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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39743-8.txt b/39743-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..74f9580 --- /dev/null +++ b/39743-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3010 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Football, by Walter Camp + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Football + +Author: Walter Camp + +Release Date: May 20, 2012 [EBook #39743] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN FOOTBALL *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HECTOR COWAN. + +Princeton.] + + + + +AMERICAN FOOTBALL + +BY + +WALTER CAMP + +WITH THIRTY-ONE PORTRAITS + +NEW YORK +HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE +1891 + + +Copyright, 1891, by HARPER & BROTHERS. + +_All rights reserved._ + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a +corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by experienced +teams, have prompted the publication of this book. Should any of the +suggestions herein contained conduce to the further popularity of the +game, the object of the writer will be attained. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +ENGLISH AND AMERICAN RUGBY 1 + +END RUSHER 23 + +THE TACKLE 39 + +THE GUARD 53 + +THE CENTRE, OR SNAP-BACK 67 + +THE QUARTER-BACK 79 + +THE HALF-BACK AND BACK 91 + +SIGNALS 115 + +TRAINING 131 + +A CHAPTER FOR SPECTATORS 165 + + + + +LIST OF PORTRAITS. + +[P. stands for Princeton, Y. for Yale, and H. for Harvard.] + + +HECTOR COWAN, P _Frontispiece._ + +HARRY W. BEECHER, Y _Facing p._ 4 + +HENRY C. LAMAR, P " 8 + +D. S. DEAN, H " 12 + +E. L. RICHARDS, JR., Y " 16 + +W. A. BROOKS, H " 20 + +R. S. CHANNING, P " 28 + +L. K. HULL, Y " 32 + +E. A. POE, P " 36 + +EVERETT J. LAKE, H " 44 + +WYLLYS TERRY, Y " 48 + +B. W. TRAFFORD, H " 56 + +T. L. MCCLUNG, Y " 60 + +V. M. HARDING, H " 64 + +JESSE RIGGS, P " 72 + +W. H. CORBIN, Y " 76 + +ALEXANDER MOFFATT, P " 84 + +RALPH WARREN, P " 88 + +JOHN CORBETT, H " 96 + +W. BULL, Y " 100 + +KNOWLTON L. AMES, P " 104 + +W. C. RHODES, Y " 112 + +P. D. TRAFFORD, H " 120 + +R. HODGE, P " 124 + +H. H. KNAPP, Y " 128 + +A. J. CUMNOCK, H " 136 + +JEREMIAH S. BLACK, P " 140 + +C. O. GILL, Y " 150 + +E. C. PEACE, P " 156 + +W. HEFFELFINGER, Y " 160 + +R. M. APPLETON, H " 168 + + + + +ENGLISH AND AMERICAN RUGBY + +AMERICAN FOOTBALL. + + +Rugby football--for it is from the Rugby Union Rules that our American +Intercollegiate game was derived--dates its present era of popularity +from the formation in England, in 1871, of a union of some score of +clubs. Nearly ten years before this there had been an attempt made to +unite the various diverging football factions under a common set of +laws; but this proved a failure, and the styles of play became farther +and farther apart. Of the Association game one can say but little as +regards its American following. It is quite extensively played in this +country, but more by those who have themselves played it in Great +Britain than by native-born Americans. Its popularity is extending, and +at some day it will very likely become as well understood in this +country as the derived Rugby is to-day. Its essential characteristic is, +that it is played with the feet, in distinction from the Rugby, in which +the ball may be carried in the hands. + +To revert to the Rugby Union. Years before the formation of this +association the game was played by sides almost unlimited in numbers. +One of the favorite school matches was "Sixth form against all the rest +of the school." Twenty on a side, however, became the ruling number; but +this was, after a time, replaced by fifteens, as the days of twenties +proved only shoving matches. With the reduction in numbers came +increased running and an added interest. This change to fifteens was +made in 1877, at the request of Scotland. At once there followed a more +open style of play, and before long short passing became common. In 1882 +the Oxford team instituted the long low pass to the open, and by the use +of it remained undefeated for three seasons. + +[Illustration: HARRY W. BEECHER. + +Yale.] + +After the decrease to fifteen men the number of three-quarter-backs, who +really represent our American half-backs, was increased from one to two, +and two full-backs were played. A little later British captains put +another full-back up into the three-quarter line, playing with only one +full-back. + +The Englishmen also play two men whom they call half-backs, but whose +duties are like those of our quarter-back, for they seize the ball when +it comes out of the scrimmage and pass it to a three-quarter for a run. + +Nine men is the usual number for an English rush line, although a +captain will sometimes take his ninth rusher back as a fourth +three-quarter-back. There is much discussion as to when this should be +done. The captain selects his men much as we do in America, and he is +generally himself a player of some position behind the line, centre +three-quarter being preferred. The opening play in an English Rugby game +is, as a rule, a high kick well followed up. If one will bear in mind +that the half-backs are, like our quarter, the ones to seize the ball +when it emerges from a scrimmage and pass it to the three-quarters, he +will gain some idea of the character of the English method. He should +understand, however, that the English half-back is obliged to look out +sharply for the ball, because it comes out by chance and at random, and +not directly as in our game, where the quarter can usually expect to +receive the ball without trouble from the snap-back. + +The forwards in an English match endeavor, when a scrimmage occurs, by +kicking and pushing to drive the ball in the direction of their +opponents' goal line, and they become extremely expert in the use of +their feet. There are two umpires, whose duty it is to make claims +(which they do by raising their flags), and a referee, who allows or +disallows these claims. The penalty for fouls, which was at first only a +down, is now in many cases a free kick. + +The American game, it must be remembered, came from the Rugby Union in +1875, and not from the Rugby Union of to-day, although the changes in +the English game have been by no manner of means commensurate with +those made on this side the water. Being bound by no traditions, and +having seen no play, the American took the English rules for a +starting-point, and almost immediately proceeded to add and subtract, +according to what seemed his pressing needs. And they were many. A +favored few, whose intercourse with Canadian players had given them some +of the English ideas, were able to explain the knotty points to a small +degree, but not enough to really assist the mass of uninitiated players +to an understanding. Misinterpretations were so numerous as to render +satisfactory rulings almost out of the question and explanatory +legislation imperative. In the autumn of 1876 the first game under Rugby +rules between American colleges was played at New Haven, and before +another was attempted a convention had tried its hand at correcting the +weak points, as they appeared to the minds of the legislators, in the +Rugby Union Rules. + +[Illustration: HENRY C. LAMAR. + +Princeton.] + +The feature of the American game in distinction from the English is, +just as it was within a year from the time of the adoption of the sport, +the _outlet of the scrimmage_. + +In this lies the backbone to which the entire body of American football +is attached. The English half-backs stand outside the scrimmage, and +when the ball pops out it is their duty to seize it and pass it out to a +three-quarter, who runs with it. The American quarter-back stands behind +the scrimmage and gives a signal, immediately after which he knows the +ball will come directly into his hands to be passed for a run or a kick. +What is, therefore, in the English game a matter of considerable chance +is "cut-and-dried" in the American game; and the element of chance +being eliminated, opportunity is given for the display in the latter +game of far more skill in the development of brilliant plays and +carefully planned manoeuvres. + +The Americans started with the English scrimmage, kicked at the ball, +and pushed and scrambled for a season, until it was discovered that a +very clever manifestation of the play was to let the opponents do the +kicking--in fact, to leave an opening at the proper moment through which +the ball would come, and a man a few feet behind this opening could +always get the ball and pass it while the men who kicked it were still +entangled in the scrimmage. After a little of this, no one was anxious +to kick the ball through, and the rushers began to roll the ball +sidewise along between the lines. Then almost immediately it was +discovered that a man could snap the ball backwards with his toe, and +the American outlet was installed. + +At first the play was crude in the extreme, but even in its earliest +stages it proved distinctly more satisfactory to both player and +spectator than the kicking and shoving which marked the English method. + +The same man did not always snap the ball back as he does now, but any +one of the rushers would do it upon occasion. The men did not preserve +their relative positions in the line, and any one of the men behind the +line would act as a quarter-back. Such a condition of affairs could not, +however, last long where intercollegiate rivalry proved such an +incentive to the perfection of play, and the positions of centre-rush or +snap-back and quarter-back became the most distinctive of any upon the +field. The centre-rush at that time was selected more for his agility, +strange to say, than for his weight and strength; but in case he was a +light man he was always flanked by two heavy guards. One season's play +convinced all captains that the centre section of the forward line must +be heavy, and if any light-weights were to be used among the rushers +they should be near the wings. + +Quarter-back has, from the very outset, been a position in which a small +man can be used to great advantage. The half-backs and backs have +usually been men of speed coupled with skill as kickers. + +The number originally adopted for matches in this country was eleven on +a side. From some silly notion that it would increase the skill +displayed, this number was changed to fifteen, although the Englishmen +were moving in the other direction by reducing their numbers from +twenties to fifteens. A year or two of fifteen on a side drove the +American players back to elevens, and there the number has rested. + +[Illustration: D. S. DEAN. + +Harvard.] + +In the early days of the sport, while the players individually were +courageous, the team play was cowardly; that is, the tacticians were so +taken up with a study of defence--how to protect the goal--that the +attack was weak. The direct result of this was to place too few men in +the forward line and too many behind it. If to-day we were to revert to +fifteen on a side, there is little doubt that we should throw eleven of +them up into the rush line, and upon occasion even twelve. We now +realize that the best defence does not consist in planning how to stop a +man after he has obtained a fair start towards the goal, but in throwing +all available force up against him before he can get free of the forward +line. The only way to effectively defeat this aggressive defence is by +means of skilled kicking. It is possible with really good kickers to +throw a team playing in this fashion into disorder by well-placed and +long punting, followed up most sharply; but it requires nerve and an +unfailing accuracy of aim and judgment. + +It is only a few years ago that it required considerable argument to +convince a captain that he could with safety send one of his halves up +into the forward line when his opponents had the ball; but it will take +better kicking than is exhibited in most of the championship matches to +frighten that half-back out of the line now. Even the quarter was wont +upon occasion to drop back among the halves and assist them rather than +the rushers. + +All the tendency for the last two years has been towards diminishing +the number of men held in reserve, as it were, behind the line, and +increasing by this means the crushing force by which the forwards might +check either runner or kicker before his play could be executed. + +Should the English ever adopt an outlet for their scrimmage, making the +play as direct as is ours, their men would gravitate to the forward line +as rapidly as have our players. + +Next to the difference in scrimmage outlet between our game and that of +the British stands a much more recent development, which we call +interference. This is the assistance given to a runner by a companion or +companions who go before him and break a path for him or shoulder off +would-be tacklers. This, to the Englishman, would be the most detestable +kind of off-side play, and not tolerated for an instant upon any field +in the United Kingdom. + +Even into this the Americans did not plunge suddenly, but rather little +by little they stepped in, until it was necessary to do one of two +things--either legalize what was being tacitly consented to, or penalize +it heavily. The result was that it was legalized. With this concession, +though, there went a certain condition which gained a measure of +confidence for the new ruling. + +[Illustration: E. L. RICHARDS. + +Yale.] + +To understand just how this state of affairs above mentioned came about +one should know that, in the attempt to block opponents when the +quarter-back was receiving and passing the ball, the forwards fell into +the habit of extending their arms horizontally from the shoulder, as by +this method each man could cover more space. For a number of years this +went on without detriment to the sport in any way, but after a time +there was more or less complaint of holding in the line, and it was +ruled that a man must not change his position after the ball was +snapped, nor bend his arms about an opponent at such a time. +Unfortunately the referee (for at this stage of the game there was no +umpire) could not watch the ball and the players with sufficient care to +enforce this ruling, and the temper of the players suffered accordingly. +It is always the case when a rule is not enforced unflinchingly, no +matter from what cause, that both sides suffer, and the tendency always +is towards devising additional infringements. The additional +infringement in this instance was even worse than could have been +foreseen; for, not content with simply blocking or even holding an +opponent until the quarter should have passed the ball in safety, the +players in the forward line saw an opportunity for going a step +farther, and actually began the practice of seizing an opponent long +after the ball had been played, and dragging him out of the way of the +running half-back. In the thick of the rush line this was frequently +possible without risk of discovery by the referee; and, emboldened by +successes of this kind, men would reach out even in the open, and drag +back a struggling tackler just as he was about to lay his hands upon the +runner. It was this state of affairs which brought up the question, "How +much should a comrade be allowed to aid the runner?" + +American football legislators answered this question satisfactorily, +after long discussion, by determining that the runner might be assisted +to any extent, provided the assistant did not use his hands or arms in +performing this office. The first result of this was to lower the arms +of the rushers when lined up, and, in spite of some forebodings, this +proved really a benefit to the game. The second result has been to +perfect a system of flanking a runner by companions who form almost an +impassable barrier at times to the would-be tacklers. + +At the same time with mention of the solution of this problem, one +should also call attention to a menace which threatened American +football far more seriously than did this; and that, too, at a time when +the sport was by no means so strong in years or popularity as when this +later difficulty arose. I refer to the "block game." This method of +play, which consisted in a succession of "downs" without advance and +without allowing the opponents any chance of securing possession of the +ball, proved a means by which a weak team could avoid defeat. The whole +object of the match was thus frustrated, the game resulting in no +score. + +To meet this difficulty a rule was introduced making it incumbent upon a +side to advance the ball five yards or retreat with it ten in three +"downs." If this advance or retreat were not accomplished, the ball went +at once into the possession of the opponents. Never did a rule in any +sport work so immediate and satisfactory a reform as did this five-yard +rule. + +[Illustration: W. A. BROOKS. + +Harvard.] + +Within the last few years there has been no important change in the +conduct of the American game, nor in the rules. Outside of the above +mentioned points of difference between it and the English game, there is +only that of the methods of enforcing rules and determining differences. +The English have a referee and two umpires, although the umpires are +sometimes replaced by touch-judges. The umpires act, as did the judges +in our game of ten years ago, as advocates for their respective sides, +and it is this advocacy which is causing them to fall into disfavor +there exactly as they did here. Touch-judges merely watch the lines of +the field, and decide when and where the ball goes into touch. In cases +where they are employed, the referee renders all decisions upon claim of +the captains. In our method there is a division of labor, but along +different lines. Our two officials, the umpire and referee, have their +separate provinces, the former ruling upon the conduct of players as to +off-side and other offences, while the latter determines questions of +fact as to when the ball is held or goes into touch, also whether a goal +is kicked or not. As the rule has it, the umpire is judge for the +players, and the referee for the ball. + + + + +END RUSHER + + +The end rusher must get into condition early. Unless he does, he cannot +handle the work that must fall to his share, and the effect of a poor +performance by the end is to produce disorder at once in the proportion +of work as well as the quality of the work of the tackles and +half-backs. This is not well understood by captains and coaches, but it +is easy to see if one follows the play. A tired end rusher, even one who +has experience and a good idea of his place, will lope down the field +under a kick, and by his lack of speed will allow a return; and, against +a running game, while he will, it is true, force his man in, he will do +it so slowly that the runner is enabled to pass the tackle. The first +will surely result in his own halves shortening their kicks, and the +second in drawing his own tackle too widely from the guard. Both these +results seriously affect the value of the practice for halves and +tackles; consequently, the end must be put in condition early. The finer +points of his position can be worked up gradually, but his endurance +must be good at the outset, in order that the others may become +accustomed to rely upon him for regular work. But it sometimes happens +that the captain or coach has no chance to make sure of this. His +candidates may be raw, and only appear upon the first day of fall +practice. In that case there is a method which he can adopt to +advantage, and which answers the purpose. It is to play his candidates +for that position one after the other in rotation, insisting upon hard +playing even if it be for only five minutes at a time. In this way not +only will the tackle receive the proper support, but the ends themselves +will improve far more rapidly than under the usual method. Every player +upon a team has to labor under two distinctly different sets of +circumstances: one set arising from the possession of the ball by his +opponents, and the other from the possession of the ball by his own +side. Many an error in instruction or coaching arises from terming the +tactics adopted under these two conditions defensive and offensive. It +is no uncommon thing to see an end rusher, who has been told that such +and such is his defensive play, so affected by the word _defensive_, as +applied to his action, as to fail entirely to perform any aggressive +work when his opponents have the ball. And a similarly undesirable state +of affairs is brought about by the term _offensive_ when his own side +have the ball. In this latter case, he seems inspired to become +aggressive in his conduct towards his opponent from the moment the men +are lined up, and this very often leads him to make any interference of +his so premature as to render it useless towards favoring his runner. +One of the first things, therefore, for a coach to tell an end rusher is +that the terms offensive and defensive, as applied to team work, have +nothing to do with the aggressiveness of any individual. Then, as a +matter of still better policy, let him avoid using these terms in +individual coaching. + +[Illustration: R. S. CHANNING. + +Princeton.] + +When the opponents have the ball, the end rusher must, in the case of a +kick, do his utmost to prevent his _vis-à-vis_ from getting down the +field early under the ball. That is the cardinal point, and it is not +necessary for him to do much thinking regarding anything else when he is +facing a kicking game. When his opponents are about to make a run, the +situation is much more involved. He must then consider himself as the +sole guardian of that space of ground extending from his tackle to the +edge of the field, and he must begin at the touch line and work in. That +is, he must remember that, while on one side of him there is the tackle, +who will do his utmost to help him out, there is on the other side--that +is, towards touch--no one to assist him, and a run around the end means +a free run for many yards. "Force the man in" is always a good motto for +an end, and one he will do well to follow conscientiously. To force the +man in does not mean, however, to stand with one foot on the touch line, +and then reach in as far as possible and watch the man go by, as nine +out of every ten ends have been doing for two years. It means, go at the +runner with the determination of getting him any way, but taking him +always from the outside. An end cannot tackle as occasionally does a +half-back or back, slowly and even waiting for his man, then meeting him +low and strong. An end always has to face interference, and good +interference will bowl over a waiting end with ease. An end must go up +as far and fast as he dares to meet the runner, and when his moment +comes--which must be a selected moment--he must shoot in at his man, +reaching him, if possible, with his shoulder, and at the same time +extending his arms as far around him as possible. Many times this +reaching enables an end to grasp his man even though a clever interferer +break the force of his tackle. And when his fingers touch the runner, +he must grip with the tenacity of the bull-dog, and never let go. + +It seems almost unnecessary to say that a high tackler has no chance +whatever as an end rusher. He may play guard or centre, but before a man +ever essays the end he must have passed through all the rudimentary +schooling in tackling, and be such an adept that to pass him without the +assistance of the most clever interference is an impossibility. + +An end should be a good follower; that is, if the runner make in towards +the tackle, the end should run him down from behind when interference +cuts off the tackle. This is one of the best points for cultivation, +because it effectually prevents any dodging by the runner. If he fail to +take his opening cleanly, a following end is sure of him. This is not a +safe point, however, to teach until the player has fairly mastered the +ordinary end-work; for the tendency is to leave his own position too +soon, giving the runner an opportunity to turn out behind him, and thus +elude the tackle without difficulty. + +[Illustration: L. K. HULL. + +Yale]. + +A few years ago there was quite a fashion for the man putting the ball +in from touch to run with it along the edge of the field. For some +unknown reason this play seems to have been abandoned, but it is likely +at any time to be revived, and the end rusher should therefore be posted +upon the _modus operandi_ of it, as well as the best method of +preventing its success. The most popular execution of this manoeuvre +was the simplest; that is, the man merely touched the ball to the ground +and plunged ahead as far as he could until brought to earth or thrown +out into touch. This was accompanied by more or less helpful +interferences upon the part of his own end and tackle. There were more +intricate methods, however; and surely, with the amount of interference +allowed in these days, it is odd that the side line has not been more +fancied by those who have generalled the great games. There was one team +a few years ago whose captain used to deliberately place the ball just +inside the line on the ground, as though only thoughtlessly leaving it +there, and then spring in, crowding the end rusher three or four feet +from the touch line, while a running half, who was well started, came +tearing up the field, seized the ball, and usually made a long run +before he was stopped by the astonished halves. Many also were the +combination passes in which the ball was handed to the end rusher, who, +turning suddenly with his back to the foes, would pass to his quarter +or running half. Of these close double passes at the edge of the field +the most effective were those wherein the runner darted by just inside +the touch line, and the weakest the ones wherein the attempt was made to +advance out into the field. For this reason there ought to be no +particular necessity for coaching any but the end rusher and the tackle +upon means to prevent advances of this nature. To the players in the +centre of the line there is no apparent difference whether the ball be +played from touch in any of these ways above mentioned, or through the +more customary channel of the quarter-back. To the end and tackle, +however, the difference is marked, because the runner comes so much +sooner and the play is so greatly condensed and focussed, as it were, +directly upon them. + +The instructions to the end are to handle the ball as much as possible +while the opponent is endeavoring to get it in, and thus make the work +of that individual as difficult as possible; and, secondly, to plant one +foot close to the touch line and the other as far out into the field as +is consistent with stability, and to maintain that position until the +play is over. He must neither try to go forward nor around, but, braced +well forward, hold his ground. If he does this, no runner can pass +within three feet of the touch line, and outside of that the tackle can +take care of him. This player, like the end, should, when the ball is +played from a fair, be very loath to plunge forward until the play is +located, because in the present stage of development of the game one can +be quite sure that the opponents will not play the ball from touch +unless they have some definite and usually deceptive line of action. +Without such it is by far the better policy to walk out the fifteen +paces and have it down. The quarter-back also has work to do upon +side-line plays, in assisting at the edge as much as possible. But to +return to the end. When his own side have possession of the ball, his +play, like that of any other man, must be governed by the character of +the intended move, and the knowledge of what this move will be is +conveyed to him by the signal. The nearer the play is to his end, the +greater is the assistance he can render. There is little need of +coaching him to do his work when the run is along his line, nor, in +fact, when it is upon his side of the centre. The knowledge of the +proximity of the runner stirs him up sufficiently, if he have any +football blood in him. The point towards which coaching should be +directed and where it is needed is in starting instantly to render +assistance when the play is upon the other side of the line. There is no +limit to the amount of work an end may perform in this direction. A good +end can toss his man back so that he cannot interfere with the play, and +then cross over so quickly as to perform effective interference even +upon end runs. In "bucking the centre" he can come from behind with +valuable weight and pressure. A coach should remember, though, that it +will not do to start an end into doing too much unless he is able to +stand the work, for an end had better do the work well upon his own side +than be only half way useful upon both ends. A tired-out end makes the +opponents doubly strong. + +[Illustration: E. A. POE. + +Princeton.] + + + + +THE TACKLE + + +Those teams upon which the work of end and tackle has been best +developed have, for the last few years, been markedly superior in the +opposition offered to plays of their opponents. This fact in itself is +an excellent guide to the style of play one ought to expect from these +two positions. The four men occupying them are the ones to meet nine +tenths of the aggressive work of the opponents. The position of end has +already been dwelt upon at length. That of tackle, a position much later +to reach the full stage of development than the end, has nevertheless +now attained almost an equal prominence. The tackle is an assistant to +both end and guard, while he has also duties of his own demanding +constant attention. + +When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the tackle is +one of the most active components of the line. He may not be moving +until the ball is snapped, but upon the instant that it is played he is +at work. He may himself go through to prevent the pass or kick, or still +oftener he may make a chance for a line half-back to do this. By a line +half-back is meant that one who, upon his opponents' plays, comes up +into the line and performs the duties of a rusher. This method has +become so common of late that it is well understood. The play of this +line half-back must dovetail into the work of the tackle so well as to +make their system one of thoroughly mutual understanding. For this +reason they should do plenty of talking and planning together off the +field, and carry their plans into execution in daily practice until they +become in company a veritable terror to opponents, particularly to +kicking halves. + +One of the very simple, yet clever and successful, combinations worked +in this way has been for the line half to take his position outside the +tackle, who immediately begins to edge out towards the end. This opens a +gap between the opposing tackle and guard, for the tackle will naturally +follow his man. This line half simply watches the centre, and as he sees +the ball played goes sharply behind the tackle and through the opening. +This play can be greatly aided by cleverness on the part of the tackle, +who, to perform it to perfection, should edge out most cautiously, and +with an evident intention of going to the outside of his man. He should +also watch the centre play, and, most important of all, jump directly +forward into his man when the ball is snapped. This will enable the half +to take almost a direct line for the half, and with his flying start +have more than a fair chance of spoiling the kick. The tackle must not +be idle after his plunge, but should follow in sharply, because there +will always be an opposing half protecting the kicker; and if the line +half be checked by this man, as is not unlikely, the following tackle +has an excellent opportunity by getting in rapidly. The tackle and half +should alternate in their arrangement, neither one always going through +first, and thus add to the anxiety and discomfort of the opponents. + +[Illustration: EVERETT J. LAKE. + +Harvard.] + +When the opponents are about to run instead of kick, the same +combination of line half and tackle can be put in operation, except that +it will not do for these two to follow each other through with such +freedom, as there is too much danger of both being shunted off by a +clever turn coupled with well-timed interference. The cardinal point to +be remembered is, to be far enough apart so that a single dodge and one +interference cannot possibly throw off both men. + +The tackle's duties towards the end have been partially described in +dwelling upon the work of the latter, but there is plenty of detail to +be studied. One of the first things to impress upon the tackle is, that +he must watch the ball, not only upon the pass from the quarter, but +also after it settles in the runner's arms, for the most successful +double or combination passes are those which draw the tackle in towards +the centre and give the second recipient of the ball only the end to +pass. It has been too common a mistake of coaches to caution a tackle +who has been deceived by this double pass against "going so hard." This +is wrong. It soon results in making a slow man of the player, for he +hangs back to see if the runner be not about to pass the ball, until he +is too late to try for the man before he reaches the rush line; and, +with the present system of interference and crowding a runner after he +reaches the rush line, there is no chance to stop him short of three, +and it may very likely be five, yards. The proper coaching is to send +him through on the jump, with his eyes open for tricks. Let him take a +step or two towards the runner, so that, if no second pass be made, the +tackle will be sure to meet him before he reaches the rush line, and not +after it. This method of coaching makes not only sharp tackles, but +quick and clever ones, with plenty of independence, which will be found +a most excellent quality. + +As regards the relations between the tackle and guard, they are best +defined by saying that the guard expects to receive the assistance of +the tackle in all cases requiring agility, while in cases requiring +weight the guard is equally ready to lend assistance to the tackle. + +[Illustration: WYLLYS TERRY. + +Yale.] + +When his own side has the ball, the tackle has far more than the end to +do. In fact, the tackle has the most responsible work of any man along +the line, having more openings to make, and at the same time the +blocking he has to perform is more difficult. The earlier description of +the work of a line half and the tackle in getting through is sufficient +to indicate the difficulties which the opposing tackle must face in +preventing this breaking through. While blocking may not be the most +important duty, it is certainly the one which will bear the most +cultivation in the tackles of the present day, for the ones who are +really adept in it are marked exceptions to the general run. It is no +exaggeration to say that more than two thirds of the breaking through +that does real damage comes between the end and guard, and therefore in +the space supposed to be under the care of the tackle. By successful +blocking is meant, not unfair holding, which sooner or later will result +in disaster, nor backing upon a runner or kicker as the charger +advances, which is almost as bad as no blocking, but that clever and +properly timed body-checking of the opponent which delays him just long +enough to render his effort to reach his man futile every time. This +kind of blocking looks so easy, and is so difficult, that it is found +only in a man who is willing to make a study of it. Coaching can but +give any one wishing to acquire this a few points; the real +accomplishment depends upon the man's unflagging perseverance and study. +The first thing to be noted is, that a really good forward cannot +possibly be blocked every time in the same way. He soon becomes used to +the method, and is able to avoid the attempt. Dashing violently against +him just as he is starting may work once or twice, and then he will make +a false start to draw this charge, and easily go by the man. Standing +motionless, and then turning with a sharp swing back against him, will +disconcert his charge once in a while. Shouldering him in the side as he +passes will throw him off his balance or against some other man, if well +performed, occasionally. Falling down before him by a plunge will upset +him even when he has quite a clear space apparently, but it will not +work if played too often. By a preconcerted plan he may be coaxed +through upon a pretended snap, and then the ball played while he is +guarded and five yards gained by his off-side play, but he will not be +taken in again by the same method. These are but a few of the strategies +which engage the study of the tackle. How soon to let the man through is +also an important question. When the ball is to be punted, the tackle +upon the kicker's side must block long and hard, while the tackle upon +the other end should block sharply, and then let his man through for the +sake of getting down the field under the kick. When a drop is to be +attempted, the blocking upon both sides must be close and long, much +longer than for a punt. Moreover, it is by no means a bad policy to have +the blocking last until the ball is actually seen in the air in front +of the line, because then, if the kick be stopped, the tackles can go +back to assist the backs in recovering the ball. The blocking for a +kick, as a rule, should be close; that is, every opponent must be +matched from the centre out, leaving the free man or men on the ends. +This rule has its exceptions, but when there is any doubt about the play +it is safest to block close, and take the chances from the ends rather +than through breaks in the line. + +In blocking for a run the case is very different, and depends upon the +point of assault. If the run is to be made around the right end, for +instance, by the left half-back, the right tackle must block very slowly +and long. That is, he must not dash up to his man the instant the ball +is snapped and butt him aside, for the runner will not be near enough +to derive any advantage from this, and the opponent will easily recover +in time to tackle him. Rather should he avoid contact with his man until +his runner makes headway, and then keep between the opponent and runner +until the latter puts on steam to circle, when it is his duty to engage +his man sharply, and thus let the runner pass. In blocking for an inside +run upon his own side, he should turn his man out or in, as the case may +be, just as the runner reaches the opening, being particularly careful +not to make the break too early, lest the opponent reach the runner +before he comes to the opening. + + + + +THE GUARD + + +The position of guard, while it requires less agility than that of +tackle, can never be satisfactorily filled by a man who is slow. Many a +coach makes this mistake and fails to see his error until too late to +correct it. I remember once seeing upon a minor team a guard who weighed +at least 190 pounds replaced by a man of 155, and the latter actually +filled the position--greatly to my astonishment, I confess--in excellent +fashion. This does not at all go to prove that weight is of no value in +a guard. On the contrary, it is a quality especially to be desired, and +if one can find a heavy man who is not slow he is the choice by all +means. But weight must be given work to do, and that work demands +practice, and slowness of execution cannot be tolerated. At the outset +the coach must impress this fact upon the guards, and insist upon their +doing their work quickly. It is really wonderful how much better the +effect of that work will prove to be when performed with a snap and dash +that are not difficult to acquire. + +[Illustration: B. W. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard.] + +When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the guard should +have in his mind one persistent thought, and that is, to reach the +quarter before the ball is away from his hand, but not to stop there. It +is only once in a great while that fortune favors sufficiently to crown +this attempt with success. When it does, so much the better; but the +guard should take in the quarter only in a general sweep, making on for +the kicker, and at the same time getting his arms up in the air when he +comes before him, so as to take every possible chance of stopping the +ball. Just here it may be well to explain the confidence with which in +these details of coaching the phrases are used "when the opponents are +about to kick" and "when the opponents are about to run." It is true +that one cannot tell infallibly every time whether the play will be a +kick or a run, but experienced players are really so seldom at fault in +their judgment upon this point that it is safe to coach as though there +never existed any doubt about the matter. + +[Illustration: T. L. McCLUNG. + +Yale.] + +To continue with the work of the guard when the opponents are about to +attempt a run. One of the most important features of the play in this +position is to guard against small wedges. If a guard simply stands +still and straight he will be swept over like a wisp of straw by any +well-executed wedge play directed at him. An experienced man knows this, +and his chief thought is how to avoid it, and how, first, to prevent the +formation; second, to alter the direction, and, finally, to stop the +progress, of this terror of centre work, the small wedge. There are as +many ways of accomplishing these results as of performing the duties of +tackle or end, and it rests with the individual player to study them +out. To prevent the formation of small wedges, the most successful +method is that of sudden and, if possible, disconcerting movements. +Jostling, so far as it is allowed, sudden change of position, a +pretended charge--all these tend to break up the close formation. Once +formed and started, the change of direction is usually the most +disarranging play possible; but this should not be attempted by the +player or players opposite the point of the wedge. At that spot the +proper play is to check advance, even temporarily; for the advance once +checked, the wedge may be swung from the side so as to take off the +pressure from behind. So it is the men at the side who must endeavor to +turn the wedge and take off this pressure. Without the actual formation +upon the field it is difficult to fully explain this turning of the +wedge; but if the principle of the defence be borne in mind, it will not +be found so hard to understand. Check the peak even for a moment, and +get the weight off from behind as speedily as possible. The men who are +pushing must necessarily act blindly; and if their force is not directly +upon the men at the point of the V, they pass by the man with the ball +and so become useless. Both guards must keep their weight down low, +close to the ground, so that the wedge, if directed at either, cannot +throw that one at once off his balance backward. If this occurs, the +wedge will always make its distance, perhaps go many yards. Lying down +before the wedge is a practice based upon this principle of keeping +close to the ground, and is by no means an ineffectual way of stopping +an advance, although it is not as strong a play as bringing about the +same result without actually losing the power to straighten up if the +wedge turns. Moreover, the men in the front of a wedge are becoming so +accustomed to meeting this flat defence that they not infrequently +succeed in getting over the prostrate man and regaining headway upon the +other side. This, as one can readily see, must always yield a very +considerable gain. When a run is attempted at some other point in the +line, it is the duty of the guards to get through hard and follow the +runner into his opening, even if they cannot reach him before he comes +into the line. In this class of play a guard should remember that if he +can lay a hand upon the runner before he reaches the line he can spoil +the advance to a certainty, for no runner can drag a heavy guard up into +and through an opening. It is like dragging a heavy and unwieldy anchor. +A guard can afford to, and must sometimes, tackle high. Not that he +should, in the open, ever go at the shoulders, but in close quarters he +often has no time to get down low, and must make the best of taking his +man anywhere that the opportunity offers. He must always, however, throw +him towards the opponent's goal. Another point for guards to bear in +mind is, that in close quarters it is often possible to deprive the +runner of the ball before he says "down." A guard who always tries this +will be surprised at the number of times he will find the referee giving +him the ball. He will also be astonished at the way this attempt results +in the runner saying "down" as soon as he finds some one tugging at the +ball. A man gives up all thought of further advance the instant he finds +the ball slipping at all in his grasp; and when his attention is +distracted from the idea of running, as it is when he is fearful of +losing the ball, he can never make use of his opportunities to good +advantage. For this reason the coach should impress upon all the +forwards the necessity of always trying to take away the ball; but the +men in and near the centre are likely to have the best opportunity for +this play, because