Chapter 28

This schoolroom adaptation of Captain Ball was made by Miss Mabel L. Pray of Toledo, Ohio, and was submitted in a competition for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. This game was one that received honorable mention, and is here published by the kind permission of the author, and of the Girls' Branch and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Brothers, who publish the handbook in which the game first appeared.

CENTER BASE

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; basket ball._

All of the players but one form a circle, with considerable space between each two. The odd player stands in the center, holding the ball. He tosses it to any player in the circle, and immediately runs away outside the circle. The player to whom the ball is thrown must catch it, place it on the ground in the center of the circle, and at once chase the one who threw it. The one who threw the ball tries to get back to the center of the circle and touch the ball before he can be tagged. Should he succeed in this, he joins the circle, and the other player throws the ball. If the first center player is tagged before returning to the ball, he throws again, and the one who chased him returns to the circle.

This game is very popular with children.

CENTER CATCH BALL

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; basket ball; bean bag._

I. Simple form for little children.

All of the players but one stand in a circle, with two or three feet distance between players. The odd player stands in the center of the circle and tries to catch the ball, which is tossed rapidly from one circle player to another. Should he be successful, the one who last touched the ball changes places with him.

II. Advanced form for skillful players.

This differs from the preceding in the greater distance between players and also in the much greater range and resourcefulness of play.

The players stand in a circle with from six to eight feet between each two, and with one player in the center. The circle players throw a ball from one to another, the object of the game being for the center player to catch the ball or knock it to the floor. The circle players may throw the ball over the heads of one another or across the circle, or make sudden feints of throwing it in one direction, turn suddenly and throw it in another, etc., to deceive the center player.

Any player in the circle who last touched the ball, changes places with the center player whenever the latter touches or catches the ball.

CENTER CLUB BOWLS

(See also _Line Club Bowls (Single)_; _Line Club Bowls (Double)_; _Circle Club Bowls_.)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; bean bag._

The players join in a large circle and number by twos or consecutively. The odd numbers form one team and the even numbers (alternate players) another. Three Indian clubs are placed at the points of a small triangle, measuring about twelve inches in the center of the circle. Each player, in turn, bowls at the clubs with a hand ball or bean bag. Each club bowled over scores one for the bowler's team. The team wins which has the highest score when each player has bowled twice, or more times, as may be agreed on at the opening of the game. Each player must secure his ball or bag after bowling and replace the overturned clubs. One ball or bag may be used and passed around the circle, but the play is quicker if each player has his own.

CIRCLE BALL

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Hand ball; basket ball; bean bag._

The players stand in a circle with from three to five feet between each two. The game consists of merely tossing the ball rapidly from one player to another, but not in regular order. The sport comes from the unexpectedness with which the ball may be thrown across the ring, or reverse the direction in which it is circling the ring, or in any other way taking the players unaware. A leader or teacher should see that this element of sport is put into the game, or else it may be very dull and useless.

Any player failing to catch the ball should sit down, the player winning who remains standing the longest.

When all are seated, the same game may be played in a sitting position.

For a more advanced form of this game, see Round Ball.

For very little children, the spaces between players should be less and the tossing done in regular order from one player to the next, working up gradually to the more varied modes of play suggested above. Several balls or bags may be used, following each other in quick succession. The number of these may be increased until there is but one (or two) balls or bean bags less than the number of players.

CIRCLE CLUB BOWLS

(See also _Line Club Bowls (Single)_; _Line Club Bowls (Double)_; _Center Club Bowls_.)

_6 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball; football; Indian clubs._

The players divide into two parties and take their places in one large circle, the players of one party alternating with those of the other. There should be five or six feet of space between each two players. Each player is provided with an Indian club.

The players of one party distinguish themselves and their clubs in some way, as by tying a handkerchief around the arm and club.

The players, having taken their places in the circle, place each his own club on the floor behind him at a distance of two or three feet. The object of the game is to knock over the opponents' clubs by rolling the ball on the floor, and naturally to protect one's own clubs. Any player may start the game.

While the main form of play for the ball is to roll it, it is permissible to bound the ball from one player to another, and also permissible to knock over a club with a ball that bounds instead of rolling. It is not permissible to toss a ball from one player to another, or to dislodge a club by a toss unless the ball should hit the floor and bound before it hits the club.

