Progressive Captain Ball
GROUND.—The ground is divided into two equal parts, with a line through the center. In the center of each of the two fields a circle is drawn for the captain's base, four feet in diameter. At equal distances around this a series of small circles for bases is drawn, the series outlining the arc of a large circle open to the center or dividing line. The small bases (circles) should be each three feet in diameter. Their number will depend upon the number of players, but they should not be closer than six feet to each other and ten feet from the center base.
Each base in the accompanying diagram is lettered to make clearer the order of progression, but when this order is once understood, it is not necessary to number the bases on the ground.
TEAMS.—The players are divided into two even teams, each consisting of a captain, two fielders, and a number of basemen, one for each of the small outer circles or bases. In addition, there should be a guard for each baseman and one for the captain.
The players are disposed as follows: The captain stands in the center base, with a guard outside the base. Each of the basemen stands in one of the smaller outer bases, with a guard outside his base. The fielders, at the opening of the game, face each other at the center of the dividing line.
OBJECTS OF THE GAME.—The objects of the game are (1) to send the ball in a complete circuit of the outer bases; and (2) to throw the ball from a baseman to the captain on his side of the field.
START.—The game is started by the referee throwing the ball up between the fielders, who jump for it and try to bat it toward their own captain and basemen. Whenever a score is made, the ball is put in play again as at first.
RULES.—The captain may not step outside his base. A ball caught in this way does not score, but the misstep is not a foul unless with both feet. The outer basemen may put one foot outside their bases when trying to catch the ball. A guard must stay within three feet of the base he guards, and may not step within it. Guards, of course, try to prevent the basemen from getting the ball or to prevent its being thrown to the captain, and to intercept it as it makes the round of the circle. They also try to get the ball to throw to the basemen on their own side. The fielders, aside from jumping for the ball when it is put into play, may move anywhere in the field. Their chief office is to get the balls which go out of bounds, no one else being allowed to do this. Fielders may play the ball if it comes their way, but they must not interfere with guards. A ball thrown from a guard or fielder does not score.
PROGRESSION.—The distinctive feature of this game is the method of progression. To make this plainer, the players in the diagram are designated by numbers as well as by teams. Thus, "X" indicates all players on one team, and "O" all players on the other team, each player carrying a number, X-1, X-2, X-3, etc. The method of progression is as follows:—