it is there that the runner encounters a number of +men at once rather than a single individual. + +When his own side have the ball the guard must block sharply until the +quarter has time for receiving the ball, and, at any rate, beginning the +motion of the pass. It is safer, in the case of inexperienced guards, to +tell them to block until the quarter has time to get rid of the ball. +The distinction is this: that an experienced guard sometimes likes to +gain just that second of time between the beginning of the pass and the +completion of the swing, and utilize it in getting down the field or +making an opening. So accustomed does he become to measuring the time +correctly that he will let the opponent through just too late to reach +the quarter, although it seems a very close call. It is not safe to let +green guards attempt anything so close. They must be taught to block +securely until the ball is on its way to the runner or kicker. The +blocking of a guard is much less exacting in its requirements than that +of the tackle. Not that he must not block with equal certainty, but the +act requires no such covering of two men as often happens in the case of +a tackle. The guard forms closely towards the centre, and then follows +his man out if he moves out, but only as far as he can go, and still be +absolutely certain that the opponent cannot pass between him and the +snap-back. To be drawn or coaxed out far enough to admit of an +opponent's going through the centre shows woful ignorance in any guard. + +[Illustration: V. M. HARDING. + +Harvard.] + +When a kick is to be made the blocking must be prolonged a little, and +on a drop-kick (as mentioned earlier) it should last until the ball goes +from the foot. When blocking for a run, of course much depends upon +where the opening is to be made, and a guard must be governed +accordingly. The method itself is, again, different in the guard from +that exhibited in the tackle. A guard may not move about so freely and +must face his man more squarely than a tackle, for the guard must +protect the quarter first, while the tackle considers the half only. If +a guard allows his opponent to get a fair lunge with outstretched arm +over or past his shoulder, he may reach the quarter's arm even though +his body is checked, while such a reach at the point in the line +occupied by the tackle would be of no value whatever. Previous to the +snap-back's playing the ball it is the duty of the guards to see that +their individual opponents do not succeed in either kicking the ball out +from the snap-back's hand or otherwise interfering with his play. This +is quite an important feature, and a centre should always feel that he +has upon either hand a steady and wide-awake assistant, who will neither +be caught napping nor allow any unfair advantage to be taken of him. The +guard should bear in mind one fact, however, and that most clearly. It +is that squabbling and general pushing about are far more liable to +disconcert his own centre and quarter than to interfere with the work of +the opponents. + + + + +THE CENTRE, OR SNAP-BACK + + +The man who may be selected to fill the important position of +centre-rush must be a man of sense and strength. Brain and brawn are +here at their highest premium. But there is another element of character +without which both will be overthrown, and that is patience. Practical +experience has taught football coaches that none but a thoroughly +self-controlled man can make a success in football in any position, +while in this particular one his disposition should be of the most +equable nature. He will be called upon to face all kinds of petty +annoyances, for his opponents will endeavor to make his play as +difficult as possible; and never must he allow himself for one instant +to lose sight of the fact that his entire attention must be devoted to +his play, and none of it distracted by personal feeling. Moreover, while +he must be able to play the ball quickly when called upon, he can never +afford to be hurried by his opponents. With the present excellent +rulings of umpires regarding interference with the ball before it is +snapped, much of the most harassing kicking of the ball from under his +hand has been stopped; but, for all that, he is indeed a lucky centre +who does not feel the ball knocked out from under his grasp several +times during a game. In addition to this, every man who breaks through +gives him a rub. Sometimes these knocks are intentional, often they are +given purely by accident, and the latter are by no means the lightest. +Then, too, a man is pushed into the snap-back just as the ball goes. It +may be his own guard, but the blow hurts just as much; and a centre who +is not amiable under such treatment soon loses his head and forgets that +he should care for nothing except to accomplish gains for his own side. +The object of placing so much stress upon this qualification is to +impress upon a coach the almost inestimable value of the quality of +patience in any men he may be trying for this position. He can never say +too much about it. + +As regards the duties of the place, they differ from those of any other +position in the line on account of the constant presence at that spot of +the ball. The centre is either playing the ball himself or watching his +antagonist play the ball at every down; so that while he has all the +other duties of a forward to execute, he has the special work besides. +Here is the weakness of so many centres. They are snap-backs only or +forwards only, the former being by all odds the more common. A good +critical coach of experience will see nine out of every ten men whom he +may watch in this position playing through day after day with no more +idea of doing any forward work than if they were referees. Putting the +ball in play at the right time, and properly, is a great achievement, +but it does not free the centre-rush from all other obligations. He must +protect his quarter; he must aid in making openings, and perform any +interference that may be possible, as well as always assisting a runner +of his own side with weight or protection. He must always get down the +field under a kick, for it is by no means unusual for him to have the +best opportunity in these days when end rushers are so carefully +watched. When the opponents have the ball, he must not be content with +seeing that the opponent does not roll it to a guard, but must also see +that there is no short, tricky passing in the scrimmage. Then he must be +as ready as either guard to meet, stop, or turn a wedge. He must make +openings for his comrades to get through, even when he himself may be +blocked, and always be ready to reach out or throw himself before a +coming runner to check the advance. + +[Illustration: JESSE RIGGS. + +Princeton.] + +The details of the special work of the centre are many, and thorough +knowledge of them can only come from experience. During his early +progress a new snap-back usually sends the ball against his own legs, +or, if he manages to keep them out of the way, is upset by his opponent +for his pains. It is no child's play to hold a ball out at arm's-length +on the ground in front of one and roll it back so that it passes between +one's feet, and still preserve a good balance in spite of a sudden push +of a hundred-and-eighty-pound opponent. But that is just what a centre +has to do every time the ball is down and belongs to his side. The first +thing to teach a centre is to stand on his feet against any amount of +jostling. Then he must learn to keep possession of the ball until ready +to play it. Both of these acquirements take practice. The most finished +and experienced centres have a way of playing the ball just as they are +half straightening as though to meet a charge from in front. This +insures their not being pushed over on to the quarter, and yet does not +cause them to lean so far forward as to be pitched on their noses by a +little assistance from the opposing centre. When a man stands so as to +prevent a push in the chest from upsetting him, he naturally puts one +foot back some distance as a support. When a centre does this he is apt +to put that foot and leg in the path of the ball. A second objection to +this way of standing is, that the centre does not offer nearly as much +opposition to any one attempting to pass as he does when he stands more +squarely faced about with a good spread of the legs. As to holding the +ball, some centres prefer to take it by the end, while others roll it on +its side. It can be made to rise for the quarter if sent on end, whereas +if played upon its side it lies closer to the ground. The quarter's +preference has, therefore, something to do with it. It requires longer +practice and more skill to play the ball on its end, but it permits an +umpire to see more clearly whether the ball be actually put in play by +the snap-back or played for him by the surreptitious kick of the +opponent. It has also the advantage of sending the ball more narrowly +upon a line, so that its course is less likely to be altered than when +rolled upon its side. While the snap-back is seldom held to the very +strictest conformity to the rule about being on side when he puts the +ball in play, it is necessary for him to practise with a view to this +particular, because he is liable to be obliged to conform every time if +the opponents insist. The reason for carelessness in this respect is, +there is no penalty for infringement except being obliged to return to +the spot and put the ball in play properly. A certain laxity, therefore, +is granted rather than to cause delays. But, as stated above, a centre +must be able to put the ball in play when fairly on side, and must live +up to this with some moderate degree of regularity, or else the umpire +will call an off-side and bring him back. A centre ought to practise +putting the ball in play with either hand until he is fairly proficient +with his left as well as his right. Not that he should use his hands +alternately in a game, but that an injury to his right hand need not +necessarily throw him out of the game. It is by no means an unrecognized +fact that the greater amount of experience possessed by the regular +centre is so valuable as to make it policy to keep him in his place so +long as his legs are good, even though a hand be injured, rather than to +replace him by the substitute with whose methods the quarter-back is not +so familiar. + +[Illustration: W. H. CORBIN. + +Yale.] + +A coach should see to it that his centre has a variety of men to face, +some big, some tricky, some ugly. If any old players come back to help +the team in the way of coaching, and among them are some centre rushers, +they can do no better work than by donning a uniform and playing against +the "'Varsity" centre. + + + + +THE QUARTER-BACK + + +The quarter is, under the captain, the director of the game. With the +exception of one or two uncommon and rare plays, there is not one of any +kind, his side having the ball, in which it does not pass through his +hands. The importance of his work it is therefore impossible to +overrate. He must be, above all the qualifications of brains and agility +usually attributed to that position, of a hopeful or sanguine +disposition. He must have confidence in his centre himself, and, most of +all, in the man to whom he passes the ball. He should always believe +that the play will be a success. The coach can choose no more helpful +course during the first few days, as far as the quarter is concerned, +than that of persuading him to repose confidence in his men. Many +promising half-backs are ruined by the quarter. There is nothing that +makes halves fumble so badly, get into such awkward positions, start so +slowly, and withal play so half-heartedly, as the feeling that the +quarter does not think much of them, does not trust them, or believe in +their abilities. Every half-back can tell the same story--how he is +nerved up by the confidence of the quarter, and what an inspiration it +is to good work to see that confident look in the eye of the man who is +about to pass to him. But not alone in the work of the half does it make +a great difference, but in that of the quarter himself. When he lacks +confidence in his man, his passing is unsteady and erratic as well as +slow. He allows the opponents a far better chance of reaching the man +before he can get started, both by irregular and slow passing, and also +by a nervous looking at him before the ball is played. + +In practice, great stress should be laid on quick handling and sharp +passing of the ball. A quarter can slow up in a game if advisable, but +he can never do any faster work than that which he does in practice +without throwing his men completely out. In order to make the play +rapid, a quarter must be figuratively tied to the centre's coat, or +rather jacket, tails. As soon as the centre reaches the ball after a +down, he should know that the quarter is with him. Usually there is an +understood signal between them, which not only shows the centre that the +quarter is on hand, but also when he is ready to receive the ball. One +of the most common of these signals has been placing the hand upon the +centre's leg or back. A pinch would let him know when to snap the ball. +In spite of this method's having been used by opponents to fool a +centre, it has been, and still is, the most common. One of the best +variations of it has been for the quarter to put his hand upon the +centre and keep it there until he is ready for the ball, then take it +off and let the centre snap the ball, not instantly, but at his +convenience. Should anything occur making it advisable, for some reason, +to stop the play, the quarter puts his hand upon the centre again at +once, and until it is once more removed the snap-back understands that +the quarter is not ready to have the ball come. Almost any amount of +variation can be made in the signal of the quarter to his centre; but in +arranging this it should be constantly borne in mind that the signal +should not be such as to give the opponents the exact instant of the +play, because it gives them too close an idea of the moment when they +may start. + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER MOFFATT. + +Princeton.] + +The speed of a quarter's work depends upon his ability to take the ball +close to the snap-back and in proper position for a pass. In merely +handing the ball to a runner, one might suppose that there would be no +particular position in which the ball should be held; but in that he +would be in error, for a ball so handed to a passing runner as not to +settle properly in his arms or hands means in many instances a +disastrous fumble, or at best a slowing-up of the runner's speed. In +giving the ball to a passing runner, it should be held free and clear of +the quarter's body and slightly tilted, so that it can be taken against +the body, and without the use of both hands for more than an instant, +because the runner must almost immediately have use for his arm in +going into the line. It is impossible to give in print the exact angle +and method of holding the ball for this purpose, but practice and the +wishes of the runners, if consulted, will soon show the quarter just +what is meant. When the ball is to be passed any considerable distance, +it should be taken so that the end is well placed against the hand of +the quarter, while the ball itself lies against the forearm, the wrist +being bent sharply. This will enable the quarter to send the ball +swiftly and accurately almost any distance that it may be necessary to +cover. Of course, in many cases the ball does not actually rest against +the forearm of the quarter; but this is the best way of conveying the +idea of the proper position of the hand upon the point of the ball, and +by practising in this way the correct motion for steady passing is +speedily acquired. In receiving the ball, the right hand, or the hand +with which the throw is made, should be placed upon the end of the ball, +while the other hand stops its progress, and should be placed as nearly +upon the opposite end of the ball as convenient. This is the +theoretically proper way of receiving the ball; practically, the +handling cannot be as accurately performed as this would indicate. If, +however, the quarter will in practice be constantly aiming at receiving +the ball so that his right hand grasps the end just as his left hand +stops the ball, and settles it securely against his right, he will find +that after a few weeks he can receive four out of five snap-backs in +such a way as to make any great amount of arranging the ball for his +pass, after it is in his hands, quite unnecessary. After the preliminary +weeks of practice, and when in a game, he must bear in mind the fact +that, in order of importance, his duties are, first, to secure the ball, +no matter how; second, to convey it to his own man, no matter whether in +good form or not. He must never pass the ball if he has fumbled it, +unless he has a perfectly clear field in which to do it. He must always +have it down in preference to taking the slightest risk of losing it. +Even though he receive it without a fumble, there may be a way through +in that part of the line towards which his pass is to be delivered; and +here, again, he should hold the ball for another down rather than take +any chance of the opponent's intercepting the pass. After letting the +ball go, the quarter should follow his pass; in fact, he should be +almost on the run as the ball leaves his hand. No matter whether the +ball be caught or fumbled, he is then ready to lend assistance; +whereas if he stand still after his pass, he is of no use to the rest of +the play. When the play is a run, he can do excellent work in +interfering; and when the play is a kick, he can take any opponent who +gets through, and thus aid the half in protecting the kicker. In either +case, if his own man muff or fumble he is close at hand to lend +assistance in an emergency, which otherwise might prove most disastrous. +When lining up the quarter should take a quick glance, not directly at +the player he is to make the recipient of the ball, but covering the +general position of all the men. In doing this he locates his individual +without making it apparent to the opponents which man is to receive the +ball. Any amount of disguise may be practised in the way of taking a +last glance at the wrong man, or calling out to some one who does not +enter into the play. The chief point, nevertheless, is to avoid that +tell-tale glance at the right man which is so difficult to omit. + +[Illustration: RALPH WARREN. + +Princeton.] + +When the opponents have the ball, the quarter makes an extra man in or +near the forward line, and, as a rule, he can by his shrewdness make it +very uncomfortable for any point in the line which he chooses to assail. +No law can govern his tactics in this respect, but he should be a law +unto himself, and show by his cleverness that he is more valuable than +any man in the line whose position is fixed. One caution only is worth +giving to the quarter in this line of play, and that is, to be less free +of going forward sharply when the play is evidently to be a run than +when a kick is to be attempted. In the latter case, a quarter can always +be sent for his best. + + + + +THE HALF-BACK AND BACK + + +As the game is at present played, the back is more of a third half-back +than a goal-tend, and so should be trained to half-back work. It has +been well said that all that one can ask of the best rush line is to +hold the ground their half-backs gain; and when one follows carefully +the progress of the play, he sees that this is the proper division of +the work. The half-backs, then, must be the ground-gainers of the team. +Such work calls for dash and fire--that ability to suddenly concentrate +all the bodily energy into an effort that must make way through +anything. Every one has such half-backs in mind, but unfortunately many +of those half-backs who possess this type of character have not the +necessary weight and strength to stand the amount of work required. +Although a light man be occasionally found who is particularly muscular +and wiry, the constant shock of going into a heavy line of forwards +usually proves too exhausting for any but those of middle weight before +the end of a season be reached. It is not that the work of a single game +proves too much for the light-weight half. It is that in both practice +and games he is so overmatched by the weight of the forwards whom he +must meet that every week finds him less strong than the preceding, +until his playing falls off so markedly that the captain or coach is at +last convinced that there is something wrong, and the man is replaced by +some one else, often too late to bring the substitute up to anything +like the mark he might have reached had he been tried earlier in the +season. Such thoughts as these will suggest themselves to the +experienced coach when at the outset of a season he has placed before +him a number of candidates for the position of half-back, among whom +very likely there may be two or three men of perhaps one hundred and +forty pounds' weight. Likely enough, too, these men may be at that +period easily superior to the middle or heavy weights. In such a case +the very best advice that can be whispered in the ear of coach or +captain is, to make quarters or ends of them, even though it be only +substitute quarters and ends. It will leave the way open for the proper +cultivation of half-backs better built to stand the wear and tear of a +season. + +Almost equally to be deprecated is the waste of time often devoted to +making half-backs of slow heavy weights. Only a quick man can perform a +half-back's duties successfully; and although much can be left to +practice, there must be some natural quickness to build upon. Slow men +can be improved far more rapidly in the forward line than among the +halves. All this regarding the weight of half-backs applies not only to +'varsity teams, but school teams as well, if one will make the proper +proportional changes in weight. That is, a 'varsity player will be +called upon to face a forward line averaging one hundred and +seventy-five or thereabouts, and men of less than one hundred and +thirty-five to one hundred and forty are too light to meet that +weight. In school teams the rush line will be some twenty pounds +lighter, and the halves can therefore be selected from even +one-hundred-and-twenty-five-pound men, if well built. In other words, a +half-back ought not to face over twenty-five pounds' difference in +weight; and the more that difference is reduced, supposing that speed +and agility be retained, the more chance there is of turning out a +thoroughly