Whenever a club is dislodged, the owner of the club must set it up again at once; if he also has the ball, he must set up the club before putting the ball again into play.

A point is scored by one party whenever one of the opponents' clubs is dislodged, whether it be knocked over by a ball or by its owner. The side wins which first makes a score of forty-nine points.

The game may also be played with two balls at once, and this is always desirable for as many as twenty players.

CIRCLE DODGE BALL

(See _Dodge Ball_.)

CIRCLE STRIDE BALL

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Foot ball; basket ball._

All but one of the players form a circle, standing in stride position with feet touching those of the next players to make a barricade for the ball.

The odd player stands in the center and tries to throw the ball outside of the circle between the feet of the players. Those in the circle try to prevent the passage of the ball, using only their hands for this. This play is continued until the center player succeeds in sending the ball through the circle, when he changes places with the player between whose feet or on whose right side it passed out. If a circle player moves his feet in any way, he must change places with the center.

The center player will aid his object by using considerable finesse, appearing to intend sending the ball in one direction, turning suddenly and sending it in another, etc.

When the ball has been sent out of the circle, the players turn, facing outward, and the odd man tries to send it back inside according to the same rules.

CIRCLE ZIGZAG

(See _Zigzag Games_.)

CLUB BOWLS

Four forms of this game are given in this volume in alphabetic order. Two are in line formation and two in circle formation, as follows:--

1. Line Club Bowls.--(Single) (Relay formation, one club bowled over.)

2. Line Club Bowls.--(Double) (Relay formation, ball or bag bowled between two clubs.)

3. Circle Club Bowls.--(Ring formation, clubs outside of ring.)

4. Center Club Bowls.--(Ring formation, three clubs in center.)

See also _Battle Ball_ and _Bombardment_.

CORNER BALL

(See also _Double Corner Ball_.)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball; volley ball._

GROUND.--The ground is marked off into a space measuring at least twenty-five by thirty feet. This is divided across the center by a straight line. In the further corners of each half so made, a small square goal is marked out, there being two such goals in each court.

PLAYERS.--The players are divided into two even parties, each of which takes position on one side of the ground and stations a goal man in each of the goals at the rear of the opposite side.

OBJECT.--The object of the game is to throw the ball over the heads of the opposing party to one's own goal men, who are at the rear of the opponents' court.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--The players on each side are not bound to any special territory within their own court, but will naturally see that each of the goals at their rear is well protected, and will try to intercept the ball before it can reach these goals. They will also, of course, try to throw the ball over the opposing party to their own goal men in the opposite court. No player may cross the line which divides the two halves of the ground. The goal men may not step outside of their goals. Any ball caught in this way fails to score. No opponent may step inside of a goal. When a goal man catches a ball, he must at once throw it back, trying of course to get it to his own party over the heads of the opponents, who try to intercept it.

SCORE.--Every ball caught by a goal man scores one for the party throwing. The side first scoring twenty points wins the game.

CORNER SPRY

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Balls; bean bags._

The players are divided into four groups, one group stationed in each corner called North, South, East, and West.

Four captains stand in the center, each with a bean bag, facing his corner of players, who stand in a row. The captain throws the bean bag to each player in turn in his group, who throws it back at once to the captain, and so on until the last player is reached. As the captain throws to his last player he calls "Corner Spry!" and runs to the head of the row, the last player becoming captain. The group that first succeeds in having all of its players in the captain's place wins the game.

This game was originated by Miss Amy A. Young of Cleveland, Ohio, and received honorable mention in a competition for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. It is here published by the kind permission of the author, and of the Girls' Branch, and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Brothers, publishers of the handbook in which the game first appeared.

CRACKABOUT

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Soft hand ball._

The players scatter over the playground, trying to get as far away as possible from the one who has the ball. He throws it at one of the players, trying to hit him with it, at the same time calling "Crackabout!" All of the players make a rush for the ball, the one who succeeds in getting it being the next thrower. The other players scatter immediately that one has secured it, the ball man at once throwing at some other player, naturally trying to hit the nearest. As soon as the players hear his call of "Crackabout!" they rush together again in the direction of the ball to try and secure it, and so on indefinitely. The game is thus a rapid succession of running away from the ball man and scrimmages to secure the ball. It is one of the strenuous and popular games enjoyed by boys of almost any age, and affords some lively exercise and sport in a few minutes.

