Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 69

_10 to 30 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Tennis ball; hand ball._

This game somewhat resembles tennis, but is played over a lower dividing line, and the ball is batted with the hand instead of with a racket; it is always played from a bound, never "on the fly."

GROUND.--Boundary lines for the entire court should be outlined, measuring about fifty feet in length by twenty-five in width, though these dimensions are not invariable. The ground is then divided by a line into two equal parts. In a gymnasium balance beams may be set up for this purpose. Out of doors a board or log may be used, or the mere drawing of a line on the ground will suffice.

PLAYERS.--The players are divided into two equal parties which take their places on either side of the dividing line, scattered over their respective courts without regular formation.

OBJECT.--The game consists in batting a tennis or hand ball with the hand from one side to the other of the dividing line, after it has first bounded in one's own territory.

START.--The leader of the game, or any player on either side, puts the ball in play by throwing it among the players of the opposite side.

Whoever catches the ball acts as the first server. The server serves by bounding the ball once and then hitting or batting it with the open palm on the rebound, so that it will go over into the opponents'

court. Should a served ball fail to rebound in the antagonists' court, it is returned to the party from which it came, that they may have a second trial. One player continues to serve until his side scores five, when the ball is thrown to the opponents. The players on a side serve in rotation.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--In returning a serve or keeping the ball in play at any time, it may be bounced any number of times before being sent into the opponents' court. The one essential point is that it should be kept bounding, a ball that is dead being thrown back to the server. In bounding the ball it must always be hit or batted from the upper side with the palm of the hand. Should the ball bound very low so as to give slight opportunity for batting into the opponents'

court, a player may coax it to a higher point before batting. A ball may also be worked forward or to any advantageous point of the ground by bounding or "dribbling" in this way before batting it. Whenever a ball enters a court, any member of the party on that side may play upon it. The players in each court will naturally scatter to be ready to receive the ball. Players will use in this game many points of tennis, such as sending the ball into the opponents' territory with a long glancing stroke, which may make it bound unexpectedly toward the rear of the opponents' court; or on the contrary, with a small bound that shall just barely cross the line. A ball going out of bounds is out of play, and must be returned to the server unless it should rebound in the court for which it was intended, when it should still be considered in play.

SCORE.--The score is entirely for a defensive game, being wholly on the opponents' failures. If desired, the score may be the same as in tennis, but is generally as follows:--

One point is scored for (_a_) failure to strike the ball as directed (from above with the open palm); (_b_) failure to bound the ball before sending it into the opponents' ground; (_c_) failure to return a good serve or play.

BOWL BALL

(See _Center Club Bowls_, _Circle Club Bowls_, and _Line Club Bowls_.)

CALL BALL

(See also _Ring Call Ball_, _Ball Stand_, and _Spud_.)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball._

The players are numbered and scatter promiscuously over the playground or gymnasium. One tosses a ball, at the same time calling the number of some other player. This player must run forward and catch the ball before it has bounded more than once. Any player who is successful in this takes the place of the first t.o.s.s.e.r. Any player who fails rejoins the others, but three failures put him out of the game. For large numbers it is well to have two b.a.l.l.s, tossed by two different players.

The one who is tossing the ball will add much to the interest of the game by calling the names of players who are at a considerable distance from the ball, or for any other reason may have a particularly difficult task in reaching the ball in time; or he may take them unaware, as by calling the same name twice in succession, etc. There is no limit to the number of times a player may be called.

CAPTAIN BALL

Captain Ball is one of the best and most popular games for both children and adults, boys and girls. It is one of the most useful forms of games for the period when pupils are beginning to enjoy organization, as it calls for comparatively simple, though p.r.o.nounced, team work.

There are many variations in Captain Ball, the differences being in (1) the plan of laying out the ground, and consequently the relative position of players; (2) the points of play that score; and (3) the rules restricting the players.

While almost any rules of play or points of scoring may be used on almost any plan of ground, certain methods of play seem to have grown out of, and naturally to belong to, certain diagrams. An umpire, referee, and scorer are desirable in any form of the game, but _not absolutely necessary_ except for match games.