successful player. It is worth while to be thus particular +upon the point of the early selection of candidates for the position of +half-back, because, while no more work is demanded of them in a game +than of others of their side, the quality of that work must be more +uniformly good. When a half-back has to tackle, he must be as sure as a +steel-trap; when a half-back has to catch, he must be a man to be relied +upon; when a half-back is called upon for a kick, it must be no fluke; +and, although no one expects a half-back to always make on his run the +five yards, he must be a man who will not be denied when he is called +upon for that last yard which will enable his side to retain the ball. + +[Illustration: JOHN CORBETT. + +Harvard.] + +Almost the first thing to be critically noted by the coach is the way in +which a half-back takes the ball from his quarter. The case in which he +takes it directly from the hands of this player has been already dwelt +upon at some length under the head of the quarter's passing; but when +the ball is thrown or passed some little distance, it is just as +important that it be properly received. Except when about to kick, the +half-back should be moving when he receives the ball, and, more than +that, the reception of it should have no perceptible effect upon his +movements. In other words, he must take it as easily and as naturally as +a batsman in a ball game drops his bat after he has hit the ball fairly. +No batsman remembers that he has had the bat in his hands after the +ball has been hit, and yet, when he is at first base, he has left his +bat behind him at the plate. Thus a football half-back should so receive +the ball as not to know the exact instant of taking it, but find that he +has it as he comes up to the line. It will never do for a coach to +suppose that an inexperienced half can be told that he must take the +ball "without knowing it," but it is necessary to explain to a half that +until he does take the ball naturally, and without having to stop and +calculate about it, he can never come properly up to the line nor get +his whole power on early. To acquire the habit of taking a pass easily, +a half-back should spend a little time every day off the field in +practising taking a sharp pass when on the run. By a sharp pass is not +meant hurling the ball with all possible force against a runner so that +he is nearly knocked over by it, and cannot by any possibility catch it +except at the expense of giving the catch his sole and undivided +attention. Such passing in practice does far more harm than good. The +ball should be passed with that easy swing which sends it rapidly, +accurately, and evenly up to the runner without any great apparent +force, for it is remarkable how much the appearance of force tends to +rattle the runner, who easily handles fully as much speed properly +delivered. Daily practice of this nature between the quarter and halves +accustoms each to the other, so that the regular work of the team on the +field is not disorganized by loose passing and looser catching. While +this passing is progressing, the coach should stand by the side of the +half, and watch him closely, correcting any careless tendencies of +receiving or stopping, and paying particular attention to his going in +a straight line--that is, not running up to meet the ball and then +sheering off again. The best half-backs endeavor to receive the ball at +approximately the same height relative to their bodies, no matter how it +comes, and they will correct quite a variation in the quarter's throw by +a little stoop or a slight jump. A half-back must be taught to be +uniform in starting, and in reaching the spot where the ball is to meet +him. The coach will have no great difficulty in teaching him this steady +uniformity of pace, which will enable the quarter to throw the ball so +as really to assist rather than retard his motion. There are two other +things which the half-back must practise apart from his team-play. They +are kicking and catching. The former is of sufficient importance to +deserve a separate chapter, but a few hints under the half-back column +will not be out of place. It is usually the case that of all three men +behind the line, the two halves and the back, any one can do the kicking +upon a pinch, but one of the three is, nine times out of ten, manifestly +superior to the other two. In this state of affairs there is altogether +too great a tendency to slight the practice of the two inferior kickers, +and rely almost entirely upon the best man. It is quite proper to let +the best man do all the kicking possible in an important game, but it is +a very short-sighted policy to neglect the practice of the other two +during the preliminary games. Not only should they have the advantage to +be gained in the length of their kicks by daily practice, but they +should also have the steadying experience to be acquired only in games. +It may happen at any moment in a most important game that the kicking +will devolve upon them on account of an accident to the third man, and +it is, indeed, a foolhardy captain or coach who has not taken sufficient +forethought for this contingency. The principal reason why we develop so +few really good kickers is, that coaches, captains, and players have +given so little attention to the detail of that part of the work. Fully +nine tenths of the men who do the kicking upon American teams are more +natural kickers than practised ones. Let me explain this so as to be +fully understood. As in boxing one often sees a man who, having taken no +lessons, and being therefore unable to make the most of himself, can yet +more than hold his own against a more finished opponent on account of +his natural quickness, strength, and aptitude; so in football one sees +here and there a man who is able to do some fair kicking without having +devoted particular attention to it. In boxing, however, when a teacher +takes the natural hitter in hand, he begins by putting him at work upon +the rudiments of guarding, holding himself upon his feet, hitting +straight, and moving firmly. He never undertakes to make a first-class +man of him by merely encouraging him to go in harder, and increase his +power without regard to the proper methods. In football, coaches rarely +teach the kickers the first principles, but instead urge upon them only +the necessity of constant practice in their own way. For this reason our +kickers show all manner of styles, and the only wonder is that they kick +so well in such wretchedly bad form. + +[Illustration: W. BULL. + +Yale.] + +While it is neither advisable nor necessary that a kicker be prevented +from attempting to kick hard until he has mastered every detail of the +swing and brought it to the same point of perfection that a finished +oarsman does his stroke, it certainly is best, in his practice, to +subordinate power to method until he acquire good form. + +[Illustration: KNOWLTON L. AMES. + +Princeton.] + +The coach should take his man in hand by watching him make a half-dozen +kicks in his own way. Then he should select the worst of his faults, and +show him why it is a fault, and how to correct it. He should keep him +upon this one point for a few days, until he is convinced that there +will be no backsliding, and then begin upon the next. In this way a few +weeks will serve to make a second-class man a good one, and open the way +for his becoming something out of the ordinary run in another season. + +In judging the faults of a kicker, the coach should note just where he +gets his power on, what is the position of his leg and foot upon the +swing, and what part of the foot strikes the ball. These are the +principal points, and deserve the first attention. Regarding the first +of these, his power should be put on just as his foot has passed the +lowest part of the arc in which it swings, and it should meet the ball +in the upward sweep very soon after passing this point. The position of +his leg and foot is to be next noted, and the "snap the whip" phrase is +as good a one to convey the idea as any that can be adopted. As the leg +begins to swing the knee is bent and the body pitched a little forward, +so that the weight of the kick seems to start from the hip and travel +down the leg as it straightens, reaching the foot just as it meets the +ball, as above mentioned. As for the third point, the ball, when +punted, should be struck between the instep and the toe, impinging most +upon the former. In a drop-kick and a place-kick the ball is met by the +toe, and the sweep is made with "a longer leg," as the expression has +it; that is, the foot swings nearer--in fact, almost along the ground. + +All these three points can be most clearly illustrated by noting the +effect of departures from them. If the power is not put on as above +described, the man will simply send the ball along the ground, or will +hook it up, merely tossing it with his foot instead of driving it. These +two are the extremes, of course; but they illustrate where the power is +lost or wasted. If the leg be not swung in proper position, the ball +will be simply spatted with the foot, the only force coming from the +knee. Finally, if the ball be not met with the proper part of the foot +it may snap downwards off the toe, or be merely bunted by the ankle. +There is still another thing to be watched, which, while not the kick +proper, really belongs to it as much as the swing of the leg. It is the +way in which the ball is dropped to the foot from the hand or hands. The +usual tendency of beginners, and many half-backs who could hardly be +classed in that category, is to toss the ball from the hand; that is, to +give it a motion up from the hand, which, however slight, causes much +valuable time to be lost. The ball should always be dropped to the foot, +the distance between the hand and foot being made as short as possible. +The hand should be merely withdrawn just at the proper moment, and with +practice it is not difficult to make the entire transfer from hand to +foot so rapid as to almost eliminate any danger of having the ball +stopped or struck during that part of the play. In drop-kicking the +fall is necessarily greater, but it should never be a toss even then. +There has been no little argument as to whether the ball should be held +in one or both hands when about to kick, and such are the examples of +good kickers arrayed on both sides that one cannot fairly say that +either way is the only right way. If a player has become so accustomed +to the two-hand method as to make him uncomfortable and inaccurate if +forced to the one-hand way, it is hardly advisable to make the change. +But any player who is taken early enough can be taught to drop the ball +with one hand, to the great advantage of both his quickness and his +ability to kick from tight quarters or around an opponent. + +The entire series of motions, therefore, which go to make up a +well-performed kick should be in the coach's mind just as the separate +parts of an oarsman's stroke are in the boating-man's mind when +coaching a crew. The ball dropped, not tossed; the leg well swung, the +power coming from both leg and hip with all the advantage that the poise +of the body may add; the foot meeting the ball with the forward part of +the instep on a punt, with the toe on a drop, and in either case just +after passing the lowest point of the arc of swing, rather later on a +punt than a drop, because the ground helps the latter to rise, while the +rise of the former must come entirely from the foot. The next step in +the education of the kicker is the side swing. The ball cannot be kicked +as far when met directly in front of the kicker--his leg swinging +straight, as it would in taking a step in running--as it can be kicked +by taking a side sweep with the leg and body, the hips acting as a sort +of pivot. + +One of the most common false ideas regarding this side kick is, that it +is not performed with the same part of the foot as the straight punt, +but that the ball is struck by the side of the foot. Of course, this is +all wrong. The foot meets the ball as fairly and directly as it does in +the ordinary straight kick, and the ball impinges upon the top of the +instep and toe just as before, the word "side" referring to the swing of +the leg and position of the body only. + +All the suggestions thus far have been applicable to both half-backs and +back, but before bringing the chapter to an end it is well to note a few +of the special features of the full-back's position. The place +originally was that of a goal-tend, but with the increase of the +aggressive system of defence his duties have become more those of a +third half-back. Other things being equal, it is eminently proper to +select as a full-back an exceptionally strong tackler; but as for +placing tackling ability above that of kicking, that is a mistake which +might have been made six years ago, but of which no coach or captain +would to-day be guilty. + +[Illustration: W. C. RHODES. + +Yale.] + +The importance of the position is rapidly growing, and there is no doubt +that the time will come in another year, if it be not already here, when +the selection of the three men behind the line will be after this +fashion--namely, picking out the three best half-backs, all things +considered, then selecting that one of the three whose kicking is the +best, and making him the third half or full back. After the man has been +in this way chosen there will devolve upon him certain duties which do +not commonly fall to the lot of the other two half-backs. Chiefest among +these is the duty of making a running return of a kick. The opponents +have sent a punt down towards him, which he secures while the opponents +are still some yards away from him, although they are coming down +rapidly. In this case, a thoroughly finished player will not only gain a +few steps before he takes his kick, but he will take that kick on the +run, sometimes dodging the first man before taking the kick. A full-back +who can do this and never lose his kick is the greatest kind of a +treasure for any team, and it is worth a captain's while to devote a +good bit of attention to the full-back's perfecting this special feature +of his play. + +He will also be likely to have the long place-kicking to do. In fact, it +is proper to practise him at this, because, if he be the best punter +among the men behind the line, he can be made the longest place-kicker, +and few realize the great advantage of these long place-kicks to a team +upon occasion of fair catches. + +Tackling, when it does fall to the lot of a full-back, comes with an +importance the like of which no other player is ever called upon to +face. It usually means a touch-down if he misses. For practice of this +kind it is well to play the 'varsity back once in a while upon the scrub +side. This is likely to improve the speed of his kicking also. + + + + +SIGNALS + + +When Rugby football was first adopted in this country, it was against a +strong feeling that it would never make progress against what had been +known as the American game. This old-fashioned game was much more like +the British Association in a rather demoralized state. Not only was +there no such thing as off-side, but one of the chief features consisted +in batting the ball with the fist, at which many became sufficiently +expert to drive the ball almost as far as the ordinary punter now kicks +it. There was very little division of players by name, although they +strung out along the field, and one (known as the "peanutter"--why, no +one knows) played in the enemies' goal. Coming to players accustomed to +this heterogeneous mingling, it is no great wonder that the first days +of Rugby were characterized by even less system than that displayed in +the old game. + +The first division of players was into rushers, half-backs, and a +goal-tend. The rushers had but little regard for their relative +positions in the line; and as for their duties, one can easily imagine +how little they corresponded with those of the rusher of to-day when it +is said that it was by no means unusual for one of them to pick up the +ball and punt it. + +The snap-back and quarter-back play soon defined these two positions, +and shortly after the individual rush line positions became distinct, +both as regards location and duties. All this was an era of development +of general play with but few particular combinations or marks of +strategy. If a man made a run, he made it for the most part wherever he +saw the best chance after receiving the ball, and he made it unaided to +any degree by his comrades. If the ball was kicked, it was at the option +of the man receiving it, and the forwards did not know whether he would +kick or run. + +It was at this point that the demand for signals first showed itself. +The rushers began to insist upon it that they must be told in some way +whether the play was to be a kick or a run. They maintained quite +stoutly and correctly that there was no reason in their chasing down the +field when the half-backs did not kick. As a matter of fact, the +forwards even went so far as to contend that the running-game should be +entirely dropped in favor of one based upon long kicks well followed up. +Failing to establish this opinion, they nevertheless brought it about +that they should be told by some signal what the play was to be, and so +be spared useless running. This was probably the first of the present +complicated system of signals, although at about the same time some +teams took up the play of making a rather unsatisfactory opening for a +runner in the line, and made use of a signal to indicate the occasions +when this was to be done. The signalling of the quarter to the +centre-rush as to when the ball should be played antedated this +somewhat, but can hardly be classed with signals for the direction of +the play itself. + +To-day the teams which meet to decide the championship are brought up to +the execution of at least twenty-five different plays, each of which is +called for by a certain distinct signal of its own. + +[Illustration: P. D. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard.] + +The first signals given were "word signals;" that is, a word or a +sentence called out so that the entire team might hear it and understand +whether a kick or a run was to be made. Then, when signals became more +general, "sign-signals" (that is, some motion of the hand or arm to +indicate the play) were brought in and became for a time more popular +than the word signals, particularly upon fields where the audience +pressed close upon the lines, and their enthusiastic cheering at times +interfered with hearing word signals. Of late years numerical +combinations have become most popular, and as the crowd is kept at such +a distance from the side lines as to make it possible for teams to hear +those signals, they have proven highly satisfactory. The numerical +system, while it can be readily understood by the side giving the +signal, because they know the key, is far more difficult for the +opponents to solve than either the old word signals or signs. Still, the +ingenuity of captains is generally taxed to devise systems that shall so +operate as never to confuse their own men and yet completely mystify the +opponents throughout the game. Clever forwards almost always succeed in +interpreting correctly one or two of the signals most frequently used, +in spite of the difficulty apparent in the solution of such problems. +The question as to who should give the signals is still a disputed one, +although the general opinion is that the quarter-back should perform +this duty. There is no question as to the propriety of the signals +emanating from that point, but the discussion is as to whether the +captain or the quarter should direct the play. Of course all is settled +if the captain is himself a quarter-back, but even when he is not he +ought to be able to so direct his quarter previous to the actual +conflict as to make it perfectly satisfactory to have the signals come +from the same place as the ball. It is in that direction that the eyes +and attention of every player are more or less turned, and hence signals +there given are far more certain to be observed. Moreover, it is +sometimes, and by no means infrequently, necessary to change a play even +after the signal has been given. This, if the quarter be giving the +signals, is not at all difficult, but is decidedly confusing when coming +from some other point in the line. + +The important fact to be remembered in selecting a system of signals is +that it is far more demoralizing to confuse your own team than to +mystify your opponents. A captain must therefore choose such a set of +signals as he can be sure of making his own team comprehend without +difficulty and without mistake. When he is sure of that, he can think +how far it is possible for him to disguise these from his opponents. +Among the teams which contest for championship honors it is unusual to +find any which are not prepared for emergencies by the possession either +of two sets of signals, or of such changes in the manner of giving them +as to make it amount to the same thing. Considering the way the game is +played at the present time, this preparation is advisable, for one can +hardly overestimate the demoralizing effect it would have upon any team +to find their opponents in possession of a complete understanding of the +signals which were directing the play against them. + +[Illustration: R. HODGE. + +Princeton.] + +While it is well for the captain or coach to arrange in his own mind +early in the season such a basis for a code of signals as to render it +adaptable to almost indefinite increase in the number of plays, it is by +no means necessary to have the team at the outset understand this basis. +In fact, it is just as well to start them off very modestly upon two or +three signals which they should learn, and of which they should make use +until the captain sees fit to advance them a peg. + +If, for instance, the captain decides to make use of a numerical system, +he cannot do better to accustom his men to listening and following +instructions than to give them three signals, something like this: +One-two-three, to indicate that the ball is to be passed to the right +half-back, who will endeavor to run around the left end; four-five-six, +that the left half will try to run around the right end; and +seven-eight-nine, that the back will kick. The scrub side will probably +"get on" to these signals in short order, and will make it pleasant at +the ends for the half-backs; but this will be the best kind of practice +in team work, and will do no harm. After a day or two of this it will be +time to make changes in the combination of numbers, not only with an +idea of