BASKETBALL

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 2

BASKETBALL

[By Defence.] Trophies. All holders of trophies are aslked to see that the trophies are returned to the Y W.C.A. as soon as possible. Dance, The association has decided to cooperate with the Men’s Hockey Association. Those desiring tickets are asked to set into touch with Miss Brown or with Mrs M'Aughtrie (care Y.W.0.A.) before Monday, as the function has been arranged for the following evening in the Embassy Salon. The dance is being organised by Mr Sew Hoy, and, under the direction of an excellent band, promises to be very njoyable. Last Week’s Postponement. The vagaries of the weather were responsible for a number of disappointments last Saturday. _ The Postponement Sub-committee, in the interests of the players, postponed all fixtures at 1 o’clock, the postponement notice lacing broadcast. Unfortunately, the showers experienced in most parts of the city missed some districts altogether, and consequently many of the players reported at Logan Park at the specified time to find that only a few members of their team were present. As Logan Park was one of the “ missed districts,” games could have been played, and tboso who appeared at the courts were, naturally, very disappointed at missing their game. All the fixtures which were to have been played, were very important, and had they been played under wot and slippery conditions the results would certainly not have been a fair indication of the relative merits of both teams. The fifth grade tournament was also to have been played, and it would not have been in the interests of tho girls to have had them waiting for their next round of games in damp costumes. Local Fixtures. The various competitions are all at interesting stages. In the fifth grade the winner is practically decided, but in the fourth grade, semi-finals in both sections have to ho played before the winners can meet in the final encounter. The same applies to the second grade, in which High School Ex-Girls have to meet Albany in section 1.. Ravensbourne holding pride of place in section IT. In the third grade Arthur Barnett’s heads one section, hut the winner of section 11. will not be decided until after Saturday’s games. Tho first grade championship is also uncertain. One point separates Training College and Y.W.C.A., so that the result of the second round encounter will bo the deciding factor for tho season. Both teams are playing basketball of a particularly high standard.

and tho coming game between them should provide an excellent exhibition of the game. Besides tho important grade fixtures, both the first and fifth grade tournaments have to be played. The first grade tournament, in particular, should prove very interesting, as tho teams are evenly matched. The Running Rule. “What constitutes running?” is one of the regular queries put to referees and club coaches, and the correct interpretation of the rule is very important in any close basketball fixture. A player is considered to ha running if, while in possesson of the ball, she takes a step in any direction. If standing still when catching tho ball, she may take a step with one foot and then jump in the air, but she must get rid or the hall before she reaches the ground again. If moving when she catches tho ball, the foot that first reaches tho ground after she has the hall cannot take a step. She may still jump while passing or shooting for goal. A player, also, may turn round while in possession of the hall, provided one foot remains in the same place. A slight shuffling of the feet, obviously to gain balance, as distinct from gaining territorial advantage, should not he penalised. The aim of all basketball players, however, should ho to develop a continuous movement of the feet, so that the next position can ho reached in the minimum amount of time; hut this can only he accomplished without infringing the running rule by developing that lightning handling of the ball which is the mark of the expert player. Rule Interpretation. A basketball player received the ball within shooting distance of the goal, took aim for goal, and held tho ball about Isec before passing to a team mate whom she considered to be in a handier position. Tho question has been asked: “Should the pass he interpreted as a shot at goal and a throw-in awarded, or should the player bo penalised for holding?” The penalty would ho a free pass to an opponent for a “ held hall ” —“ held ball ” implying holding tho hall for more than 3sec in hounds. When out of bounds a ball may also be held for only Ssec when once in a position to play. In the case stated above, tho action of tho player was quite definite, and only one interpretation could bo given. If she had thrown for goal she would not then have infringed, as she is allowed 5s pc in which io take Iter shot after gaining possession.