Albert Meader Chesley

“ Then the last man who laid down rises to his feet and strides forward up the line, the rest following as fast as their turn comes. During all these manoeuvres the grasp of the hands has not been broken. ”

“ The guards' of each team must remain back of their respective goal lines and act as goal defenders. When a goal is made the ball is placed in the centre of the field again and at the referee's signal, the guards rush for the ball and the forwards become guards, and so on throughout the game, the guards and forwards changing positions at the end of each goal. The guards must remain back of their goal line and in defending goal are allowed to place one foot in front of goal line. If they step over the goal line with both feet to block a play it is a foul. ”

“ At the word "Go," each team rushes toward the centre, using the feet only in working the ball toward the centre, each team endeavoring to get the ball across the opposite goal. Should a hold be broken or the men fall down, the whistle is blown, lines formed over again and the team breaking or fouling loses a point, three fouls making a goal. Best two in three or three in five goals constitute the game. The ends are the men who must do the best work, preventing the ball from going out at the sides, also keeping the lines closed up. ”

“ Moreover, it is the glory of play, that it may not only prepare for future serious occupations, but does actually in some happy cases, develop into a life work. Art belongs to play, and he who paints or chisels or writes because he must is only following out a play impulse into and through maturity. ”

“ The duty of the bowlers is to knock down the club at the other end of the gymnasium with an ordinary basket ball, an old one preferred. He must stand behind "touch" in bowling. The batter defends his "wicket" with the club in his hand. If opportunity is offered, on striking the ball, he exchanges places with his mate at the other wicket, scoring one run. If either of the wickets are knocked down while either of the runners are out of touch, it puts the runner out who is nearest that wicket and the next in order takes his place at bat. ”

“ Leaving the bases or crossing the boundary line to interfere with a play or gain possession of the ball is to be punished by giving the ball to the opposing side, or awarding them a point, Kicking or striking the ball out of a player's hands may be allowed, but if all rough playing is to be avoided it should not be permitted. ”

“ The belief that play activity has its root in instinct is by no means novel. Professor James, in his chapter on instinct, catalogues what seem to him to be the most prominent of the tendencies which are instinctive in the human species, and in the list is play. In 1877 John Strachan, a physician of Edinburgh, issued a little book in which he endeavors to show that play is instinctive, and that it is Nature's method of preparation for mature life, claiming that play activity, alone, is sufficient for the highest development of all the faculties, mental or physical. ”

“ As the object of the game is to guard the ground on which you stand, cover it as effectually as possible by even distribution of players, taking care that the best players are not together. If you have a weak spot try not to let the other side discover it, or they will throw their ball in that direction. Vary your plays. For a time aim far beyond the opposite base, then of a sudden throw the bell just outside the bases. This is a difficult play and should be only attempted by one who has a sure aim, as it may lead to a foul. For long distance, throw high or the ball may be intercepted. ”

“ The game can well be applied to the gymnasium, however, using the mats at either end of the floor or a chalk line at either end.
All the players congregate on one side. One player in the centre endeavors to make them step off the curb by shouting, "Ham—Ham—Chicken—Ham—Bacon," the word "bacon" being the signal for all to cross to the other side, while he endeavors to catch one. The one caught must help him catch the others. If any one steps off before the centre man says "Bacon" he has to go to the aid of the catcher. ”

“ Give the winning team 2 points and score a team 1 for every time a bag touches the floor, either on account of a poor throw or a bad catch. Play three or five games and add up the points. (Keep score on the floor with chalk.) This method of scoring puts a premium on careful playing, for a team that wins, but makes two errors, will be no better off than a team which plays slower, but without errors. There should be one umpire for each team to count the errors, and a scorer who may also be judge of finish. ”

“ The players are divided into two opposing sides, each of which occupies one of the Bases. A player from one side begins the game by running beyond the bounds of his Base and one on the opposite side pursues him. A second man from the first party chases the pursuer, and so on, each party sending out as many men as they choose. If any one is touched, while out of bounds, by a player on the opposite side who left bounds after him he must go to the prison belonging to the enemy, and stay there until he is released by one of his own side. ”

“ An indoor base ball and bat should be used. The batter stands just behind one line, near its end, and behind this same line all the men that are to bat should stand, while the other team should be stationed about so as to catch the fly or pick up the grounders. The pitcher should stand on the line about two yards from the batter, and throw up the ball which the batter strikes. If the batter thinks that he cannot reach the opponents' side before being struck with the ball, he may go to one side, still keeping behind his own line, and wait for a chance to reach there. ”

