This is one of the comparatively few games that gives a large
amount of activity to a large number of players playing at the
same time. The game as here given is the invention of Miss Cora
B. Clark and Miss Caroline M. Wollaston of New York City, by
whose kind permission the game is here printed. It has proven
to be a most popular and interesting game.

GROUND.--The playground or court should measure about forty by forty
feet in outside dimensions, the basket ball goals being placed at the
usual height (ten feet) on opposite sides of the court. One basket
belongs to each team. For instance, the teams are designated as Red
and Blue; one basket belongs to the Red team and the other to the
Blue team. The ground is then further divided into nine even squares.
This may be done in any of the usual lining methods as described on
page 301. The small squares are numbered in consecutive order around
the outside, starting in one corner; the ninth one is in the center.
When players are learning the game it may be advisable to mark these
numbers on the ground, but for players familiar with the game this may
be dispensed with.

[Illustration diagram: NINE-COURT BASKET BALL]

TEAMS.--While from eighteen to sixty players may play this game at
once, eighteen makes the best playing number. Where there is a larger
number it may be found best to divide them into two sets, each set to
play for ten minutes and then give place to the other, and so on
alternately.

The players are divided into two teams, each with a captain. The teams
are chosen by the following method:

The players are lined up according to height and either by marching
(one to the right and one to the left) or by numbering off (the even
numbers stepping out of the line) are divided into two files standing
side by side. Each file constitutes a team, and each member of a team
is paired off with the opponent standing in the file beside him. By
this method the two opponents forming a couple are of practically
equal height.

The couples are numbered as they pair off, the number indicating to
which court they shall go for the opening of the game. Thus, couple
Number One will go to the small court marked 1, couple Number Two to
the court marked 2, etc. Should there be more than nine couples, the
tenth couple will go to court number 1, the next couple to court
number 2, etc. Usually only one or two couples go to each small court,
but sometime