Basketball. OPENING TOURNEYS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 14

Basketball. OPENING TOURNEYS

"Centre.")

Many New Players Seen on the Courts MUCH ENTHUSIASM

* r (By

Basketball can now well be saad to have become New Zealand's national game for girls. Each year sees many new players on the courts, and all evermindful of the satisf action of good team play. Great interest was shown both by players and onlookers at' the opening tournameUts at Ebbett Park, Hastings, on Thursday and Saturday last. Mrs. W. Harris, the association's' president, welcomed all the playera to the courts, and wiehed everyone very happy games and expressed the hope that the 1937 season would be a most enjoyable one for all concerned. If t^e interest and enthusiasm that was evident in the opening games is to continue during ithe season, then we are going to experience another very enjoyable term of basketball.

The attainment of speed and accuracy, anticipation and resource in pass- ' ing is the. first requisite of successful basketball. The opening games showed that the teams are being trained on these lines, and it was very pleasing to see teams showing even just patches of successful passing. Good. combination is the greatest asset in the game, and in this connection we must give praise to the High School Senior A team who, with very little time to learn tactics, showed np remarkably well, and won both their games on Saturday. The most notieeaole feature on both days was the many ehanges that have taken place in the majority of teams. Many new players have appeared, and it is regrettable to state that a lot of the experienced "players were not to be seen. However, twelve teams took part in the Thursday tournament, and seventeen on Saturday.

Guiding Principles. For those who have not learned the guiding principles of the game, they are quoted here: — 1. TJse the whole eourfc. 2. Possession is nine points of the law; to keep possession and attack is the best means of both attack and defenee. 3. Speed is essential — to this end the ideal handling of the ball is to take it and pass it on practieally in the one motion; thq short swift pass is the most effective.

3. Added to good courfc play there must be aeeurate goal-throwing; this ns gained by consistent practice. 5. In defenee close attendance on your opponent when the ball is in her team's hands is the first rule;; this to be changed instantly when the ball is captured by one of your cwn players. 6. Lastly and most important of all, team play should be tho constant aim and ideal; ;and, not to be forgotton, "Every player — a Rule Book " Games Aftemoon. In view of the wonderful succcss of the games erening held in the Dvill

Hall last year, it is proposed to have a similar contest earlier this season at Ebbett Park. The first Saturday and Thursday following Coronation Day have been fixedf for this-event, and if' the same enjoyment is derived this year as last, there is to be a host of tun. Light refreshments will be obtainable on the grounds. The same niles will apply as last year, and club captains are asked to see that their teams are ready to commence sharp at 2 p.m., and every team to be equipped with a basketball. - Refereee' Associatioh. The anhual goneral meeting was held on Monday evening with only a fair attendance of referees. The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs. E. S. Craven; secretary, M'ss C. Hannah; executive members, Misses G. Symes and. I. Anderson: delegate to Hastings Basketball Assoeiation, Mr. W. Harris. Rules were discussed and defined, and it was brought to the notice of those present that players do not seem to realise that they are allowed only three •"econds to hold the ball once they have it in a governable manner. Three seconds is a very short time, and it cs apparent that refereee will have to be much stricter with this rule.