NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL
This form of Captain Ball has been officially adopted for the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City. Its particular merit is in the scoring, a premium being placed on skillful play by the award of extra points for passing the ball entirely around the outer circuit of bases on a given side; and further extra points are given for following this circuit by a successful throw to the captain. This does away with the tendency to short-circuit the plays with too frequent throws to a captain, and encourages interplay and quick resourcefulness between members of a team.
No inter-school competition is allowed for girls in the public schools of New York City; all competition is between clubs in a school.
BALL.—The ball to be used in all match games shall be Spalding's Official Basket Ball.
GROUNDS.—The ground shall be divided by a neutral strip, 3 feet wide, in which the ball shall be put in play. To enter the neutral strip at other times shall constitute a foul.
On each side of the neutral strip a series of small bases shall be drawn, in number equal to one quarter of the entire number of players. These bases shall be in the form of a circle, 2 feet in diameter, or they may be square, measuring 2 feet.
The series of bases on each side shall outline the arc of a circle open to the center, with one base in the middle of each side for the captain. The bases in the outer circle shall be not closer than 6 feet to each other or to the neutral strip separating the fields, and not nearer than 10 feet to the captain's base.
PLAYERS.—Any even number up to forty may play the game. The players shall be divided into two equal teams; each team in turn shall be equally divided between basemen and guards, the captain being a baseman.
The basemen shall take their places in the bases on one side of the field, and the guards of the same team shall stand near the opponents' bases on the opposite side of the field.
The game shall be played in two halves, and for the second half the teams shall change sides, and the basemen and guards of each team shall exchange places, basemen becoming guards, and vice versa. For match games a club shall be represented by a picked team.
OFFICERS.—The game shall be in charge of a referee who shall call score and fouls and put the ball in play at the beginning of each half, and after each foul.
The referee may be assisted by an umpire and inspectors, if desired; but for other than match games this is not necessary.
OBJECT OF THE GAME.—The main object of the game is for the basemen of a team to pass the ball from one to another, each pass successfully made scoring for the team, as described under "Score."
The object of the guards is to intercept the passage of the ball and send it back to their own basemen for similar play.
RULES.—The game shall be played in two halves of 15 minutes each, with a 5-minute rest between, except at final meets, where halves may be shortened to 6 minutes, if desired.
Guards may move around freely on their own half of the ground, but each should be responsible for guarding one particular baseman. Guards may not step within bases.
Guards may not enter the neutral strip except when called there in rotation, as explained under "Start" to put the ball in play.
The play of the ball need not be in consecutive order from base to base, but may zigzag across the circle. It does not score when caught a second time by the same baseman during a given play, such a catch ending the possible score for that team for that round of the ball; and it cannot score after being caught by the captain, though his catch scores.
START.—The ball shall be put in play by the referee, who shall toss it up in the center of the neutral strip between two guards, one from each team, who shall try to secure it. To touch the ball shall not give the guard possession of it; it shall be held in both hands. In case of dispute, the referee shall again toss the ball.
Guards shall be called in regular succession to the neutral strip to put the ball in play. The two called shall be from similar positions on opposite sides of the field.
The ball is put in play from the center at the opening of the halves, and after a foul, but not after a score made in regular play; in other words, the ball continues in play until a foul is called or the half ends.
SCORE.—One point shall be scored for a team whenever one of its basemen catches a ball thrown by any other of its basemen except the captain. When the entire succession of outer basemen have thus caught the ball, whether in regular rotation or not, two extra points shall be scored; thus with 5 basemen, 6 points would be scored for such a play.
Two points additional shall be scored when such a play ends with a successful throw to the captain. With 5 outer bases, this would mean a score of 8 points.
Under all other circumstances, one point only shall be scored whenever the captain catches the ball from a baseman of his team.
No score shall be made on a catch by a baseman or captain from a guard.
One point shall be scored for the opponents whenever a foul is made, and the ball shall then be put in play again from the center.
The ball shall cease to score:
(1) After being caught by the captain; (i.e., the captain's catch scores, but no throw made by him scores if caught).
(2) When it gets to the hands of a baseman who has previously had it in the same play; (i.e., this catch does not score).
(3) When it gets to the hands of an opponent.
The ball continues in play under all of the above-mentioned circumstances. When a foul is committed it goes to the center for a new start.
FOULS.—It shall be a foul: to carry the ball (i.e., to take more than one step with it).
To hold it longer than time enough to turn around quickly, or three seconds.
To touch the ball in any way while it is in the hands of any other player.
To touch or trip an opponent.
For guards to step into the neutral strip or the opponents' territory.
It shall be a foul for a baseman to step out of his base with more than one foot at a time, or for a guard to step within a base in any way.
One point shall be scored for the opponents whenever a foul is committed, and the ball is then put newly in play.
GROUND PLAN FOR NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL
Printed in the United States of America.