CURTAIN BALL

_10 to 100 players._

_Gymnasium; playground._

_Basket ball; volley ball._

This is one of the most interesting ball games and is adaptable to many conditions. For instance, where a curtain cannot be conveniently hung, the game may be played over a high fence or hedge.

The game consists in throwing a ball backward and forward over a curtain which conceals the opposing players from each other. As the ball should not be allowed to touch the ground, scoring for the opponents whenever it does so, the players have to be very alert, and there is opportunity for much sport in the game. For a very large number of players, more than one ball may be used.

GROUND.--No outside boundaries are necessary for this game. The ground should be divided into two approximately equal parts by an opaque curtain eight feet in height, strung on a rope or wire carried across from side supports. This should touch the ground, so that there is no means of seeing the position of the opposing players on the other side. As stated above, the game may be played across a high fence or hedge instead of over a curtain.

PLAYERS.--The players are divided into two parties of equal number. There is no regular formation or disposition of the players over the ground. Each party should select an umpire, whose duty it is to stand at one end of the curtain on the opponents' side, where he can watch the opponents and keep score.

RULES.--The ball is thrown back and forth from one side to the other over the curtain, and should be caught before it can touch the floor. Players will try to deceive their opponents as to the point where the ball is to cross the curtain, and the more rapid the play is the more alert the players will have to be. The great sport of the game consists in the unexpectedness with which the ball may appear at any given point.

SCORE.--Opponents score one point whenever the ball touches the ground. The side wins which first scores twenty-one points.

This game was originated by Dr. Dudley A. Sargent.

DEAD BALL

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

_Gas ball; bean bags._

This game may be played with balls or bean bags. If with balls, a light gas ball is preferable, as for all schoolroom games. From one to three balls or bags will be needed for the game. If the class is a large one, only half the pupils should play at a time; if a small class, all may play at once. The players stand in the aisles or between the seats and desks, and should be scattered around the schoolroom.

The teacher puts the balls in play by tossing them one at a time upward, so they will land in different directions in the room. The players, as opportunity avails, without leaving their places on the floor, try to catch a ball and toss it in the same way to some other player. It is not permissible to throw the ball at another player; it must always be tossed in the air. Any player who does not catch the ball, but instead is touched by it, is "dead" (out of the game), and must sit down. Each player tosses the ball upward in some new direction as soon as he receives it. This play continues until only one player remains standing, who is considered the winner.

DODGEBALL

This is one of the most popular gymnasium or playground games. It is here described first for an informal game; then in three forms for an athletic contest, the latter as developed by Mr. William A. Stecher; and lastly, for use in the schoolroom. Forms II, III, and IV are for match games.

I. Dodgeball (informal; players not in teams).

II. Circle Dodgeball (one team forming a circle, the other team standing within).

III. Double Dodgeball (two teams in a three-court field).

IV. Progressive Dodgeball (three teams in a three-court field, changing courts at the end of each inning).

V. Schoolroom Dodgeball.

DODGEBALL

(Informal)

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

This game is a very popular gymnasium or playground game. An informal mode of play is here described. For match games between competing teams more strict athletic procedure is necessary, and three such forms of the game follow.

The players are divided into two even groups. One group forms a circle (this need not be marked on the ground). The larger the circle the more sport in the game. The other group stands within the circle, scattered promiscuously. The object of the game is for the circle men to hit the center men with a basket ball, the center men dodging to evade this. They may jump, stoop, or resort to any means of dodging except leaving the ring. Any player hit on any part of his person at once joins the circle men. The last player to remain in the center is considered the winner. The groups as originally constituted then change places for the next game, the center men becoming circle players and the circle men going to the center.

There is no retaliatory play of the ball by the center players; they merely dodge it. The ball is returned to the circle either by a toss from a center man or by a circle man stepping in for it if it should not roll or bound within reach. When two center men are hit by one throw of the ball, only the first one hit leaves the center.