deceiving the scrub side, but also to quicken the wits of the +'Varsity team. Taking the same signals as a basis, the first, or signal +for the right half-back to try on the left end, was one-two-three--the +sum of these numbers is six. Take that, then, as the key to this signal, +and any numbers the sum of which equals six will be a signal for this +play. For instance, three-three, or four-two, two-three-one--any of +these would serve to designate this play. Similarly, as the signal for +the left half at the right end was four-five-six, or a total of fifteen, +any numbers which added make fifteen--as six-six-three, seven-eight, or +five-four-six--would be interpreted in this way. Finally, the signal for +a kick having been seven-eight-nine, or a sum of twenty-four, any +numbers aggregating that total would answer equally well. + +A few days of this practice will fit the men for any further +developments upon the same lines, and accustom them to listening and +thinking at the same time. The greatest difficulty experienced by both +captains and coaches since the signals and plays became so complicated +has been to teach green players not to stop playing while they listen to +and think out a signal. By the end of the season players are so +accustomed to the signals that all this hesitation disappears, and the +signal is so familiar as to amount to a description of the play in so +many words. + +The other two methods of signalling by the use of words rather than +numbers, and signs given by certain movements, although they have now +given way in most teams to numbers, are still made use of, and have +merit enough to deserve a line or two. The word-signal was usually given +in the form of a sentence, the whole or any part of which would indicate +the play. As, for instance, to indicate a kick, the sentence "Play up +sharp, Charlie." If the quarter, or whoever gave the signals, should +call out, "Play up," or "Play up sharp," or "Play," or "Charlie," he +would in each instance be giving the signal for a kick. Sign-signals are +more difficult to disguise, but are none the less very effective, +especially where there is a great amount of noise close to the ropes. A +good example of the sign-signal is the touching of some part of the body +with the hand. For instance, half-back running would be denoted by +placing the hand on the hip, the right hip for the left half, and the +left hip for the right half. A kick would be indicated by placing the +hand upon the neck. Particular care should be exercised when +sign-signals are to be used that the ones selected, while similar to the +acts performed naturally by the quarter in stooping over to receive the +ball, are never exactly identical with these motions, else there will +likely enough be confusion. + +[Illustration: H. H. KNAPP. + +Yale.] + +No matter what method of signalling be used, there is one important +feature to be regarded, and that is, some means of altering the play +after a signal has been given. This is, of course, a very simple thing, +and the usual plan is to have some word which means that the signal +already given is to be considered void, and a new signal will be given +in its place. There should also be some way of advising the team of a +change from one set of signals to another, should such a move become +necessary. It is very unwise not to be prepared for such an emergency, +because if a captain is obliged to have time called and personally +advise his team one by one of such a change, the opponents are quite +sure to see it and to gain confidence from the fact that they have been +clever enough to make such a move necessary. + + + + +TRAINING + + +At the present advanced athletic era there are very few who do not +understand that a certain amount of preparation is absolutely essential +to success in any physical effort requiring strength and endurance. The +matter of detail is, however, not faced until one actually becomes a +captain or a coach, and, as such, responsible for the condition, not of +himself alone, but of a team of fifteen or twenty men. + +Experience regarding his own needs will have taught him the value of +care and work in this line; but, unless he differs greatly from the +ordinary captain upon first assuming the duties of that position, his +knowledge of training will be confined to an understanding of his own +requirements, coupled with the handed-down traditions of the preceding +captains and teams. When he finds himself in this position and considers +what lines of training he shall lay down for his team, unless he be an +inordinately conceited man he will wish he had made more of a study of +this art of preparation, especially in the direction most suited to the +requirements of his own particular sport. + +Many inquiries from men about to undertake the training of a team have +led me to believe that, even at the expense of going over old ground, it +will be well in this book to map out a few of the important features of +a course of training. It should go without saying that there are +infinite variations in systems of this kind; but if a man will carry in +mind the reasons rather than the rules, he has always a test to apply +which will enable him to make the most of whatever system he adopts. + +He should remember that training ought to be a preparation by means of +which his men will at a certain time arrive at the best limits of their +muscular strength and activity, at the same time preserving that +equilibrium most conducive to normal health. Such a preparation can be +accomplished by the judicious use of the ordinary agents of +well-being--exercise, diet, sleep, and cleanliness. + +One can follow out the reasons for or against any particular point in a +system rather better if he cares to see why these agents act towards +health and strength. + +Exercise is a prime requisite, because the human mechanism, unlike the +inanimate machine, gains strength from use. Muscular movement causes +disintegration and death of substance, but at the same time there is an +increased flow of blood to the part, and that means an increased supply +of nourishment and increased activity in rebuilding. As MacLaren has +expressed it, strength means newness of the muscle. The amount and +quality of this exercise will be treated of later in this chapter. + +[Illustration: A. J. CUMNOCK. + +Harvard.] + +In considering the matter of Diet, a captain or coach should think of +this question not according to the tradition of his club, nor according +to his own idiosyncrasies. He should regard the general principle of not +depriving a man of anything to which he is accustomed and which agrees +with him. Of course, it is advisable to do without such articles of food +as would be injurious to the majority of the men, even though there +might be one or two to whom they would do no harm. Men should enjoy +their food, and it should be properly served. I remember once being +asked my opinion regarding a certain team at the time in training, and I +expressed the conviction that something was wrong with their diet. The +team, as a whole, were not seriously affected, but some three or four +were manifestly out of sorts. I heard the coach go over the bill of +fare, and it sounded all right. I then decided to take dinner with them +and see if I could discover the trouble. One meal was sufficient, for it +was a meal! The beef--and an excellent roast it was, too--was literally +served in junks, such as one might throw to a dog. The dishes were +dirty, so was the cloth. Vegetables were dumped on to the plates in a +mess, and each one grabbed for what he wanted. Some of the men might +have been brought up to eat at such a table, still others were not +sufficiently sensitive to have their appetites greatly impaired by +anything, but the three or four who were "off" were boys whose home life +had accustomed them to a different way of dining, and their natures +revolted. So, too, did their appetites. As it was then too late to +correct the manners of the mess, I simply advised sending these men +elsewhere to board, and they speedily came into shape. I cannot too +strongly advocate good service at a training table. The men should enjoy +their dinners, should eat them slowly, and should be encouraged to be as +long about it as they will. As food is to repair the waste, it should be +generous in quantity and taken when the man will not, from being +over-tired, have lost his appetite. Sometimes a team is not overworked, +but worked too late in the day, so that the men rush to the table almost +directly from the field, and fail to feel hungry, while within an hour +they would have eaten with a zest. This course persevered in for several +days will show its folly in a general falling-off in the strength as +well as the weight of the men. To train a football team should be, in +the matter of the diet at least, the simplest matter compared with +training for other sports, because the season of the year is so +favorable to good condition. + +Crews and ball nines have oftentimes the trial of exceptionally hot and +exhausting weather to face, while a football team, after the few warm +days of September are passed, enjoy the very best of bracing +weather--weather which will give almost any man who spends his time in +out-door work a healthy, hearty appetite. In order that any captain or +coach reading this book may feel that, while it offers several courses +of diet, it would emphatically present the fact that there is no +hard-and-fast system of diet that must be religiously followed, I submit +a variety of tables, showing some old as well as new school diets. None +of them are very bad, several are excellent; and I don't think that a +captain or coach would be called upon to draw his pencil through very +many of the items enumerated. + +[Illustration: JEREMIAH S. BLACK. + +Princeton.] + + +THE OXFORD SYSTEM.--(Summer Races.) + +A DAY'S TRAINING.[A] + +Rise about 7 A.M. | |So as to be in chapel; but + | | early rising not compulsory. + +Exercise | A short walk or run |Not compulsory (walk only, and + | | short). + +Breakfast, 8.30 |Meat, beef or mutton. | + |Bread or toast, dry |The crust only recommended. + |Tea |As little as possible + | |recommended. + +Exercise (forenoon)| None |American football men should + | | kick, catch, and pass. + +Dinner, 2 P.M. |Meat; much the same as | + | for breakfast. | + |Bread | Crust only recommended. + |Vegetables, none allowed | A rule, however, not always + | | adhered to. + |Beer, one pint |This is what Americans call + | |ale, and not indulged in to + | |any great extent except after + | |a hard game. + +Exercise |About 5 o'clock start | + | for the river, and row | + | twice over the course, | + | the speed increasing | + | with the strength | + | of the crew. | + +Supper, 8.30 or 9. |Meat, cold. | + |Bread; perhaps a jelly | + | or watercresses. | + |Beer, one pint (see above).| +Bed about 10. + +[Footnote A: As has been stated elsewhere, improvements have been made +in diet since this table was compiled. This will also apply to the +Cambridge System, page 143.] + + +TORPID RACES. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise about 7.30 A.M. | |Early rising not compulsory. + +Exercise. |A short walk or run. | Not compulsory. + +Breakfast, 9. |As for summer races. | + +Exercise (forenoon). | None. | + +Luncheon about 1 P.M.|Bread, or a sandwich. | + |Beer, half a pint. | + +Exercise. |About 2 o'clock start | + | for the river, and row | + | twice over the course. | + +Dinner, 5. |Meat, as for summer races.| + |Bread. | + |Vegetables, as for summer | + | races. | + |Pudding (rice), or jelly. | + |Beer, half a pint. | + +Bed, 10.30. + + +THE CAMBRIDGE SYSTEM. Summer Races (1866). + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 7 A.M. + +Exercise. |Run 100 or 200 yards as |"The old system of running a + | fast as possible. | mile or so before breakfast is + | | fast going out, except + | | in the case of men who + | | want to get a good deal of + | | flesh off." + +Breakfast, 8.30. |Meat, beef or mutton. + |Toast, dry. + |Tea, two cups, or towards the end of training a + |cup and a half only. Watercresses occasionally. + +Exercise (forenoon).| None. + +Dinner about 2 P.M. |Meat, beef or mutton. | + |Bread. | + |Vegetables--potatoes, |Some colleges have baked apples, + |greens |or jellies, or rice puddings. + |Beer, one pint. | + |Dessert--oranges, or | + | biscuits, or figs; | + | wine, two glasses. | + +Exercise. |About 5.30 start for the river, | "Most men get out for a + | and row to the starting-post | little time before + | and back | rowing back." + + |Meat, cold. +Supper about 8.30 |Bread. + or 9. |Vegetables--lettuce or watercresses. +Bed at 10. |Beer, one pint. + + +H. CLASPER'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise between 6 and 7 A.M. + +Exercise. A country walk of four or five miles. + + |Meat, chop or +Breakfast, 8. |Couple of eggs. + |Bread. + |Tea. ("We never drink coffee.") + +Exercise. |Rest for half an hour, and then a brisk walk + | or run. If morning exercise has not been heavy, + | a row on the river, terminating about 11 A.M. + +Dinner, 12 M. |Meat, beef or mutton (broiled). + |Egg pudding, with currants in it if desired, or other light + | farinaceous pudding. + |Ale, one glass. + |Wine, one glass (port), or + |Ale, two glasses, without wine. + +Exercise. |Rest for an hour, and then on the river again for a hard row. + | "Rowing exercise should be taken twice every day." + +Tea. |"Tea, with toasted bread sparingly buttered, with one egg + | only--more has a tendency to choke the system." + +Supper. |Not recommended. When taken, to consist of new milk and + | bread, or gruel, with raisins and currants and a glass + | of port wine in it. + +Bed about 10. + + +C. WESTHALL'S SYSTEM. For Amateurs. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 6 A.M., | Cold bath and rub down. + or earlier in the summer. | + +Exercise. | Sharp walk about a mile out, and run home; or a + | row of a couple of miles at three-parts speed. + | A dry rub-down. + + +Breakfast (time not stated). | Meat, mutton-chop or steak (broiled). + | Bread, stale or toast. + | Tea, half a pint. + +Exercise. | (Not stated.) + +Dinner, 2 P.M. | Meat (as at breakfast). + | Vegetables, none; "except a mealy potato." + | Bread, stale. + | Beer, one pint. + +Exercise (afternoon). | Rowing. + +If dinner be late, luncheon to be taken to consist of +Meat, beef or mutton, hot or cold. Bread. Beer, one glass. +(If dinner be early, "tea with viands and liquids as at breakfast" to be +taken.) + +Supper. | Half a pint of thin gruel, or dry toast + | and a glass of ale. + +Bed. | Time not stated. + +N.B.--It is added "that the above rules are of course open to alteration +according to circumstances, and the diet varied successfully by the +introduction of fowls, either roast or boiled--the latter preferred;" +and "it must never be lost sight of that sharp work, regularity, and +cleanliness are the chief if not the only rules to be followed to +produce thorough good condition." + + +McLAREN'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at about 7 A.M. (Glass of cold water recommended.) + +Exercise. | The crew meet at 7, walk and run for four or five + | miles; or, in later practice, quick run of two + | miles. + | Wash and dress. + +Breakfast, 9. | Meat (broiled); bread (brown) and butter; tea, two + | cups. "Cocoa made of the nibs boiled for four hours + | is better than tea for breakfast." + | Smoking allowed (conditionally). "Smoking is barred, + | for, though here also a man's habits are to be + | taken into account, the subjects + | of training in match-boats are usually too young to + | have contracted a custom of smoking so inveterate + | as to have made tobacco indispensable + | to the body's internal functions, though it is not + | unfrequently so in older men. After breakfast is + | the only time allotted to the pipe." + +Luncheon at 1. | Beef sandwich with half a pint of beer, or + | Biscuit and glass of sherry, or egg in sherry. + +Exercise. | At 2.30 go out to row, and row over the whole + | course. "This altogether + | depends on the state of the crew." + | Wash in tepid water. + +Dinner at 6 p.m. | Meat (roast, broiled, or boiled). "Any kind of + | wholesome meat thoroughly cooked." + | Vegetables--"The green foods permissible contain in + | their list spinach--the very best of all; sea-kale, + | asparagus, but without melted butter; turnip-tops, + | young unhearted greens, but not solid cabbages; + | broccoli, carrots, parsnips, and cooked celery. + | Turnips are also favored, and pease condemned; also + | cucumbers, and all salad mixtures. But boiled + | beet-root is good, and Jerusalem artichokes; + | and French beans stand next to spinach in virtue." + | The course is varied daily, so that no two days + | together shall see the same articles on the table. + | Pudding. ("Light puddings may be eaten.") + | Bread. Beer, one pint. + | Wine, two glasses of old port or sherry, or three of + | claret. Biscuits and dried fruits, as cherries, + | figs, etc., allowed. ("All fresh fruits are + | avoided.") + | Jellies. ("Plain jellies are innocuous.") + | Water. ("As much spring water as they have a mind + | to.") + +Supper, 9. Oatmeal gruel if desired. + +Bed at 10. N. B.--On Sundays a brisk walk of three hours or so + is taken. + + SUMMARY. + +Sleep, eight or nine hours. Exercise, about three hours. Diet, very +varied. + + +STONEHENGE'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 8 A.M. | According to season and weather. + | Cold bath. + +Exercise, 8.30 to 9. | Walking or running. "Let all take a gentle run + | or smart walk." + +Breakfast, 9 to 9.30. | Oatmeal porridge, with meat (beef or mutton, + | broiled) and bread. + | Tea or coffee, or table beer, one pint. + | "Tea is preferred to coffee. + | Cocoa is too greasy." + +Exercise, 9.30 to 11.30, | Billiards, skittles, quoits, or + | other light exercise. + +11.30 to 1.30. | Rowing. + +1.30 to about 2.30. | Running. "According to circumstances." + | Rubbed dry and linen changed. + +Dinner, 2.30 to 3 or 3.30| Meat--beef (roast) or mutton (boiled mutton + | occasionally), roast fowl, partridges, or pheasants + | (allowed), or venison (nothing better). + | "It is generally directed that the steak or chop + | should be underdone; this, I am sure, is a fallacy." + |--Bread (_ad lib_.).--Puddings occasionally, + | made of bread, eggs, and milk, and served with + | preserved fruits.--Vegetables--potatoes (one or two + | only), cauliflowers, and broccoli (only as an + | occasional change). If training is protracted, + | fish allowed (cod or soles).--Beer, from a pint to + | a pint and a half.--Wine, a glass or two, port or + | sherry. + +After dinner, + until 5 or 6. |A gentle stroll or book. + +Exercise, 6 to 7. |Rowing. + +Supper, 8. |Oatmeal porridge with dry toast or chop, + | with glass of port. + +Bed at 9 or 10. + + +SYSTEM OF JACKSON AND GODBOLD. + +BREAKFAST.--Stale or whole-meal bread, or toast, a little butter, plenty +of marmalade if you like, but not jam. Bacon and eggs, or chops or +steaks, with watercress if obtainable. To those who like it, a basin of +oatmeal porridge, _properly made_, taken with pure milk about an hour +before breakfast, is an excellent thing, and has a very beneficial +effect upon the stomach, but it should not be taken every day. It is +better to miss it every third day, or to take it regularly for a +fortnight and then omit it from the next week's diet, as the too +frequent use of it is rather injurious to the skin of some persons. +Tea--not too strong--is better than coffee. Good ripe fruit is a +capital adjunct to the breakfast-table, and is an excellent article of +food. + +DINNER.