s three or four couples must be so assigned, to
accommodate a large number of players. Where there are so many,
however, it will be found best to divide the number into halves, one
half playing at a time, as previously mentioned. Should there be an
odd player (without a partner), he is placed in the center court
(number nine), and remains there throughout the game. A good leader,
however, will see that some player changes off with this odd
individual during the game.

It will thus be seen that each court contains an equal number of
players of each team. For instance, if there be but two players in a
court, one of them belongs to the Red team and the other to the Blue
team. If there be four players in the court, two of these belong to
the Red team and two to the Blue team, etc.

OBJECTS OF THE GAME.--The objects of the game for each team are, (1)
to throw the ball into its own basket; this may be done from any court
in the diagram; and (2) to prevent the opponents from putting the ball
into their basket.

One of the marked characteristics of this game is the constant change
or progression in the position of players, as every time that a goal
is made with the ball the players all move to the next square or small
court. This is done in order to give each player an opportunity to
play from all positions on the field. This makes all-round players,
and gives the retiring, less aggressive ones a fair share of the play.
It also prevents certain players having the most desirable positions
throughout the game.

START.--The game is started by the teacher or referee tossing the ball
in the air between two opposing players in court nine, each facing his
own basket. Each player tries to send the ball toward his own basket,
others playing upon the ball immediately.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--The ball may be thrown for a basket from
any of the courts. In other words, it is not necessary for the ball to
be passed to a player in court two to be thrown for the red basket, or
to court six in order to be thrown to the blue basket, though that may
be a desirable play. Experience has shown, however, that when a player
on the Blue team is standing in one of the courts farthest away, even
in court two, it is not usually wise to throw to court six by way of
the center (court nine), as too much massing of players results. The
Blue team player in court two will often find it better to throw the
ball to a player of this team in court one or