CIRCLE DODGEBALL

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

GROUND.--A circle is drawn on the ground. For practice play, a temporary marking may most quickly be made by the players forming a circle, dropping hands, and each player then marking the arc of the circle in front of himself, joining it to those of the adjacent players. For match games the circle should be marked in advance and should be accurate, and measure thirty-five feet in diameter.

TEAMS.--Any number of players may take part. They are divided into two equal teams, one of which stands around and outside of the circle; the other team is grouped promiscuously within the circle. There are no officers of the teams, but for match games a referee is necessary, who should also act as score keeper.

OBJECT OF GAME.--The object of the game is for the outer or circle team to hit the players of the inner team with a basket ball, any player so hit being "out" and having to leave the game. With one slight exception, explained farther on, only the inner players score, and this on the basis of the number of players left in the circle when time limits are called. There is no retaliatory play from the inner team.

START.--The game starts on a signal from the referee with the ball in the hands of the outer circle. The referee blows his whistle for play to cease whenever an inner player is fairly touched with the ball, and again for play to resume. He also signals for time limits explained under "Score."

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--The players in the outer team must not step within the circle when throwing. A center player hit by such a throw is not out.

A ball that does not hit a center player is usually recovered by the outer circle by rolling or otherwise making its own way to the opposite side of the circle. If a ball remains in the circle or rebounds into it, one of the outer team may run in to get it. He may throw it while within the circle to one of his teamsmen who is in place outside the circle; or he may return with it to his own place and throw from there; but he may not throw at one of the inner players while himself within the circle.

The inner team does not play the ball: it only dodges the ball. Any tactics may be used for this except leaving the ring. The dodging may be done by stepping quickly in one direction or another, by twisting, stooping, jumping, or any other methods that suggest themselves.

A player of the inner team hit on any part of his person or clothing by a ball is out. This may be either from the ball on the fly or on a bounce, or rolling. Only one player may be put out for one throw of the ball. Should two players be hit by one throw of the ball, the first one touched by the ball is the one to go out. When a player is hit, the referee blows his whistle, the play ceases, and the player hit quickly leaves the circle. The referee blows his whistle again for the play to resume; but should the hit player not then have left the circle so that he may be hit a second time, such a second hit scores one point for the opponents.

SCORE.--The game is played in two halves of ten minutes each, the teams changing places at the end of the first half. The main scoring is done by the inner team, which scores one point for each player left within the circle at the end of its half. The only other scoring is by the outer team whenever a player is hit a second time before leaving the circle, each such hit scoring one point for the throwing party.

The team wins which at the end of the second half has the highest score from these two sources together.

The game as here given was developed by Mr. William A. Stecher.

DOUBLE DODGEBALL

_20 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

The game is played by two opposing teams in a three-court field, instead of by three teams in such a field as in Progressive Dodgeball. One team takes its place in the center court, and the opposing team is equally divided, one half going to each of the end courts. The teams must be of equal numbers, and for match games have sixteen players on each.

The game is played in two halves of ten minutes or less each. At the end of the first half the teams change courts.

The rules for play are exactly the same as for Progressive Dodgeball. The main difference in the games is in the smaller number of opponents in the end courts.

This game was devised by Mr. William A. Stecher

PROGRESSIVE DODGEBALL

_15 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

GROUND.--The ground is divided into three equal courts, each 30 × 30 feet. The end courts may be shorter if full space be not available.

TEAMS.--The players are divided into three equal teams, which for convenience may be designated by colors, Red, White, and Blue. There are no officers for the teams, but one referee for the game, who should also act as score keeper, is desirable, and for match games necessary. At the opening of the game the two outer teams line up, each on its inner boundary line, each player standing with one foot on the line. The center team is grouped promiscuously near the middle of the center court. The teams change courts at the end of each inning, and the formation or line-up just described is resumed at the opening of each inning.

OBJECT OF THE GAME.--The game consists in hitting players with a flying ball (not a bounce), any player so hit being out and leaving the field. For this purpose the two end teams play against the center team (but not against each other); and the center team also plays the ball in a retaliatory or aggressive game, trying to hit players on either of the end teams.

START.--The game is played in three innings, each of five or more minutes' duration. Each inning begins with the teams in the formation shown in the diagram and described under "Teams," except that the different teams will be in different courts for each inning.