--Lamb, mutton, beef, fowl (tender and boiled), varied by fish, +of which haddock, whiting, and soles are the best, with potatoes (well +boiled, and not much of them), and well-cooked vegetables, followed by a +small allowance of light farinaceous pudding or stewed fruit, will be a +good, wholesome diet. If you want bread, have it stale. Never eat _new_ +bread. Avoid all sauces, or made dishes, and adhere to plain food only. +One thing we would particularly impress upon the reader, and that is +never to take his exercise immediately before or after meals, nothing is +more injurious, or likely to produce indigestion, and its concomitant +evils. Some authorities abjure the use of sugar, but taken in moderation +it is not injurious. A well-known champion of our acquaintance, when +in the pink of condition, was wont to amuse himself by eating the +contents of a sugar basin, if one were inadvertently left near him, and +without feeling any ill effects from so doing. Our readers need not +follow his example, for although it might suit him, it probably would +not agree with them. We have said, take sugar in _moderation_. Now, in +this last word lies all the lectures one can give on this subject. Be +moderate in all things, one might say, but above all things be moderate +in the use of all edibles not actually necessary to support the +increased exertion which a man in training is called upon to perform. No +liquid should be taken except with, or just after meals, but we would +not advise stinting the quantity too much. In summer three or four +pints, and in winter two or three pints per diem would be about the +quantity. Never drink just before exercise, and it is better not to +drink just before going to bed. In fact, the less one has to digest when +retiring for sleep the better, and be sure not to drink tea late at +night. + +[Illustration: C. O. GILL. + +Yale.] + +TEA, or SUPPER, should be taken at least two hours before bedtime, and +we would allow a small chop, or some light fish, bread, and very little +butter, with some ripe fruit. The best meal to take before a race, and +which should be taken about two hours before starting-time, is the lean +of mutton-chops and a little dry toast. We have said that no liquids +should be taken except at meal-times; but we do not intend to state that +if a man be very thirsty he may not touch them. If he does so, it must +be a very small quantity. Thirst can often be assuaged by rinsing the +mouth out with cold water, and this is by far the better plan if it is +efficacious. + + +A COMMON-SENSE SYSTEM. + +One author says: "Rise at six; bathe; take about two ounces (a small +cup) of coffee with milk: this is really a stimulating soup. Then light +exercise, chiefly devoted to lungs; a little rest; the breakfast of +meat, bread, or oatmeal, vegetables, with no coffee; an hour's rest. +Then the heaviest exercise of the day. This is contrary to rule; but I +believe the heaviest exercise should be taken before the heaviest meal; +a rest before dinner. This meal, if breakfast be taken at seven or +eight, should be at one or two, not leaving a longer interval than five +hours between the meals. At dinner, again meat, vegetables, bread, +perhaps a half-pint of malt liquor, no sweets. Then a longer rest; +exercise till five. Supper light--bread, milk, perhaps with an egg. Half +an hour later a cup of tea, and bed at nine." + + +J. B. O'REILLY. + +Seven o'clock is a good time for an athlete in training to rise. He +ought to get a good dry-rubbing, and then sponge his body with cold +water, or have a shower-bath, with a thorough rubbing afterwards. He +will then go out to exercise before breakfast, not to run hard, as is +commonly taught, but to walk briskly for an hour, while exercising his +lungs in deep-breathing. Before this walk, an egg in a cup of tea, or +something of the kind, should be taken. + +The breakfast need not always consist of a broiled mutton-chop or +cutlet; a broiled steak, broiled chicken, or broiled fish, or some of +each, may be taken with tea or coffee. + +Dinner may be far more varied than is usually allowed by the trainer's +"system." Any kind of butcher's meat, plainly cooked, with a variety of +fresh vegetables, may be taken, with ordinary light puddings, stewed +fruit, but no pastry. A good time for dinner is one o'clock. + +An American athlete, when thirsty, ought to have only one drink--water. +The climate and the custom in England favor the drinking of beer or +claret; but, beyond question, the best drink for a man in training is +pure water. After dinner, rest, but no dozing or _siesta_. This sort of +rest only spoils digestion, and makes men feel slack and "limp." + +Supper, at six o'clock, should not be a second dinner; but neither +should it consist of "slops" or gruel. The athlete ought to be in bed by +ten o'clock, in a room with open window, and a draught through the room, +if possible, though not across the bed. + +[Illustration: E. C. PEACE. + +Princeton.] + +The American football captain or coach should bear in mind, when reading +these various systems, that the use of ale and port seems to be much +better borne by those who live in the English climate than upon this +side of the water. + +Also, that stiff exercise before breakfast has not been proven +advantageous to our athletes except as a flesh-reducer, and then only in +exceptionally vigorous constitutions. + +Also, that tea is not as popular with us as with the men who train in +England. + + +SLEEP AND CLEANLINESS. + +To come to the third agent of health enumerated some pages back, Sleep. +As a rule, it is not a difficult matter to see that members of a +football team take the requisite amount of sleep. There are occasions, +as in college, when some society event of unusual importance tempts the +men to sit up late, but with such exceptions as these there is no great +difficulty experienced in making the majority of the men keep good +hours. And this is growing more and more simple as athletics become more +general, for they take the place of much of the dissipation which was +formerly the only outlet for the superabundant animal spirits of young +men. In the case, however, of the occasional candidate for the team who +comes under the captain's eye as inclined to late hours, there must be +the strictest kind of discipline shown. Such a man is the very one whose +stamina will be affected after a while by lack of sleep, and that too at +a time when the rest of the men are nearing the perfection of condition. +Thus he will be found falling off at the very time when it is a most +serious matter very likely to fill his position with a new man. Eight or +nine hours sleep should be insisted upon, and that sleep should be taken +with regularity. In fact, not only the sleep, but the meals and the +exercise, should all be made as nearly regular, regarding hours, as +possible. Men should have separate rooms, and particularly when off upon +trips they should not sleep together. Plenty of fresh air should be +admitted to the sleeping-room, but draughts are to be avoided. This is +not because every time the air blows upon a man he is liable to contract +a severe cold, for the chances are against this, but because there are +times when he is particularly prone to such an accident, and if he is in +the habit of sleeping without regard to draughts it is not likely that +he will take precautions then. If a man has, for instance, played an +especially stiff game and upon a muggy and exhausting day, he will +undoubtedly turn in thoroughly tired out, and perhaps still somewhat +heated. Now if he, when in that state, sleeps in a draught, he will +probably find himself very lame in the morning, even though he escape +other more serious consequences. Just one more word of caution regarding +sleep, and that is in the matter of obtaining a good night's rest just +before the important match of the season. To insure this is to do much +towards securing the best work of which the men are capable from the +team upon the following day. + +[Illustration: W. HEFFELFINGER. + +Yale.] + +First and foremost, they should not be allowed to talk about the game or +the signals or anything connected with football during that evening. If +possible, they should do something to entirely divert their minds from +all thought of the game. Nor should they be hustled off to bed an hour +or two earlier than usual. Rather ought it to be a half-hour later, for +then the chances are that the men drop off to sleep immediately instead +of tossing about, thinking of the exciting event of the morrow. + +Finally, as to overtrained men, and that restlessness and inability to +sleep that almost always comes with the worst cases of this kind. There +is but one thing to do with a man when he "goes fine" to this extent, +and that is to sever his connection with the team for a time. If it is +early in the season, there is some chance of his recuperating rapidly +enough to still become serviceable. If it is late, there is no hope of +this. In either case he must neither play, eat, nor spend his time with +the members of the team. He can do almost anything else; he can go and +watch the crew row or the ball nine play; he can study or read; he can, +and in fact should, do everything possible to disassociate himself from +football and violent exercise for a time, and, unless the trouble has +gone too far, it will only be a couple of weeks before he will find +himself coming out of it all right, and among the first signs will be +good, refreshing sleep. + +To pass now to the fourth of our agents for health, Cleanliness. It is +fortunately seldom necessary to argue the advantages of the "tub" or +"sponge bath" to our football players, because they are usually +accustomed to it. A daily splashing has been their ordinary habit. It is +well to mention also that a fortnightly warm bath may be indulged in to +advantage. But with the present understanding of all these advantages, +the wisest remarks that can be made are cautions as to indiscretions in +the use of baths. In the first place, one bath a day is enough, and any +other should be a mere sponging and rubbing. Men who indulge in a tub in +the morning and then spend another fifteen minutes in a plunge after +practice in the afternoon get too much of it. Again, the habit of +spending a long time under the shower every day is a mistake. It feels +so refreshing after a hard practice that a man is tempted to stay too +long, and it does him no good. The best and safest plan is to take a +light, quick sponge bath in the morning immediately upon rising, and +then, after practice in the afternoon, to take just a moment under the +shower, and follow it by a good rubbing. This, with the fortnightly warm +bath, will be all that a man may do to advantage. + + + + +A CHAPTER FOR SPECTATORS + + +To those who have never played the game of football, but who chance to +open the covers of this book, a short explanation of the divisions and +duties of the players will not be out of place. For these this chapter +is added. + +The game is played by two teams, of eleven men each, upon a field 330 +feet long and 160 feet wide, at either end of which are goal-posts with +a cross-bar. + +The ball, which is like a large leather egg, is placed in the centre of +this field, and each team endeavors to drive it in the direction of the +opponents' goal-line, where any scoring must be done. Goals and +touch-downs are the only points which count, and these can be made only +as follows: + +A goal can be obtained by kicking the ball in any way except a punt (a +certain kind of kick where the ball is dropped by a player and kicked +before touching the ground) over the cross-bar of the opponents' goal. A +touch-down is obtained by touching the ball to the ground behind the +line of the goal. So, in either case, the ball must cross the end of the +field in some way to make any score. The sole object, then, of all the +struggles which take place in the field is to advance the ball to a +position such that scoring is possible. A firm grasp of this idea +usually simplifies matters very much for the casual spectator. + +The object of the white lines which cross the field at every five yards +is merely to assist the referee in determining how far the ball moves at +a time; for there is a rule which states that a team must advance the +ball five yards in three attempts or retreat with it twenty. If they do +not succeed in doing this, the other side take possession of the ball, +and in their turn try to advance it. + +[Illustration: R. M. APPLETON. + +Harvard.] + +There are certain rules which govern the methods of making these +advances, any infringement of which constitutes what is called _a foul_, +and entails a penalty upon the side making it. + +Any player can run with the ball or kick it if, when he receives it, he +is "on side"--that is, between the ball and his own goal-line. He may +not take the ball if he is "off-side"--that is, between the ball and his +opponents' goal-line--until an adversary has touched the ball. + +Whenever a player running with the ball is held, he must cry "down," and +a man of his side then places the ball on the ground and snaps it back. +This puts it in play, and is called a scrimmage, and this scrimmage is +the most commonly recurring feature of the game. + +For the purposes of advancing the ball or repelling the attack of the +opponents it has proved advisable for a captain to divide his eleven men +into two general divisions: the forwards and backs. The forwards, of +whom there are seven, are usually called rushers, and they make +practically a straight line across the field when the ball is put in +play on a "down." Next behind them is the quarter-back, who does the +passing of the ball to one or another of the players, while just behind +him are the two half-backs and the back, usually in something of a +triangle in arrangement, with the last named nearest the goal which his +team is defending. + +The following definitions will also aid the spectator in understanding +many of the expressions used by the devotees of the sport: + + A _drop-kick_ is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and + kicking it at the very instant it rises. + + A _place-kick_ is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed + on the ground. + + A _punt_ is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and + kicking it before it touches the ground. + + _Kick-off_ is a place-kick from the centre of the field of play. + + _Kick-out_ is a drop-kick, or place-kick, by a player of the side + which has touched the ball down in their own goal, or into whose + touch-in-goal the ball has gone. + + _In touch_ means out of bounds. + + A _fair_ is putting the ball in play, from touch. + + A _foul_ is any violation of a rule. + + A _touch-down_ is made when the ball is carried, kicked, or passed + across the goal-line and there held, either in goal or + touch-in-goal. + + A _safety_ is made when a player, guarding his goal, receives the + ball from a player of his own side, and touches it down behind his + goal-line, or carries the ball across his own goal-line and touches + it down, or puts the ball into his own touch-in-goal. + + A _touch-back_ is made when a player touches the ball to the ground + behind his own goal, the impetus which sent the ball across the + line having been received from an opponent. + + A _fair catch_ is a catch made direct from a kick by one of the + opponents, provided the catcher made a mark with his heel at the + spot where he made the catch. + + _Interference_ is using the hands or arms in any way to obstruct or + hold a player who has not the ball. + +[Illustration] + +The _penalty_ for fouls and violation of rules, except otherwise +provided, is a down for the other side; or, if the side making the foul +has not the ball, five yards to the opponents. + +The following is the value of each point in the scoring: + + Goal obtained by touch-down, 6 + + Goal from field kick, 5 + + Touch-down failing goal, 4 + + Safety by opponents, 2 + +The rules which bear most directly upon the play are: + +The time of a game is an hour and a half, each side playing forty-five +minutes from each goal. There is ten minutes' intermission between the +two halves, and the game is decided by the score of even halves. + +The ball is kicked off at the beginning of each half; and whenever a +goal has been obtained, the side which has lost it shall kick off. + +A player may throw or pass the ball in any direction except towards +opponents' goal. If the ball be batted or thrown forward, it shall go +down on the spot to opponents. + +If a player having the ball be tackled and the ball fairly held, the man +so tackling shall cry "held," the one so tackled must cry "down," and +some player of his side put it down for a scrimmage. If, in three +consecutive fairs and downs, unless the ball cross the goal-line, a team +shall not have advanced the ball five or taken it back twenty yards, it +shall go to the opponents on spot of fourth. + +If the ball goes into touch, whether it bounds back or not, a player on +the side which touches it down must bring it to the spot where the line +was crossed, and there either bound the ball in the field of play, or +touch it in with both hands, at right angles to the touch line, and then +run with it, kick it, or throw it back; or throw it out at right angles +to the touch line; or walk out with it at right angles to touch line, +any distance not less than five nor more than fifteen yards, and there +put it down. + +A side which has made a touch-down in their opponents' goal _must_ try +at goal. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + + +BLAIKIE'S HOW TO GET STRONG. + +How to Get Strong, and How to Stay So. By WILLIAM BLAIKIE. Illustrated. +16mo, Cloth, $1 00. + +Mr. Blaikie has treated his theme in a practical common-sense way that +appeals at once to the judgment and the understanding. A complete and +healthful system of exercise is given for boys and girls; instructions +are set down for the development of every individual class of muscles, +and there is sound advice for daily exercise for children, young men and +women, business men and consumptives. There are instructions for home +gymnastics, and an easy routine of practice laid out.--_Saturday Evening +Gazette_, Boston. + +Every word of it has been tested and confirmed by the author's own +experience. It may be read with interest and profit by all.--_Christian +Instructor_, Chicago. + +A successful performance, everything in the line of gymnastic exercise +receiving copious illustrations by pen and pencil. The authors aim is +genuinely philanthropic, in the right sense of the word, and his work is +a useful contribution to the cause of physical culture.--_Christian +Register_, Boston. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +BLAIKIE'S SOUND BODIES. + +Sound Bodies for our Boys and Girls. + + By WILLIAM BLAIKIE. With Illustrations. 16mo, Cloth, 40 cents. A + manual of safe and simple exercises for developing the physical + system. + +Mr. William Blaikie's new manual cannot fail to receive a warm welcome +from parents and teachers, and should be introduced as a working +text-book into thousands of schools throughout the country.--_Boston +Herald._ + +A book which ought to be placed at the elbow of every +school-teacher.--_Springfield Union._ + +The directions are so simple and sensible that they appeal to the reason +of every parent and teacher.--_Philadelphia Press._ + +The influence of judicious exercise upon mind as well as body cannot be +overestimated, and this will be a safe guide to this end, requiring no +costume nor expensive apparatus.--_Presbyterian_, Philadelphia. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR ANGLERS. + + Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle. Suggestions as to their Manufacture and + Use. By HENRY P. WELLS. Illustrated. Square 8vo, Cloth, $2 50. + +The book is one of great value, and will take its place as a standard +authority, and we cannot commend it too highly.--_Forest and Stream_, +New York. + +An illustrated volume, elegantly presented, that will make all anglers +jealous of possession until upon their shelf or centre-table.--_Boston +Commonwealth._ + +Mr. Wells's competence to expound the somewhat intricate principles and +delicate processes of fly-fishing will be plain to any reader who +himself has some practical acquaintance with the art discussed. The +value of the author's instructions and suggestions is signally enhanced +by their minuteness and lucidity.--_N. Y. Sun._ + + The American Salmon-Fisherman. By HENRY P. WELLS. Ill'd. Square + 8vo, Cloth, $1 00. + +The success of Mr. Wells's "Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle" has made his name +familiar to thousands of American anglers. "The American +Salmon-Fisherman," like the former work, is the fruit of the author's +long experience and practical knowledge of this subject. The text is +illustrated throughout.--_Boston Traveller._ + +A practical, interesting guide to the sport of salmon-fishing. The tyro +will read it through profitably; the old hand will not be offended by it +as too elementary. The author is alert and companionable.--_Atlantic +Monthly_, Boston. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_Either of the above works will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any +part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +Dr. C. C. ABBOTT'S WORKS. + + Upland and Meadow. A Poaetquissings Chronicle. By CHARLES C. + ABBOTT, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. + +Delightful reading for students and lovers of outdoor nature.... Here +the author discourses with the greatest charm of style about wood and +stream, marsh-wrens, the spade-foot toad, summer, winter, +trumpet-creepers and ruby throats, September sunshine, a colony of +grakles, the queer little dwellers in the water, and countless other +things that the ordinary eye passes without notice.... The book may be +heartily commended to every reader of taste, and to every admirer of +graceful and nervous English.--_Saturday Evening Gazette_, Boston. + + Waste-Land Wanderings. By CHARLES C. ABBOTT, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 + 50. + +There is a freshness about his anecdotes of fishes and birds, and his +descriptions of unfamiliar scenery, that must make the book delightful +to every lover of similar sports. To those who have not the leisure nor +the enterprise for similar expeditions the reading of it will charm many +an idle hour, besides imparting in the most agreeable manner possible a +large fund of interesting information.--_St. Louis Republican._ + +It is a charming book, introducing the reader to the interesting guests +and dwellers in the forests, upon the downs, and by the river-side. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Football + +Author: Walter Camp + +Release Date: May 20, 2012 [EBook #39743] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN FOOTBALL *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="407" height="640" alt="cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><a name="front" id="front"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="411" height="640" alt="HECTOR COWAN. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HECTOR COWAN.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>AMERICAN FOOTBALL</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>WALTER CAMP</h2> + +<h4>WITH THIRTY-ONE PORTRAITS</h4> + +<p class="center"> +NEW YORK<br /> +HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE<br /> +1891<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Copyright, 1891, by <span class="smcap">Harper & Brothers</span>.<br /> +<br /> +<i>All rights reserved.</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a +corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by experienced +teams, have prompted the publication of this book. Should any of the +suggestions herein contained conduce to the further popularity of the +game, the object of the writer will be attained.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<p> +<span class="tocnum">PAGE</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">English and American Rugby</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">End Rusher</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_23'>23</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Tackle</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_39'>39</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Guard</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Centre, or Snap-back</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_67'>67</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Quarter-back</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Half-back and Back</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_91'>91</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Signals</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_115'>115</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Training</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_131'>131</a></span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">A Chapter for Spectators</span> <span class="tocnum"><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> +<h2>LIST OF PORTRAITS.</h2> + +<p>[P. stands for Princeton, Y. for Yale, and H. for Harvard.]</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hector Cowan, p</span></td><td align='left'><i><a href="#front">Frontispiece</a>.</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Harry W. Beecher, y</span></td><td align='left'><i>Facing p.