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.