Six distinct forms of Captain Ball are here presented, Captain Ball I, II, III; Emperor Ball (IV); Progressive Captain Ball (V) (a new form of the game originated by Miss Cora B. Clark of New York); also a schoolroom adaptation, Schoolroom Captain Ball (VI). Some forms which offer minor variations have been omitted in favor of these, which form distinct types. The games are grouped in this place to facilitate comparison.

For NEW YORK CAPTAIN BALL (rules of Girls' Branch, Public Schools Athletic League), see _Appendix_.

CAPTAIN BALL--I

_14 players._

_Basket ball; volley ball._

[Ill.u.s.tration diagram: CAPTAIN BALL--I]

This is in some respects a simpler form of Captain Ball than those that follow, as there are but three bases or homes on each side of the field, and the captain is on one of these instead of in the center.

His position at the farthest point from the dividing line tends to distribute the play equally among all of the players. The number of players is smaller than in other forms of the game. The ball does not score for completing the circle (or triangle) of players, as in other forms of the game. Although very rapid, this form may be less confusing for beginners than in larger formations where there are more players.

GROUND.--On each side of the ground at corresponding distances from the center three small circles are drawn for bases at the points of a triangle. The circles should be from two to five feet each in diameter, the more skillful the players the smaller the circle. The distance between each two circles forming a triangle should be at least fifteen feet, and the distance across the center of the field between the two inner circles, from fifteen to twenty-five feet.

TEAMS.--The players are divided into two teams, each consisting of three bas.e.m.e.n, three base guards, and one fielder. One of the bas.e.m.e.n is captain and stands in the base at the end of the ground farthest from the center. Each team has a guard stationed near each of its opponents' bases, and a fielder whose general place should be near the center of the ground but who is free to run to any part of the ground, and who should pick up the ball whenever it goes afield. The ball should then be put in play again from the center as at the start.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.--The object of the game is to have a captain catch a ball from one of his bas.e.m.e.n. A ball caught by the captain from the guards or fielder of his team, does not count. Of course the guards will try to prevent the ball being caught by a captain from one of his bas.e.m.e.n, or by one of the bas.e.m.e.n from his fielder, and on the other hand will try to secure the ball and send it back to their own bas.e.m.e.n or fielder.

START.--The ball is put in play by being tossed up in the center of the ground by a third party between the two fielders, both of whom try to catch it. The one who succeeds has first throw. Touching the ball is not enough for this first catch: it must be caught in both hands.

In case of dispute, the ball should be tossed again. The ball is again put in play in this way after each point scored; also after going afield and being picked up by one of the fielders.

RULES.--The bas.e.m.e.n may put one foot outside of their bases or circles, but at no time both feet. Each guard must remain near the base he guards but may not step within it even with one foot. Should either side transgress these rules or make any other foul, the ball is thrown to one of the bas.e.m.e.n on the opposite side, who is given free play to throw to his captain without interference of his own guard, though the captain's guard may try to prevent its being caught. A ball that goes afield is put in play again at the center, as at the opening of the game.

FOULS.--It is a foul (1) to transgress any of the rules given above; (2) to s.n.a.t.c.h or bat the ball from an opponent's hands; (3) to bounce the ball more than three times in succession; (4) to run with the ball; (5) to kick it; (6) to hand instead of throwing it; or (7) to hold it longer than time enough to turn once around quickly, or three seconds. Penalty for fouls consists in allowing opponents a free throw from one of their bas.e.m.e.n to their captain, as described under Rules.

SCORE.--The ball scores one point whenever a catch is made by a captain from one of his bas.e.m.e.n. It does not score when the captain catches it from a guard or fielder.

The game is played by time limits, ranging from ten to thirty minutes.

The time is divided in halves, and at the end of the first half the teams have an interval of rest, and the bas.e.m.e.n and guards change places. The team wins which has the highest score at the end of the second half. The ball is put newly in play after every point scored.

CAPTAIN BALL--II