</i></td><td align='left'> <a href="#Page_4">4</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Henry C. Lamar, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">D. S. Dean, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">E. L. Richards, Jr., y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">W. A. Brooks, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">R. S. Channing, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">L. K. Hull, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">E. A. Poe, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Everett J. Lake, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wyllys Terry, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">B. W. Trafford, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">T. L. McClung, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_60">60</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">V. M. Harding, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jesse Riggs, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">W. H. Corbin, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Alexander Moffatt, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ralph Warren, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">John Corbett, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">W. Bull, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Knowlton L. Ames, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">W. C. Rhodes, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">P. D. Trafford, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">R. Hodge, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">H. H. Knapp, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A. J. Cumnock, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Jeremiah S. Black, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">C. O. Gill, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">E. C. Peace, p</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">W. Heffelfinger, y</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">R. M. Appleton, h</span></td><td align='left'>"</td><td align='left'><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>ENGLISH AND AMERICAN RUGBY</h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p><h3>AMERICAN FOOTBALL.</h3> + + +<p>Rugby football—for it is from the Rugby Union Rules that our American +Intercollegiate game was derived—dates its present era of popularity +from the formation in England, in 1871, of a union of some score of +clubs. Nearly ten years before this there had been an attempt made to +unite the various diverging football factions under a common set of +laws; but this proved a failure, and the styles of play became farther +and farther apart. Of the Association game one can say but little as +regards its American following. It is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a> </span>quite extensively played in this +country, but more by those who have themselves played it in Great +Britain than by native-born Americans. Its popularity is extending, and +at some day it will very likely become as well understood in this +country as the derived Rugby is to-day. Its essential characteristic is, +that it is played with the feet, in distinction from the Rugby, in which +the ball may be carried in the hands.</p> + +<p>To revert to the Rugby Union. Years before the formation of this +association the game was played by sides almost unlimited in numbers. +One of the favorite school matches was "Sixth form against all the rest +of the school." Twenty on a side, however, became the ruling number; but +this was, after a time, replaced by fifteens, as the days of twenties +proved only shoving matches. With the reduction in numbers came +increased running and an added interest. This change to fifteens was +made in 1877, at the request of Scotland. At once there followed a more +open style of play, and before long short passing became common. In 1882 +the Oxford team instituted the long low pass to the open, and by the use +of it remained undefeated for three seasons.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 469px;"> +<img src="images/i015.jpg" width="469" height="640" alt="HARRY W. BEECHER. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HARRY W. BEECHER.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + +<p>After the decrease to fifteen men the number of three-quarter-backs, who +really represent our American half-backs, was increased from one to two, +and two full-backs were played. A little later British captains put +another full-back up into the three-quarter line, playing with only one +full-back.</p> + +<p>The Englishmen also play two men whom they call half-backs, but whose +duties are like those of our quarter-back, for they seize the ball when +it comes out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> of the scrimmage and pass it to a three-quarter for a run.</p> + +<p>Nine men is the usual number for an English rush line, although a +captain will sometimes take his ninth rusher back as a fourth +three-quarter-back. There is much discussion as to when this should be +done. The captain selects his men much as we do in America, and he is +generally himself a player of some position behind the line, centre +three-quarter being preferred. The opening play in an English Rugby game +is, as a rule, a high kick well followed up. If one will bear in mind +that the half-backs are, like our quarter, the ones to seize the ball +when it emerges from a scrimmage and pass it to the three-quarters, he +will gain some idea of the character of the English method. He should +understand, however, that the English half-back is obliged to look out +sharply for the ball, because<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> it comes out by chance and at random, and +not directly as in our game, where the quarter can usually expect to +receive the ball without trouble from the snap-back.</p> + +<p>The forwards in an English match endeavor, when a scrimmage occurs, by +kicking and pushing to drive the ball in the direction of their +opponents' goal line, and they become extremely expert in the use of +their feet. There are two umpires, whose duty it is to make claims +(which they do by raising their flags), and a referee, who allows or +disallows these claims. The penalty for fouls, which was at first only a +down, is now in many cases a free kick.</p> + +<p>The American game, it must be remembered, came from the Rugby Union in +1875, and not from the Rugby Union of to-day, although the changes in +the English game have been by no manner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> of means commensurate with +those made on this side the water. Being bound by no traditions, and +having seen no play, the American took the English rules for a +starting-point, and almost immediately proceeded to add and subtract, +according to what seemed his pressing needs. And they were many. A +favored few, whose intercourse with Canadian players had given them some +of the English ideas, were able to explain the knotty points to a small +degree, but not enough to really assist the mass of uninitiated players +to an understanding. Misinterpretations were so numerous as to render +satisfactory rulings almost out of the question and explanatory +legislation imperative. In the autumn of 1876 the first game under Rugby +rules between American colleges was played at New Haven, and before +another was attempted a convention had tried its hand at correcting the +weak points, as they appeared to the minds of the legislators, in the +Rugby Union Rules.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<img src="images/i021.jpg" width="406" height="640" alt="HENRY C. LAMAR. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">HENRY C. LAMAR.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>The feature of the American game in distinction from the English is, +just as it was within a year from the time of the adoption of the sport, +the <i>outlet of the scrimmage</i>.</p> + +<p>In this lies the backbone to which the entire body of American football +is attached. The English half-backs stand outside the scrimmage, and +when the ball pops out it is their duty to seize it and pass it out to a +three-quarter, who runs with it. The American quarter-back stands behind +the scrimmage and gives a signal, immediately after which he knows the +ball will come directly into his hands to be passed for a run or a kick. +What is, therefore, in the English game a matter of considerable chance +is "cut-and-dried" in the American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> game; and the element of chance +being eliminated, opportunity is given for the display in the latter +game of far more skill in the development of brilliant plays and +carefully planned man[oe]uvres.</p> + +<p>The Americans started with the English scrimmage, kicked at the ball, +and pushed and scrambled for a season, until it was discovered that a +very clever manifestation of the play was to let the opponents do the +kicking—in fact, to leave an opening at the proper moment through which +the ball would come, and a man a few feet behind this opening could +always get the ball and pass it while the men who kicked it were still +entangled in the scrimmage. After a little of this, no one was anxious +to kick the ball through, and the rushers began to roll the ball +sidewise along between the lines. Then almost immediately it was +discovered that a man could snap<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> the ball backwards with his toe, and +the American outlet was installed.</p> + +<p>At first the play was crude in the extreme, but even in its earliest +stages it proved distinctly more satisfactory to both player and +spectator than the kicking and shoving which marked the English method.</p> + +<p>The same man did not always snap the ball back as he does now, but any +one of the rushers would do it upon occasion. The men did not preserve +their relative positions in the line, and any one of the men behind the +line would act as a quarter-back. Such a condition of affairs could not, +however, last long where intercollegiate rivalry proved such an +incentive to the perfection of play, and the positions of centre-rush or +snap-back and quarter-back became the most distinctive of any upon the +field. The centre-rush at that time was selected<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> more for his agility, +strange to say, than for his weight and strength; but in case he was a +light man he was always flanked by two heavy guards. One season's play +convinced all captains that the centre section of the forward line must +be heavy, and if any light-weights were to be used among the rushers +they should be near the wings.</p> + +<p>Quarter-back has, from the very outset, been a position in which a small +man can be used to great advantage. The half-backs and backs have +usually been men of speed coupled with skill as kickers.</p> + +<p>The number originally adopted for matches in this country was eleven on +a side. From some silly notion that it would increase the skill +displayed, this number was changed to fifteen, although the Englishmen +were moving in the other direction by reducing their numbers from +twenties to fifteens. A year or two of fifteen on a side drove the +American players back to elevens, and there the number has rested.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;"> +<img src="images/i027.jpg" width="410" height="640" alt="D. S. DEAN. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">D. S. DEAN.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the early days of the sport, while the players individually were +courageous, the team play was cowardly; that is, the tacticians were so +taken up with a study of defence—how to protect the goal—that the +attack was weak. The direct result of this was to place too few men in +the forward line and too many behind it. If to-day we were to revert to +fifteen on a side, there is little doubt that we should throw eleven of +them up into the rush line, and upon occasion even twelve. We now +realize that the best defence does not consist in planning how to stop a +man after he has obtained a fair start towards the goal, but in throwing +all available force up against him before he can get free of the forward +line. The only way to effectively<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> defeat this aggressive defence is by +means of skilled kicking. It is possible with really good kickers to +throw a team playing in this fashion into disorder by well-placed and +long punting, followed up most sharply; but it requires nerve and an +unfailing accuracy of aim and judgment.</p> + +<p>It is only a few years ago that it required considerable argument to +convince a captain that he could with safety send one of his halves up +into the forward line when his opponents had the ball; but it will take +better kicking than is exhibited in most of the championship matches to +frighten that half-back out of the line now. Even the quarter was wont +upon occasion to drop back among the halves and assist them rather than +the rushers.</p> + +<p>All the tendency for the last two years has been towards diminishing +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> number of men held in reserve, as it were, behind the line, and +increasing by this means the crushing force by which the forwards might +check either runner or kicker before his play could be executed.</p> + +<p>Should the English ever adopt an outlet for their scrimmage, making the +play as direct as is ours, their men would gravitate to the forward line +as rapidly as have our players.</p> + +<p>Next to the difference in scrimmage outlet between our game and that of +the British stands a much more recent development, which we call +interference. This is the assistance given to a runner by a companion or +companions who go before him and break a path for him or shoulder off +would-be tacklers. This, to the Englishman, would be the most detestable +kind of off-side play, and not tolerated for an instant upon any field +in the United Kingdom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<p>Even into this the Americans did not plunge suddenly, but rather little +by little they stepped in, until it was necessary to do one of two +things—either legalize what was being tacitly consented to, or penalize +it heavily. The result was that it was legalized. With this concession, +though, there went a certain condition which gained a measure of +confidence for the new ruling.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i033.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="E. L. RICHARDS. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">E. L. RICHARDS.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>To understand just how this state of affairs above mentioned came about +one should know that, in the attempt to block opponents when the +quarter-back was receiving and passing the ball, the forwards fell into +the habit of extending their arms horizontally from the shoulder, as by +this method each man could cover more space. For a number of years this +went on without detriment to the sport in any way, but after a time +there was more or less complaint of holding in the line, and it was +ruled that a man must not change his position after the ball was +snapped, nor bend his arms about an opponent at such a time. +Unfortunately the referee (for at this stage of the game there was no +umpire) could not watch the ball and the players with sufficient care to +enforce this ruling, and the temper of the players suffered accordingly. +It is always the case when a rule is not enforced unflinchingly, no +matter from what cause, that both sides suffer, and the tendency always +is towards devising additional infringements. The additional +infringement in this instance was even worse than could have been +foreseen; for, not content with simply blocking or even holding an +opponent until the quarter should have passed the ball in safety, the +players in the forward line saw an opportunity for going a step +farther,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> and actually began the practice of seizing an opponent long +after the ball had been played, and dragging him out of the way of the +running half-back. In the thick of the rush line this was frequently +possible without risk of discovery by the referee; and, emboldened by +successes of this kind, men would reach out even in the open, and drag +back a struggling tackler just as he was about to lay his hands upon the +runner. It was this state of affairs which brought up the question, "How +much should a comrade be allowed to aid the runner?"</p> + +<p>American football legislators answered this question satisfactorily, +after long discussion, by determining that the runner might be assisted +to any extent, provided the assistant did not use his hands or arms in +performing this office. The first result of this was to lower the arms<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +of the rushers when lined up, and, in spite of some forebodings, this +proved really a benefit to the game. The second result has been to +perfect a system of flanking a runner by companions who form almost an +impassable barrier at times to the would-be tacklers.</p> + +<p>At the same time with mention of the solution of this problem, one +should also call attention to a menace which threatened American +football far more seriously than did this; and that, too, at a time when +the sport was by no means so strong in years or popularity as when this +later difficulty arose. I refer to the "block game." This method of +play, which consisted in a succession of "downs" without advance and +without allowing the opponents any chance of securing possession of the +ball, proved a means by which a weak team could avoid defeat. The whole +object of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> match was thus frustrated, the game resulting in no +score.</p> + +<p>To meet this difficulty a rule was introduced making it incumbent upon a +side to advance the ball five yards or retreat with it ten in three +"downs." If this advance or retreat were not accomplished, the ball went +at once into the possession of the opponents. Never did a rule in any +sport work so immediate and satisfactory a reform as did this five-yard +rule.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 404px;"> +<img src="images/i039.jpg" width="404" height="640" alt="W. A. BROOKS. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">W. A. BROOKS.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Within the last few years there has been no important change in the +conduct of the American game, nor in the rules. Outside of the above +mentioned points of difference between it and the English game, there is +only that of the methods of enforcing rules and determining differences. +The English have a referee and two umpires, although the umpires are +sometimes replaced by touch-judges. The umpires act, as did the judges +in our game of ten years ago, as advocates for their respective sides, +and it is this advocacy which is causing them to fall into disfavor +there exactly as they did here. Touch-judges merely watch the lines of +the field, and decide when and where the ball goes into touch. In cases +where they are employed, the referee renders all decisions upon claim of +the captains. In our method there is a division of labor, but along +different lines. Our two officials, the umpire and referee, have their +separate provinces, the former ruling upon the conduct of players as to +off-side and other offences, while the latter determines questions of +fact as to when the ball is held or goes into touch, also whether a goal +is kicked or not. As the rule has it, the umpire is judge for the +players, and the referee for the ball.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h2>END RUSHER</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>The end rusher must get into condition early. Unless he does, he cannot +handle the work that must fall to his share, and the effect of a poor +performance by the end is to produce disorder at once in the proportion +of work as well as the quality of the work of the tackles and +half-backs. This is not well understood by captains and coaches, but it +is easy to see if one follows the play. A tired end rusher, even one who +has experience and a good idea of his place, will lope down the field +under a kick, and by his lack of speed will allow a return; and, against +a running game, while he will, it is true, force his man in, he will do +it so slowly that the runner is enabled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> to pass the tackle. The first +will surely result in his own halves shortening their kicks, and the +second in drawing his own tackle too widely from the guard. Both these +results seriously affect the value of the practice for halves and +tackles; consequently, the end must be put in condition early. The finer +points of his position can be worked up gradually, but his endurance +must be good at the outset, in order that the others may become +accustomed to rely upon him for regular work. But it sometimes happens +that the captain or coach has no chance to make sure of this. His +candidates may be raw, and only appear upon the first day of fall +practice. In that case there is a method which he can adopt to +advantage, and which answers the purpose. It is to play his candidates +for that position one after the other in rotation, insisting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> upon hard +playing even if it be for only five minutes at a time. In this way not +only will the tackle receive the proper support, but the ends themselves +will improve far more rapidly than under the usual method. Every player +upon a team has to labor under two distinctly different sets of +circumstances: one set arising from the possession of the ball by his +opponents, and the other from the possession of the ball by his own +side. Many an error in instruction or coaching arises from terming the +tactics adopted under these two conditions defensive and offensive. It +is no uncommon thing to see an end rusher, who has been told that such +and such is his defensive play, so affected by the word <i>defensive</i>, as +applied to his action, as to fail entirely to perform any aggressive +work when his opponents have the ball. And a similarly undesirable state +of affairs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> is brought about by the term <i>offensive</i> when his own side +have the ball. In this latter case, he seems inspired to become +aggressive in his conduct towards his opponent from the moment the men +are lined up, and this very often leads him to make any interference of +his so premature as to render it useless towards favoring his runner. +One of the first things, therefore, for a coach to tell an end rusher is +that the terms offensive and defensive, as applied to team work, have +nothing to do with the aggressiveness of any individual. Then, as a +matter of still better policy, let him avoid using these terms in +individual coaching.