For wbbl history buffs: the game in 1896
StarzzFan.com
gives an excellent overview of a "new" girls' sport a hundred years ago,
including the game's virtues, rules, costume, injuries, and the early
version of "trainers".
"Basket-Ball at the Women's Colleges" appeared in the September 1896
issue of The (Butterick) Delineator. "The Woman's Favorite Magazine"
covered "the Field of Fashion, Woman's Work and Recreation." Note: the
article was written by an English observer of the U.S. game.
Karra
http://www.StarzzFan.com
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Basket-ball has many lovers; it affords its fine delights to the
looker-on only less largely than to the players themselves. In vigor
and enchantment it is so far ahead of all other games heretofore played
by girls, that it might almost be said to mark the introduction of the
true athletic spirit into women's colleges. If anyone dispute this, it
will be because he does not appreciate basket-ball enough to be partial.
The newspapers are full of accounts of the new game, but not sufficient
distinction is implied to give to those that have not seen it played any
adequate idea of its novelty and its heroics. It has been called 'a
sort of idealized foot-ball,' which would be accurate if it did not
sound seraphic. Young puppies tumbling over each other illustrate one
phase of basket-ball. For the rest, it consists of running and throwing
a ball either to another player or into the basket[.]
This, of course, is speaking only in outline, for there is required of
the players at every point of the field such varied skill, such splendid
activity, alertness and fire that the game cannot be qualified in a few
words. Merely as a display of movement and grace, it provides a keen
artistic gratification. 'Aesthetics and Athletics' was a new toast at
college suppers last Spring. The tribute belongs to basket-ball.
Tennis, after basket-ball, is positively archaic.
Finally, to give with one stroke the character and possibilities of
basket-ball, let it be asserted that if George Meredith's heroines could
escape from him, it is unimaginable that they would not instinctively
form a team. Fancy a sport worthy the powers of Carinthia, Jane and
Diana, and 'the dainty rogue!' Then consider that young women of a type
comparable to these are found on some of the college teams, and you will
understand the enthusiasm for basket-ball and the reason why it has
everywhere pushed other games into the background at short notice.
Basket-ball is only about three years old.
The great simplicity of the game puts the observer at once in touch with
it. In matters of detail it varies rather widely as played in the
different colleges. The variations will be noted later. For the
purpose of present illustration, the Bryn Mawr game will be quoted; it
is usually taken as a type and follows quite closely in the main the
rules of the National Association.
They play at Bryn Mawr on a field 120 ft. x 80 ft., with nine on a side
[diagram omitted] . . . The team that succeeds in putting the ball most
frequently into the enemy's basket wins the game.
The game is started by the umpire, who stands in the center of the field
and tosses the ball. As the ball rises the centers try to strike it to
send it in the direction of their respective goals. No matter to which
point of the field the ball goes, there are always two players,
opponents, ready to contend for it. When the ball is obtained by a
player, the fight for it which frequently results is one of the great
excitements of the Bryn Mawr game.
This contest is governed by very strict rules: The players must not
step after they have taken possession; the one in possession of the ball
is allowed to hold it only in her hands; the one contending for it must
not strike it with her fist and must not hold her opponent with both
arms. When one side succeeds in putting the ball into the goal, it
scores one point. After a goal has been made, the ball is again put in
play by the umpire, as at the beginning of the game. The game is played
in two periods of twenty minutes each, with a ten minutes' rest between.
The most important fouls are: Running with the ball, throwing out of
bounds, catching the ball on the fly out of bounds, 'tackling' (holding
the opponent with both arms to prevent her throwing the ball) and 'rough
play.' A foul gives a free throw to the opponents, thus giving them a
chance to make a goal. After a foul the ball is tossed by the umpire,
just as at the beginning fo the game. A consideration of these fouls
will show that the umpire must be industriously alert. For example, in
the heat of the onset it is nearly impossible to come to a stand the
instant the ball is caught. Again, in that tussle for the ball which is
so much fun, especially in a match game for the championship where class
feeling runs high, there lurk many tempting chances to go astray of the
rules. It is the distinction of what is known as 'the Vassar game' that
when a girl obtains the ball she has a free chance to throw it. There
is no 'scrapping.' An audience of parents and guardians would probably
discover much to say in favor of the game so played -- but it lacks
excitement.
It is claimed by the advocates of basket-ball that no severe accident or
permanent injury has ever resulted from the game, and there is abundant
evidence that, where girls are equal to the sport its effects are the
best. In most colleges a careful physical examination is insisted upon
before a girl is permitted to play, and where only the properly robust
are eligible to team practice, the chances of a serious accident are, of
course, diminished. Occasionally, however, an ankle is sprained, or two
heads come in collision, or somebody gets a fall. The breaking of a
tooth, even, is on record.
When one of these little accidents occurs, it is touching to see the
attentions showered upon the heroine by her 'trainer,' her sympathizers
and her friends. From the throng of spectators they instantly appear,
rushing forward with every known restorative, and the result of their
solicitude is sometimes amazing--as when an eye momentarily blinded
receives a douche of cologne water, and the pause in the game is thus
prolonged. The most common interruption is a slipped hair-ribbon--an
incident mentioned because of its unfailing interest to strangers.
