Basketball

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 20

Basketball

by "Ring"

jSfext Saturday week will see tlic commencement of the Wellington. Basketball Association's intor-eluh competitions. Most of the clubs afliliated ivifli tlic association have now settled down to strenuous practice, and players as a wliolc arc wondering what tlic coming few months will bring forth. The weeks immediately preceding the actual commencement; oi inter-club play, are aa important to teams, if not even morn so, than those that come before tho deciding matches, as it is in those f.ew preparatory practices that the morale for the coming season is laid. In other words, the foundation of successful team work must be built up at such times. At this stage of the season, if methods of training, both in team-work and the finer individual points of the game, are slipshod, or in any wise lax, the resultant standard of play throughout the year will be iv keeping.' If, on the other hand, close attention is paid to general training, the basis is formed for good co-opera-tive work during the coming season. It is obvious that as good a start should bo made with a basketball season, as it is essential that one should secure ;i good start in a race if honours are to be gained at the conclusion.

With ten new clubs entering in the various grades, some of them at least will be rather at a loss as to methods for commencing actual team-work. With a view to assisting those in such predicament, the following foreword by Mr. S. G. MaelTarlane, in the rule book of tho New Zealand Association, is of especial interest: —

"Each team of nine players takes the field as three forwards, three centres, and three defenders. The objective of the play is to put the ball, in the manner set out in the rules, through tlie goal towards which each team respectively plays. This is effected principally by the passing of the ball from the hands of one player to those of another, and in the organising and developing of this passing lies much of the skill of the game. The attainment of accuracy, speed, anticipation, and re-sour-ca in passing, is the first requisite of successful basketball.

"The game is begun by a centre player throwing the ball from centre of the field to another of her,team in that third. It is the duty of each of these players to be on the alert, from the whistle; to attempt to take the pass given, and, with the position of

both t'rieuils and opponents in tlic mind's eye, to throw the ball to the point in the field to which it is reasonable to expect the best situated player on her- side can get and tiike the' pass. (Similarly each sn-ccuccling player getting tho ball throws to the bpot where- tho next can reasonably get it; and so on till a forward is in a good shooting position, when she should try for a goal. If a goal is scored, the ball goes back to the centre to bo thrown off again (by a centre of the side opposite to that which has just scored). ]f the ball goes out behind the back line, it is thrown into play by an opponent of the last player touching it. Her opponent "guards" just inside tlic line, the other four players being behind tho twelve-foot line. The object of the player throwing ia is to get the ball into the hands of one of her side, who immediately should pass it to her companion or to the best situated player in the centre third, who in turn attempts to transfer it to one of her companions, or to a forward, and so on until another attempt at goal. Similarly when the ball goes out of bounds across the side line it is thrown in from the line, the remaining playera of either sido taking up positions designed to get the game again in motion to tho advantage of their respective sides. Throughout the game, tho team not in possession at any given time makes every effort, first, to intercept the ball, and so change tho direction of play towards its goal, or, failing this, so to hamper those in possession that their inaccurate or ineffective passing causes a breakdown, which itself gives possession of the ball to the 'defending 5 team. (Short of intercepting, tlie only legal means of putting an attacking team off its play a-ro guarding, and putting the ball out of bounds. Personal contact must be carefully avoided.)

"Guiding principles to ~ssist in, the attainment of good play are:—(l) Use the whole court; move freely in your third; avoid crowding. (2) Possession is nine points of the law; 'o keep possession and attack is the best means of both attack and defence; (3) Speed is essential—to this end the ideal handling of the ball is to take it and pass it. on practically in the one motion; the short swift pass is the most effective. (4) Added to good field play there must be- accurate goal throwing; this is gained by consistent practice. (5.) In defence, close attendance on your opponent wliila the ball is in her team's hands is the first rule; this to be changed, instantly when the hall is captured by ono of your own players. (6) Lastly, and most important of all, team play should be the constant aim and ideal."