Basketball Games Square Ball
( Basketball, Chase and Catch, Physical Contest, Team Wars and Battle )GROUND.–The ground is marked out in one large square with a base at each corner and should there be enough players with bases at intervening points along the line of the square.
PLAYERS.–The players are divided into two equal parties one of which takes places on the bases at the corners or other points outlining the square the other party assembles in the center of the square and is on the defensive.
OBJECT.–The ball is thrown from one to another of the party on the bases always however following the lines of the square and not its diagonals. The chief object of the game however is for this outer party to interrupt this circuit of the ball by suddenly throwing it so as to hit one of the center players. The object of any center player who is hit is in his turn to hit with the ball any member of the outer party who all turn and flee as soon as a center man is hit.
POINTS OF PLAY.–The ball is started at any point among the outer party or basemen. This party will use considerable finesse in throwing such as apparent attempts to throw the ball around the square thus misleading the center players as to their intention and taking them unaware when aiming for the center. The more rapidly the ball is kept in motion the better. The center party in their turn will find it advisable to scatter considerably which will diminish the chances of being hit. They will also avoid proximity to any player in the outer party who happens to have the ball. The center party will thus have to be very alert and keep moving considerably even when the ball is not directed at them. The ball may be avoided by dodging jumping stooping or any other maneuver except by leaving the square.
Whenever a center player is hit by the ball the outer party are in danger of being hit in turn and must all run immediately in any direction to avoid this. A center player who is hit picks up the ball as quickly as he can and calls “Halt ” When this call is heard the fleeing runners must stand still and the center player who now holds the ball tries to hit one of them with it.
SCORE.–The scoring of the game is done entirely according to whether the center player hits or misses his opponent in this throw of the ball after he has called a halt. Every player thus hit scores one for the center party. Every throw made and missed under these circumstances scores one for the opponents or outside party. The party wins which first scores twenty-five.
This game is also played without score any member of the outer party hit by a center man being obliged to join the center party. In this form the game ends when all of the outer players have been so recruited.