Another claim for basket-ball frequently reiterated is that it was never
intended as a rough sport by its inventor, and that, when properly
played, it is a perfectly safe exercise for girls. However that may be,
it is a very important point to be urged in defence of basket ball that
for team work a long and very careful preparation and training are
insisted upon. Hygiene is probably better understood and regarded by
the players than by other students. Besides the scientific practice of
special exercises, special rules of diet are observed. In addition to
the advice of gymnasium director and college physician, each member of a
team has her own particular guardian angel in her 'trainer.' The
trainers--fellow students, by the way--coach their proteges in season
and out of season. At the games they stand in readiness to instruct and
succor. If the trainer declare her charge weary, the latter obediently
leaves the field and her substitute comes forward.
Every member of a team has an understudy. When the interval of rest is
called, and again at the end of the game, the trainers hasten forward
with cloaks to enfold the players and tenderly hurry them into the
gymnasium or other shelter, where the panting heroines are deposed on
mattresses, refreshed, sustained, encouraged and 'rubbed down.' A
pretty courtesy among rival teams is often remarked, and there is among
the members of one team a devotion that knows 'nor breed nor birth'; but
the loving kindness of the trainer toward her charge is beyond the
competition of terms. There is an authenticated case of a trainer's
refusing an invitation to dinner after a match game because her young
warrior belonged to the losing team.
It hardly needs to be said that players of basket-ball possess varying
athletic gifts, and that a variety of talents is needed on a perfect
team. Also, different teams are remarkable for different excellences.
Certain teams are famous for having brilliant individual players. A
goal-keeper who can pertinaciously beset the girl playing 'home' with
teasing strokes and misleading thrusts when the latter is trying to pass
the ball to a comrade or to put it in the goal, may sometimes aid vastly
in winning the game for her side, even when her athletic abilities are
liited to this single virtue. Or, a player skilled in putting the ball
into the basket under closest fire of opponents may determine success
for her team. Swift runners have a great place to fill, and a girl who
has a strong, long, sure 'throw' is a star.
But, given fair players, the best equipped team is the one that is most
perfectly organized. In the inter-class tournament played at Bryn Mawr
last Spring (1896) to decide the championship, the conquering force of
the triumphant Seniors was that of fine organization. They furnished a
superb example of what is called 'team-play.' In the final game, played
between '96 and '97, to see the ball passed from one end of the field to
the other and back again, handed along from one Senior to another, the
Juniors splendidly pursuing, was as good a sight as the eye could
cherish and thrilled the beholder almost musically.
To present the variations in the way basket-ball is played in the many
women's colleges would involve a Summer of research. Perhaps the game
has been in vogue too short a time to have brought the same set of rules
into prevalence. Perhaps it is a point of superiority and popularity
that it is a good game even when liberties are taken with it. In any
case, it varies in the number of players, in the size of the field, in
the size of the ball, in the style and size of the goal, and in the
rules governing the game. It is even varied in the score. Sometimes a
goal counts three points; at Bryn Mawr it counts one. In some places it
is an indoor game; again, it is considered so thoroughly an outdoor game
that only special practice is kept up in-doors during the Winter. It
even has different seasons in different colleges. At Wellesley the
interclass tournament, which marks the height of excitement over
basket-ball, has been held in November. At Vassar, it is said, a match
game is played every two weeks, although Vassar has also a tournament in
May. At Smith the enthusiasm for basket-ball culminates at the end of
the Winter term.
At the English universities the students are able, of course, to play
the corresponding game of hockey out of doors all the year round. As
they have no classes there, in the American sense of the term, the
tournaments are generally held between different clubs. At Bryn Mawr
the Fall is spent in getting the team play well under way before Winter
closes all but indoor practice, since, to those accustomed to the
far more vigorous field game, a gymnasium is hardly large enough for any
thing but practice in special lines. As soon as the ground is hard
enough the sport begins again and moves on to its climax in the
Spring contest for the championship. The class that wins the
championship at Bryn Mawr in 1897 will be in fine lustre. In addition
to the glory of victory, it will hold during the next year a silver
lantern which the champions of '96 bestowed, at parting, upon their
honorable foe, '97, and which will hereafter fill the office of a
challenge cup. A lantern, it will be remembered, is the Bryn Mawr
emblem.
Another minor variation in basket-ball procedure is found in the
arrangement of the tournaments. At Smith the two lower-class teams
compete. At Vassar the matches are engaged in by the four classes. This
series of games extends over six Saturday afternoons, so that each class
may meet each other class twice. The palm is awarded to the team
holding the highest number of victories in the end. At Bryn
Mawr the Seniors first play against the Sophomores, and the Juniors
against the Freshmen. The best two out of three games in each contest
are taken as decisive, and the winning classes then meet in the final
set of games.
The question of costume is still discussed among basket-ball players.
Divided skirts are the single predominating feature. At Smith,
Radcliffe and Vassar they play in the gymnasium suit--consisting of a
loose, dark-blue blouse and bloomers, stockings and low tennis
shoes--worn for all outdoor sports. The class numeral, in the class
color, is worn on the blouse of team members. In cold weather sweaters
of the class color are worn. At Vassar only those girls holding records
may wear a V on their sweaters. At Bryn Mawr team members wear flannel
blouses of the class color, a short corduroy skirt and knickerbockers,
low shoes and leggings. The class numeral is on the blouse. At Leland
Stanford University the costume consists of a sweater, bloomers,
stockings and low shoes. Almost universally the players wear their hair
down in braids. When necessary, the front locks are held back by a
stout black ribbon austerely bound about the head.
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