Fig. 614.
Mark out your field, making the width less than the length, according to Fig. 614. If indoors, use black paint for marking the inch and a half wide boundary lines; if out in the open air have the lines white, of the same width as the black, and made with either whitewash, chalk, paint, or plaster-of-paris.
You must have the side boundaries of the field at least three feet from the wall or fence, and the end boundaries directly below the pole or wall surface against which the basket goals are placed. The inclosed field is divided into three portions (Fig. 614). Two more inclosures are necessary, called foul limits; make them inside the two end divisions, Figs. 614. The boundary line of the curved end must be equally six feet distant all around from station line indicated by a short straight line in the centre of the inner end of foul limits in both divisions; the station line must be fifteen feet from the goal or outer edge of basket; the space across from the straight lines of the foul limits must measure six feet.
Mark centre of field with a circle of a foot and half radius (Fig. 614), or two lines one and a half feet apart. If marked by circle the girls playing centres must stand within it; if two lines are used they must toe the lines. Hang your
Baskets
ten feet above the ground on the centre of each extreme end boundary line (Fig. 614, C and C). Be perfectly sure that the basket goals are firmly fastened in place and rigidly supported either on a strong upright pole, or on a wall
Fig. 615. surface. If on poles it is better to have a screen six feet wide and four high as a background, though this is not absolutely necessary. During practice and ordinary games leave the netting open at the bottom of the basket, that the ball may fall through the basket to the floor or ground beneath, it being difficult for girls to get the ball out of the basket when it is closed at the bottom. Using a pole to push the ball out is not always attended with satisfactory results, and the effort consumes valuable time and strength.
