to defray the expenses of the bureau.Bids for officials for games should be in the hands of the committee not later than a week previous to the time of the game. Then, also, the committee should draw up a list of officials whom they believe thoroughly competent, honest and impartial.When selections are made for games no referee or umpire who has had connections with either institution should be considered for officials. An outsider who has no interest in the contest must be the choice. In becoming a member of the bureau each teamleft forward (No. 1). In case of a failure by that player the right forward (No. 2) crosses over to the left-hand side of the basket and the center again covers a point directly in front of the goal.In this play great caution must be exerted by the guard chosen to deliver the sphere into the hands of the forward, for it is necessary for him to leave his opposing forward uncovered for a moment while he fulfills his part of the combination. If the guard should see that the opposing center has got the Jump on his teammate at the same position, it is his duty to get the ball wherever it may happen to drop and also to keep a watchful eyeIf extraordinary caution Is not exerted by the guard delegated to receive the sphere, the chances are that his forward opponent, left unguarded for only an instant, will secure the ball and be given an almost free trial for the basket.Hence the guard must be quick onhis feet and must move in the direction of the ball not an instant sooner than he sees in exactly which direction the sphere is going. If his center has been accustomed to outjump the opposing center in other plays he is perhaps Rafe in moving away from his forward before the leather is slapped in the center of the floor.In order to insure greater protec- | tion it might be well to have the center drop back to cover the opposing forward, but I have not so shown the play here for the reason that a center is far more effective than a guard, as a rule, under the goal, and the latter knows how to squelch attempts at goal perhapB better than his own center would. And also if the opposing center should outjump the center of the team represented as aggressor, it would take some precious time for the latter player to get back to the position occupied by the forward who is left free, whereas the guard, by exert-should guarantee the officials expenses jng extreme caution, may keep his to the scene of the game and a suffi- own man jn vlew and 8tU1 carry outcient amount for the services of the men. Numerous complaints against an official should result in an investigation, and if they are well founded his name should be stricken from the bureau’s list. This plan, to my notion, would result in clean officiating, if followed out by competent men.Games may be officiated in strict accordance with the rules and otherwise. For instance, a referee or umpire may overlook minor offenses on both sides. In the strict A. A. U. rules the simple act of touching an opponent may be called a foul under the rules governing holding, pushing and blocking To some authorities it seems that what is known as momentary holding might be allowed. That is the case in the college game, and officials report that it works out well.At another time 1 may say more about the abuses that are found to exist, but as space is limited I will again turn to the plays which I have been showing you and which I am con fldent are a cure for many unsportsmanlike features which have found their way into the winter pasttime.In the diagram la shown a play which is especially effective when used just following one which is very ' much like it. The combination given previously was that of right guard to | right forward in the right forward's position and the same in the case of left guard and left forward.in the previous play, as in this also, the ball goes straight down the floor, but in the combination which I am presenting here the opposite forward secures the sphere, thus tending toconfuse the opposing guards. In this formation (diagram to the left) we have the play: *T.eft guard to right forward in left forward’s position.” The left guard (No. 4) receives the ball to the left of the center ^Kid shoots It down the floor to the,tight forward, who has crossed over to the left side of the goal to rueelve it. Thence into the basket.But If his effort fails he holds his place, the left forward (No. 1) crosses the floor to the right and the center (No. 3) steps into a position directly in front of the basket, thus covering positions and guarding against thesphere speeding down the floor toward the opponents’ goal,In the diagram to the right we have the right guard shooting the sphere •trai ht down the playing area to thethe provisions of the formation, if exceptionally alert. jIn this play, in which there is so lit-tie leeway for the forward picked to throw for goal, that individual had best use the overhead throw, for he has little time to poise himself for an accurate shot. Soon all these minor details in connection with plays come to the men without their attention be-ing called to them, and often their basket-ball intuition will teach them improvements on the methods which I am laying out in these articles.GOES BACK TO THE MINORStIIi!Ilt;*(tJake Atz, who played second bas for the Chicago White Sox last se son, will be with New Orleans this year. Atz wasn't v*uite up to league caliber. /ffI*Big Fight at EmeryvilleTex Kickard and Jack Reason, promoters of the Jeffr(j**dohnsou fight, have decided tojb^Wfthe battle at Emeryville r Qjtm track near Oakland, aerfwrtt 'The bay from San Francisco. The largest seating capacity ever provided for a prize tight is thus assured.flt;fIs(iit
Newspaper Details
Bryan Daily Eagle
Bryan, Texas, US
Tue, Apr 12, 1910
Page 7
Full Page
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Anonymous
WV, USA 02 May 2020
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