“ Great sport can be attained by adding several articles; for instance, basket ball, base ball, tennis ball, Indian club, dumb bell, etc., if the class is large. This combination keeps one in a state of excitement, and perhaps in some instances too much, but still is a very practical game for the gymnasium. A penalty may be attached to the person dropping or failing to pass accurately. It may be to withdraw from the circle after making two or more such errors. ”

“ One running around the circle will drop the "beetle" (a sack similar to a policeman's club, stuffed with cotton batting, or a towel with a knot in the end will do) into the hand of another. The person receiving the "beetle" quickly turns upon his right-hand neighbor, and with a series of blows chases him around the circle and back to his place. If the neighbor can run faster than the holder of the "beetle" he will, of course, escape the blows. ”

“ Five players stand within a circle formed by from twenty to thirty boys. Four players attempt, by hopping on either the right or the left foot, to oust the remaining player from the circle, who seeks to avoid all thrusts and attacks by running and dodging. Upon being "hopped out" the next five players in order enter the circle, and so on, until all players in turn have been in the ring. The hoppers must at all times keep their arms folded over their chests, and never use their hands, simply pushing with their shoulders. ”

“ The players on each side group themselves so that each man will have a space of from four to six feet square to move about in. The leader of the game throws the ball into the midst of the players of either group in such a way that it will rebound, the play consisting in keeping the ball by striking it with the hand from above, downward, and upon the first opportunity directing it into the opposite group on the other side of the line. ”

“ At the signal, the club is grasped with the left hand and passed down the line, being touched only by the left hand of each man. The rear man passes it behind him and it is then passed forward by the right hands alone. The first man sets the club down across the line where it must remain standing or no point is made. If any but the one hand touches the club on its journey, a foul is counted, or the line wins that first gets the club to its place without fouling. ”

“ The game consists in overpowering the enemy, and making as many prisoners as possible. The stronger players must cope with their equals, the weaker ones with their kind. Wrestling on the ground or dragging is not to be permitted. If, by means of pulling, pushing or carrying, without interference of a third party, a player succeeds in forcing his opponent from the battlefield, such vanquished opponent must repair to the prisoners' guard without. ”

“ The rules should be simple enough not to detract from the interest of the game. The majority of games should admit a large number of players. This is one of the most difficult, as well as one of the most important, qualifications to fulfill. Does the game "violate any of the fundamental conditions of organic life; or, to put it positively and more fairly, does it favor the fundamental conditions, the fundamental necessities of respiration, circulation, nutrition and nerve action? ”

“ Each player has three clubs placed in front of him at one end of the gymnasium. He must take the clubs, one at a time, and place them behind a certain line at the other end of the gymnasium and return to the starting line. If a man fails to place a club properly or stand it up, he must return and do so before winning or completing the race. ”

“ Any one of the players now leaves his group and proceeds toward the centre group, whereupon a player from any other group immediately seeks to fill the place made vacant by the first player. Other players now make similar attempts to fill the vacancies ensuing in the different groups. Meanwhile the player who began the game bestirs himself to get a place in any one of the squares. Should the game, at any time, come to a halt because all the squares are filled, then the last player to enter a square selects the next leader. ”

“ After awhile the throwing distance may be increased, in order to make the game more interesting, it frequently occurring that the players do not succeed in displacing the guard's sack, when it behooves him to be careful lest some one enters his trust—a misdirected run not infrequently freeing all players who stand around, watching an opportunity to regain their sacks. ”

“ Of any even number of players, half form a circle, while the other half stands inside the ring, facing outward. Those in the centre dodge the ball, which, while in play, is thrown by any of those forming the circle, with the intention of striking the centre ones out. Those put out take their places among those of the circle, and have an equal chance at those remaining in the centre. Only one is put out at a time. ”

“ When all that side has batted and been put out, the other side comes to bat. A wicket knocked down puts a man out, also a fly caught, a foul caught or a runner struck with a batted ball, or touched out. ”

“ Form a circle in front in close order, wide enough to permit the passage or escape of the centre player. Pupils face the centre. The centre player tosses the ball to whomsoever he likes, such player in turn tossing the ball back to the centre player who must catch it and escape with it through one of the openings, the player who threw the ball endeavoring to catch him before he can succeed. Places are exchanged when the centre player has been caught. ”