Show instructions TO basketball PLAYERS the hard work of the center on a basketball team is discussed in the accompanying article which Is the third in the series written by james Nal naismith smith originator of the game by JAMES NAISMITH when I 1 evolved the game of basket ball many years ago three men played the center position but corn of which I 1 have been a mem her since that time have seen fit to lessen the congestion of the play ing area and as a consequence the center of today does the work of all the men eliminated originally there were nine men upon teams three centers three forwards and three guards then one forward and one guard were taken from the lineup line up and finally the teams reduced to quin bets by having b t a single center of course even in those days when nine men composed basket ball teams the center jumped tor for the ball in the mid lie dle of the floii the other men playing it at his side being known as center for wards because of the elimination of hese these positions the role of center to lay a y 1 is the hardest to successfully fill having been passed diagonally across the floor the instant the center knocks the ball to forward no I 1 for ward no 2 vacates his position and takes that which until a moment before was occupied by no I 1 that defends the goal in case of a carom from the basket or board back of it to the lefthand left hand side the center holds his position to the right of the goal after attempting to score while forward no I 1 takes a place directly in front of the goal thus cover covering frIg all points toward which the sphere may bounce after a possible failure in the center effort to lodge the leather with IP the net it will be noticed that in these plans tor for defense after the try for the goal has been made the player who passes the ball to the basket thrower from the farthest point away from the net takes up the position nearest him to save loss of time As a conse quence in this diagram the forward who throws the ball to the center in the defense plan takes up a position directly in front of the goal I 1 have evolved these formations in that man ner in order that there may be no un B N v G MOVEMENT N T OF EU EUL L 81 8 1 rii OT or PL jr to ro elt E lt imeta r ov tk er to Q wp brer R tf ZAP 00 0 Q I 1 in fact far more difficult than that of forward or guard for the center besides doing his part in starting plays when the ball Is tossed up in the middle of the floor must be both an efficient guard as well as possess ing the basket shooting qualifications of a forward in match games the forwards post lions are under the basket or in the vicinity the guards place Is at his opponents goal but the center must be everywhere besides guarding hia his individual opp opponent nent he must aid in preventing others of the opposing team from scoring and when the ball Is in the territory of his own team he must be around the goal ready to try for baskets as opportunity de mands thus in these plays which I 1 am pre benting here it will be seen that these are the first formations in which the center Is the objective point these are known as forward to center in the opposite forward forwards s position it if you have several candidates tor for cen ter position on your team and would ascertain which is fastest try them out individually at this combination it is the best test I 1 know for speed because of the fact that the center after jumping the sphere to his for ward must be exceptionally fast to get around his man and be in n t the he op cosite forwards forward s place at the same in stant that forward no I 1 as in the diagram to the left shoots the ball in his direction in the first play denoted by the dia gram the center slaps the ball to forward no 1 at his lefthand left hand side then the center spurts bof tor the post tion of forward no 2 where he ar rives at the same instant the ball loes ines and attempts a goal the sphere a 1 il i l grffta necessary waste of effort or precious time in reaching positions of vantage after the prescribed formation has been carried out one plan which I 1 have injected in to the arrangement of these plays Is the ever present feature of being able to carry the formation a pass or two farther it if necessary supposing the center is blocked in the effort to score by an opposing guard or his own in opponent it Is an easy mat ter to shoot I 1 the sphere to forward no 2 on the opposite bide side of the goal or to forward no 1 who is running down the floor to take his position dl erectly in front of the basket it if tor for ward no 2 is blocked after catching the sphere he may shoot the ball to forward no 1 on the run thus work the plan of defense to advantage as an offensive tactic constant tice at these formations their deafen sive sides etc may be relied upon to put a team in great shape tor for the opening of the basket ball year in these two plays where the center figures most prominently there Is nc no better test of strength endurance an speed brought forth there are many qualifications necessary in developing ve a center in the first place he should be tall and able to humr jumi high into the air second he should have exceptionally fine wind and third an accurate eye for baskets he should be able to guard his own opposing center in the latter s terri tory with the determination of a sticking guard and to lose his op while the ball Is in his own team teams s territory for that reason the versatile ath ete lete is the one to develop into a baa bas ket ball center i J imia |