Women's Basketball in Iowa in 1897

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June 11, 1897, Friday - The Hull Index, Iowa

BASKET BALL

We had the pleasure last evening among a large number of others of witnessing for the first time a game of “basket ball.”

We had thought as we heard of the game, that it was merely a game of romp among a lot of merry laughing school girls. It is, but more.

To spectators it is just as inspiring and full of interest, possibly more so than a game of base ball or foot ball.

The young ladies of the academy have been enjoying the game for the past few months until they have become so proficient in their playing that to our mind there is probability of its taking precedence over the games of ball played by our young men. We are not well enough versed in the rule of the game to describe it or how points are made.

One feature of the game worthy of note is the absence of screaming and talking. Scarcely a word is spoken. In fact talking is not allowed.

The presence of an umpire is indispensable, and his decisions are submitted to without a word or look of disapproval.

The players on each side are on the alert to catch and throw the huge looking ball to the players on their particular side in order to have it reach the goal where the ball is to be tossed by some one designated into the basket.

Frequently, just as a point is almost sure to be made, the ball falls in the hands of an opponent and away it goes back in the direction of the opposite goal where the same fate is possibly awaiting the other side.

We hope soon to see another game, and can well say that it is worth the same time and trouble to witness, as a game of base ball.

Excerpted from “The First Decade of Women’s Basketball: A Time Capsule of Media Reports from the Dawn of the Game”

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