The Evening World

A New Series of Illustrated Lessons, Showing How Every Woman May Have an Inexpensively Equipped Gymnasium in Her Own Home, and Teaching Games and Exercises Which Promote Excellent Physical Condition.

NO. 12—VOLLEY BALL.

To-day I am showing you the ball that we will use in our home gymnasium. I purchased it in the ten-cent store, and we shall use it in a great many interesting and beneficial games and exercises. It is light in weight, so that it will be readily handled by my slender readers as well as those desiring to reduce.

I want you to make your home gymnasium so attractive that every member of the family will enjoy it, and in order to accomplish this I shall illustrate many healthful games, which will prove a pleasure as well as a help to all.

One of the very best games I know of for making the muscles supple, the eye alert and the step light and elastic is volley ball.
I learn from the Spalding Athletic Library that this game was invented by a man named Morgan.
It was first introduced at Springfield, Mass., during a convention of physical directors, under the auspices of what was then the Y. M. C. A. Training School.
It may be played on most any size court, either indoors or outdoors.
Everybody seems to like it, old and young, male and female, business men, mechanics, college students and school boys and girls.
It is mild enough for the weakest and vigorous enough for the athlete, dependent upon the players themselves.

HOW TO PLAY VOLLEY BALL.

The number of players, when recreation is the object, is unlimited. In the regulation game a net seven feet six inches high is used, but for our home gymnasium we will use a rope or a mosquito net and stretch it at this height and at least three feet wide.
This will answer the same purpose.
Nothing but the palm of the hand is used to bat the ball and you must not hit it with the fist nor grab and hold on to it. If you use a net you must not touch it nor reach over it to hit the ball.
The extremely high net is the strongest feature of this healthful game, because it forces you to hold the head and chin up, thereby correcting the double chin, round shoulders, flat chest and large abdomen. It makes you light on your feet, quick and alert.
My readers will content themselves with playing a lively game of volley ball without the mental strain of trying to excel or outplay their opponents.
Make the score anything that time permits, to suit your own convenience. The object is for each person to hit the ball in turn back and forth over the net before it can reach the floor. If it touches the floor it means a point lost.
Volley ball, like handball, is one of the greatest aids in the reduction of superfluous flesh. After you have played a lively game take a few minutes' deep breathing, with the mouth closed, and follow these with a cold shower and an alcohol rub.
To-morrow I will explain and illustrate the way to play "tether ball."

Readers of Miss Furlong's articles are invited to write to her, in care of The Evening World, requesting information that will aid them in following her illustrated lessons.