Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium, Jessie Hubbell Bancroft [best books to read for knowledge txt] 📗

This is in some respects a simpler form of Captain Ball than those that follow, as there are but three bases or homes on each side of the field, and the captain is on one of these instead of in the center. His position at the farthest point from the dividing line tends to distribute the play equally among all of the players. The number of players is smaller than in other forms of the game. The ball does not score for completing the circle (or triangle) of players, as in other forms of the game. Although very rapid, this form may be less confusing for beginners than in larger formations where there are more players.

GROUND.—On each side of the ground at corresponding distances from the center three small circles are drawn for bases at the points of a triangle. The circles should be from two to five feet each in diameter, the more skillful the players the smaller the circle. The distance between each two circles forming a triangle should be at least fifteen feet, and the distance across the center of the field between the two inner circles, from fifteen to twenty-five feet.

TEAMS.—The players are divided into two teams, each consisting of three basemen, three base guards, and one fielder. One of the basemen is captain and stands in the base at the end of the ground farthest from the center. Each team has a guard stationed near each of its opponents' bases, and a fielder whose general place should be near the center of the ground but who is free to run to any part of the ground, and who should pick up the ball whenever it goes afield. The ball should then be put in play again from the center as at the start.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.—The object of the game is to have a captain catch a ball from one of his basemen. A ball caught by the captain from the guards or fielder of his team, does not count. Of course the guards will try to prevent the ball being caught by a captain from one of his basemen, or by one of the basemen from his fielder, and on the other hand will try to secure the ball and send it back to their own basemen or fielder.

START.—The ball is put in play by being tossed up in the center of the ground by a third party between the two fielders, both of whom try to catch it. The one who succeeds has first throw. Touching the ball is not enough for this first catch: it must be caught in both hands. In case of dispute, the ball should be tossed again. The ball is again put in play in this way after each point scored; also after going afield and being picked up by one of the fielders.

RULES.—The basemen may put one foot outside of their bases or circles, but at no time both feet. Each guard must remain near the base he guards but may not step within it even with one foot. Should either side transgress these rules or make any other foul, the ball is thrown to one of the basemen on the opposite side, who is given free play to throw to his captain without interference of his own guard, though the captain's guard may try to prevent its being caught. A ball that goes afield is put in play again at the center, as at the opening of the game.

FOULS.—It is a foul (1) to transgress any of the rules given above; (2) to snatch or bat the ball from an opponent's hands; (3) to bounce the ball more than three times in succession; (4) to run with the ball; (5) to kick it; (6) to hand instead of throwing it; or (7) to hold it longer than time enough to turn once around quickly, or three seconds. Penalty for fouls consists in allowing opponents a free throw from one of their basemen to their captain, as described under Rules.

SCORE.—The ball scores one point whenever a catch is made by a captain from one of his basemen. It does not score when the captain catches it from a guard or fielder.

The game is played by time limits, ranging from ten to thirty minutes. The time is divided in halves, and at the end of the first half the teams have an interval of rest, and the basemen and guards change places. The team wins which has the highest score at the end of the second half. The ball is put newly in play after every point scored.

18 to 60 players.

Playground; gymnasium.

Basket ball; volley ball.

The distinctive features of this form of Captain Ball are: (1) the captain occupies a place in the circumference of the circle as in I, instead of in the center as in succeeding forms of the game; (2) the captain's place is near the dividing line, instead of at the farthest point from it as in I; this gives the guards of his team, on the opposite side of the ground, a greater opportunity to reach him than in I, while any increased tendency to concentrate play near the dividing line is offset by the scoring of the ball through completing a round of the circle, and by the greater freedom allowed the guards; (3) the guards may run at large, not being confined to guarding any one baseman; (4) there are no fielders, the free action of the guards making these unnecessary; (5) the ball scores for completing a circle and also for any catch by the captain from one of his team, whether it be baseman or guard; also for a catch by any one baseman from another baseman of his team; or for a catch by the captain after it has passed through the hands of two or three basemen successively; (6) fouls differ from those in some other forms of the game, and are penalized by scoring for the opponents instead of by a toss of the ball.