Emperor Ball

Source: Games For The Playground, Home, School And Gymnasium
Category: BALL GAMES



(Captain Bal
IV)


_30 to 40 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

This game is really a form of Captain Ball, but differs from
any of the previous forms in the following points


A neutral officer, called the Emperor, is stationed in the
center of the field between the two teams, and the ball scores
its highest when it has been thrown entirely around one of the
circles, from there to the captain in the centre, and from him
to the Emperor. There are two fielders, or players at large,
who try to intercept the ball before it reaches the Emperor, or
to block it in any other part of the play.



GROUND
In the center of the ground is placed a springboard, box,
stool, or other platform for the impartial ruler of the game called
the Emperor. The ground on each side of this point is marked out as
follows: A series of bases or small circles (the number to vary with
the number of players) is drawn so as to form together a large circle
with from four to ten feet between each two small ones. The small
circles should be from two to five feet in diameter. In the center of
this large ring another small circle or base is marked for the captain
of the team.

TEAMS
The players appoint one impartial officer who is the Emperor
and stands in the center on a raised base (box, jumping board, or
other improvised platform). The balance of the players are divided
into two equal teams, consisting each of a captain, two center
players, or fielders, and a number of basemen and base guards. The
two fielders may go anywhere on the field, but their main duty is to
prevent the ball reaching the Emperor from an opponent. They also pick
up the ball when it goes afield and hand it to the Emperor for
starting again.

Each captain takes his place in a center base; the basemen stand each
in a base in the circle surrounding his captain; the guards, of equal
number with the basemen, take their places in the opposite field, each
being assigned to guard one of the basemen, including the captain of
the opposing team, and may not go from the immediate vicinity of the
circle he guards.

OBJECTS OF THE GAME
The objects of the game for each team consist
(1) in throwing the ball from baseman to baseman completely around its
circle; (2) around the circle as in (1) and in addition, to throw from
the last baseman to the center player or captain; and (3) having
completed the previous two points, to throw from the captain to the
Emperor, who stands between the two halves of the field. The object of
the guards, of course, is (1) to intercept the ball so as to prevent
the completion of this play in any of its points; and (2) to gain
possession of the ball so as to throw it across the field to their own
basemen on the opposite side.

START
The ball is put in play at the beginning of the game, and
always thereafter, when necessary, by the Emperor. He must naturally
be perfectly impartial, and may toss the ball to either side, in turn,
or use his judgment in choosing which side shall have it. He will, of
course, do his best to catch the ball for either side that throws it
to him. The ball is put newly in play after every point scored, after
every foul, and after going afield.

RULES
No baseman may step outside of his base even with one foot. A
ball caught by the captain with one foot out of his base does not
score, nor if so caught by a baseman does it count in completing the
round of the circle; but this does not count as a foul, and a captain
so catching a ball may toss it to one of his team. No mass play is
permissible among the guards, each one being obliged to guard only the
baseman to whom he is assigned. This does not apply to the two
fielders, who may move anywhere on the field, and who pick up balls
that go out of the large circles.

FOULS
It is a foul (1) to hit, bat, or snatch a ball from an
opponent; (2) to hand a ball instead of throwing it; (3) to hold a
ball longer than time enough to turn around quickly, or three
seconds; (4) for a guard to step inside a base. Each foul scores one
point for the opponents, and the ball is then put newly in play by the
Emperor.

SCORE
A team scores one point when a ball has successfully completed
the round of its circle of basemen, but is intercepted in a throw from
that to the captain; a team scores two points when its ball has
completed the round of the circle of basemen and been caught by its
captain in the center, but fails to reach the Emperor; a team scores
five points when its ball has completed the full play of the circle,
its captain, and the Emperor. A team scores one point for every foul
made by the opponents. The ball is put newly in play by the Emperor
after every point scored.

The game is played in time limits of fifteen-minute halves, with a
rest of five or ten minutes between the halves. The team wins which
has the highest score.

The teams change sides and places for the second half, guards becoming
basemen, and _vice versa_.


Next: Progressive Captain Ball

Previous: Captain Bal

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