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 471px;"> +<img src="images/i049.jpg" width="471" height="640" alt="R. S. CHANNING. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">R. S. CHANNING.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the opponents have the ball, the end rusher must, in the case of a +kick, do his utmost to prevent his <i>vis-à-vis</i> from getting down the +field early under the ball. That is the cardinal point, and it is not +necessary for him to do much thinking regarding anything else when he is +facing a kicking game. When his opponents are about to make a run, the +situation is much more involved. He must then consider himself as the +sole guardian of that space of ground extending from his tackle to the +edge of the field, and he must begin at the touch line and work in. That +is, he must remember that, while on one side of him there is the tackle, +who will do his utmost to help him out, there is on the other side—that +is, towards touch—no one to assist him, and a run around the end means +a free run for many yards. "Force the man in" is always a good motto for +an end, and one he will do well to follow conscientiously. To force the +man in does not mean, however, to stand with one foot on the touch line, +and then reach in as far as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> possible and watch the man go by, as nine +out of every ten ends have been doing for two years. It means, go at the +runner with the determination of getting him any way, but taking him +always from the outside. An end cannot tackle as occasionally does a +half-back or back, slowly and even waiting for his man, then meeting him +low and strong. An end always has to face interference, and good +interference will bowl over a waiting end with ease. An end must go up +as far and fast as he dares to meet the runner, and when his moment +comes—which must be a selected moment—he must shoot in at his man, +reaching him, if possible, with his shoulder, and at the same time +extending his arms as far around him as possible. Many times this +reaching enables an end to grasp his man even though a clever interferer +break the force of his tackle. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> when his fingers touch the runner, +he must grip with the tenacity of the bull-dog, and never let go.</p> + +<p>It seems almost unnecessary to say that a high tackler has no chance +whatever as an end rusher. He may play guard or centre, but before a man +ever essays the end he must have passed through all the rudimentary +schooling in tackling, and be such an adept that to pass him without the +assistance of the most clever interference is an impossibility.</p> + +<p>An end should be a good follower; that is, if the runner make in towards +the tackle, the end should run him down from behind when interference +cuts off the tackle. This is one of the best points for cultivation, +because it effectually prevents any dodging by the runner. If he fail to +take his opening cleanly, a following end is sure of him. This is not a +safe point, however, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> teach until the player has fairly mastered the +ordinary end-work; for the tendency is to leave his own position too +soon, giving the runner an opportunity to turn out behind him, and thus +elude the tackle without difficulty.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 406px;"> +<img src="images/i055.jpg" width="406" height="640" alt="L. K. HULL. + +Yale" title="" /> +<span class="caption">L. K. HULL.<br /> + +Yale</span> +</div><p>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few years ago there was quite a fashion for the man putting the ball +in from touch to run with it along the edge of the field. For some +unknown reason this play seems to have been abandoned, but it is likely +at any time to be revived, and the end rusher should therefore be posted +upon the <i>modus operandi</i> of it, as well as the best method of +preventing its success. The most popular execution of this man[oe]uvre +was the simplest; that is, the man merely touched the ball to the ground +and plunged ahead as far as he could until brought to earth or thrown +out into touch. This was accompanied by more or less helpful +interferences upon the part of his own end and tackle. There were more +intricate methods, however; and surely, with the amount of interference +allowed in these days, it is odd that the side line has not been more +fancied by those who have generalled the great games. There was one team +a few years ago whose captain used to deliberately place the ball just +inside the line on the ground, as though only thoughtlessly leaving it +there, and then spring in, crowding the end rusher three or four feet +from the touch line, while a running half, who was well started, came +tearing up the field, seized the ball, and usually made a long run +before he was stopped by the astonished halves. Many also were the +combination passes in which the ball was handed to the end rusher, who, +turning suddenly with his back to the foes, would pass to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> quarter +or running half. Of these close double passes at the edge of the field +the most effective were those wherein the runner darted by just inside +the touch line, and the weakest the ones wherein the attempt was made to +advance out into the field. For this reason there ought to be no +particular necessity for coaching any but the end rusher and the tackle +upon means to prevent advances of this nature. To the players in the +centre of the line there is no apparent difference whether the ball be +played from touch in any of these ways above mentioned, or through the +more customary channel of the quarter-back. To the end and tackle, +however, the difference is marked, because the runner comes so much +sooner and the play is so greatly condensed and focussed, as it were, +directly upon them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>The instructions to the end are to handle the ball as much as possible +while the opponent is endeavoring to get it in, and thus make the work +of that individual as difficult as possible; and, secondly, to plant one +foot close to the touch line and the other as far out into the field as +is consistent with stability, and to maintain that position until the +play is over. He must neither try to go forward nor around, but, braced +well forward, hold his ground. If he does this, no runner can pass +within three feet of the touch line, and outside of that the tackle can +take care of him. This player, like the end, should, when the ball is +played from a fair, be very loath to plunge forward until the play is +located, because in the present stage of development of the game one can +be quite sure that the opponents will not play the ball from touch +unless they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> have some definite and usually deceptive line of action. +Without such it is by far the better policy to walk out the fifteen +paces and have it down. The quarter-back also has work to do upon +side-line plays, in assisting at the edge as much as possible. But to +return to the end. When his own side have possession of the ball, his +play, like that of any other man, must be governed by the character of +the intended move, and the knowledge of what this move will be is +conveyed to him by the signal. The nearer the play is to his end, the +greater is the assistance he can render. There is little need of +coaching him to do his work when the run is along his line, nor, in +fact, when it is upon his side of the centre. The knowledge of the +proximity of the runner stirs him up sufficiently, if he have any +football blood in him. The point towards which coaching</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i061.jpg" width="391" height="640" alt="E. A. POE. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">E. A. POE.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>should be directed and where it is needed is in starting instantly to +render assistance when the play is upon the other side of the line. +There is no limit to the amount of work an end may perform in this +direction. A good end can toss his man back so that he cannot interfere +with the play, and then cross over so quickly as to perform effective +interference even upon end runs. In "bucking the centre" he can come +from behind with valuable weight and pressure. A coach should remember, +though, that it will not do to start an end into doing too much unless +he is able to stand the work, for an end had better do the work well +upon his own side than be only half way useful upon both ends. A +tired-out end makes the opponents doubly strong.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE TACKLE</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>Those teams upon which the work of end and tackle has been best +developed have, for the last few years, been markedly superior in the +opposition offered to plays of their opponents. This fact in itself is +an excellent guide to the style of play one ought to expect from these +two positions. The four men occupying them are the ones to meet nine +tenths of the aggressive work of the opponents. The position of end has +already been dwelt upon at length. That of tackle, a position much later +to reach the full stage of development than the end, has nevertheless +now attained almost an equal prominence. The tackle is an assistant to +both end and guard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> while he has also duties of his own demanding +constant attention.</p> + +<p>When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the tackle is +one of the most active components of the line. He may not be moving +until the ball is snapped, but upon the instant that it is played he is +at work. He may himself go through to prevent the pass or kick, or still +oftener he may make a chance for a line half-back to do this. By a line +half-back is meant that one who, upon his opponents' plays, comes up +into the line and performs the duties of a rusher. This method has +become so common of late that it is well understood. The play of this +line half-back must dovetail into the work of the tackle so well as to +make their system one of thoroughly mutual understanding. For this +reason they should do plenty of talking and planning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> together off the +field, and carry their plans into execution in daily practice until they +become in company a veritable terror to opponents, particularly to +kicking halves.</p> + +<p>One of the very simple, yet clever and successful, combinations worked +in this way has been for the line half to take his position outside the +tackle, who immediately begins to edge out towards the end. This opens a +gap between the opposing tackle and guard, for the tackle will naturally +follow his man. This line half simply watches the centre, and as he sees +the ball played goes sharply behind the tackle and through the opening. +This play can be greatly aided by cleverness on the part of the tackle, +who, to perform it to perfection, should edge out most cautiously, and +with an evident intention of going to the outside of his man. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> should +also watch the centre play, and, most important of all, jump directly +forward into his man when the ball is snapped. This will enable the half +to take almost a direct line for the half, and with his flying start +have more than a fair chance of spoiling the kick. The tackle must not +be idle after his plunge, but should follow in sharply, because there +will always be an opposing half protecting the kicker; and if the line +half be checked by this man, as is not unlikely, the following tackle +has an excellent opportunity by getting in rapidly. The tackle and half +should alternate in their arrangement, neither one always going through +first, and thus add to the anxiety and discomfort of the opponents.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 416px;"> +<img src="images/i071.jpg" width="416" height="640" alt="EVERETT J. LAKE. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">EVERETT J. LAKE.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the opponents are about to run instead of kick, the same +combination of line half and tackle can be put in operation, except that +it will not do for these two to follow each other through with such +freedom, as there is too much danger of both being shunted off by a +clever turn coupled with well-timed interference. The cardinal point to +be remembered is, to be far enough apart so that a single dodge and one +interference cannot possibly throw off both men.</p> + +<p>The tackle's duties towards the end have been partially described in +dwelling upon the work of the latter, but there is plenty of detail to +be studied. One of the first things to impress upon the tackle is, that +he must watch the ball, not only upon the pass from the quarter, but +also after it settles in the runner's arms, for the most successful +double or combination passes are those which draw the tackle in towards +the centre and give the second recipient of the ball only the end to +pass. It has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> been too common a mistake of coaches to caution a tackle +who has been deceived by this double pass against "going so hard." This +is wrong. It soon results in making a slow man of the player, for he +hangs back to see if the runner be not about to pass the ball, until he +is too late to try for the man before he reaches the rush line; and, +with the present system of interference and crowding a runner after he +reaches the rush line, there is no chance to stop him short of three, +and it may very likely be five, yards. The proper coaching is to send +him through on the jump, with his eyes open for tricks. Let him take a +step or two towards the runner, so that, if no second pass be made, the +tackle will be sure to meet him before he reaches the rush line, and not +after it. This method of coaching makes not only sharp tackles, but +quick and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> clever ones, with plenty of independence, which will be found +a most excellent quality.</p> + +<p>As regards the relations between the tackle and guard, they are best +defined by saying that the guard expects to receive the assistance of +the tackle in all cases requiring agility, while in cases requiring +weight the guard is equally ready to lend assistance to the tackle.</p> + +<p>When his own side has the ball, the tackle has far more than the end to +do. In fact, the tackle has the most responsible work of any man along +the line, having more openings to make, and at the same time the +blocking he has to perform is more difficult. The earlier description of +the work of a line half and the tackle in getting through is sufficient +to indicate the difficulties which the opposing tackle must face in +preventing this breaking through.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> While blocking may not be the most +important duty, it is certainly the one which will bear the most +cultivation in the tackles of the present day, for the ones who are +really adept in it are marked exceptions to the general run. It is no +exaggeration to say that more than two thirds of the breaking through +that does real damage comes between the end and guard, and therefore in +the space supposed to be under the care of the tackle. By successful +blocking is meant, not unfair holding, which sooner or later will result +in disaster, nor backing upon a runner or kicker as the charger +advances, which is almost as bad as no blocking, but that clever and +properly timed body-checking of the opponent which delays him just long +enough to render his effort to reach his man futile every time. This +kind of blocking looks so easy, and is so difficult, that it is found +only in a</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 475px;"> +<img src="images/i077.jpg" width="475" height="640" alt="WYLLYS TERRY. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">WYLLYS TERRY.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>man who is willing to make a study of it. Coaching can but give any one +wishing to acquire this a few points; the real accomplishment depends +upon the man's unflagging perseverance and study. The first thing to be +noted is, that a really good forward cannot possibly be blocked every +time in the same way. He soon becomes used to the method, and is able to +avoid the attempt. Dashing violently against him just as he is starting +may work once or twice, and then he will make a false start to draw this +charge, and easily go by the man. Standing motionless, and then turning +with a sharp swing back against him, will disconcert his charge once in +a while. Shouldering him in the side as he passes will throw him off his +balance or against some other man, if well performed, occasionally. +Falling down before him by a plunge will upset him even when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> he has +quite a clear space apparently, but it will not work if played too +often. By a preconcerted plan he may be coaxed through upon a pretended +snap, and then the ball played while he is guarded and five yards gained +by his off-side play, but he will not be taken in again by the same +method. These are but a few of the strategies which engage the study of +the tackle. How soon to let the man through is also an important +question. When the ball is to be punted, the tackle upon the kicker's +side must block long and hard, while the tackle upon the other end +should block sharply, and then let his man through for the sake of +getting down the field under the kick. When a drop is to be attempted, +the blocking upon both sides must be close and long, much longer than +for a punt. Moreover, it is by no means a bad policy to have the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +blocking last until the ball is actually seen in the air in front of the +line, because then, if the kick be stopped, the tackles can go back to +assist the backs in recovering the ball. The blocking for a kick, as a +rule, should be close; that is, every opponent must be matched from the +centre out, leaving the free man or men on the ends. This rule has its +exceptions, but when there is any doubt about the play it is safest to +block close, and take the chances from the ends rather than through +breaks in the line.</p> + +<p>In blocking for a run the case is very different, and depends upon the +point of assault. If the run is to be made around the right end, for +instance, by the left half-back, the right tackle must block very slowly +and long. That is, he must not dash up to his man the instant the ball +is snapped and butt him aside, for the runner will not be near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> enough +to derive any advantage from this, and the opponent will easily recover +in time to tackle him. Rather should he avoid contact with his man until +his runner makes headway, and then keep between the opponent and runner +until the latter puts on steam to circle, when it is his duty to engage +his man sharply, and thus let the runner pass. In blocking for an inside +run upon his own side, he should turn his man out or in, as the case may +be, just as the runner reaches the opening, being particularly careful +not to make the break too early, lest the opponent reach the runner +before he comes to the opening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE GUARD</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>The position of guard, while it requires less agility than that of +tackle, can never be satisfactorily filled by a man who is slow. Many a +coach makes this mistake and fails to see his error until too late to +correct it. I remember once seeing upon a minor team a guard who weighed +at least 190 pounds replaced by a man of 155, and the latter actually +filled the position—greatly to my astonishment, I confess—in excellent +fashion. This does not at all go to prove that weight is of no value in +a guard. On the contrary, it is a quality especially to be desired, and +if one can find a heavy man who is not slow he is the choice by all +means. But weight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> must be given work to do, and that work demands +practice, and slowness of execution cannot be tolerated. At the outset +the coach must impress this fact upon the guards, and insist upon their +doing their work quickly. It is really wonderful how much better the +effect of that work will prove to be when performed with a snap and dash +that are not difficult to acquire.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i087.jpg" width="480" height="567" alt="B. W. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">B. W. TRAFFORD.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the guard should +have in his mind one persistent thought, and that is, to reach the +quarter before the ball is away from his hand, but not to stop there. It +is only once in a great while that fortune favors sufficiently to crown +this attempt with success. When it does, so much the better; but the +guard should take in the quarter only in a general sweep, making on for +the kicker, and at the same time getting his arms up in the air when he +comes before him, so as to take every possible chance of stopping the +ball. Just here it may be well to explain the confidence with which in +these details of coaching the phrases are used "when the opponents are +about to kick" and "when the opponents are about to run." It is true +that one cannot tell infallibly every time whether the play will be a +kick or a run, but experienced players are really so seldom at fault in +their judgment upon this point that it is safe to coach as though there +never existed any doubt about the matter.</p> + +<p>To continue with the work of the guard when the opponents are about to +attempt a run. One of the most important features of the play in this +position is to guard against small wedges. If a guard simply stands +still and straight he will be swept over like a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> wisp of straw by any +well-executed wedge play directed at him. An experienced man knows this, +and his chief thought is how to avoid it, and how, first, to prevent the +formation; second, to alter the direction, and, finally, to stop the +progress, of this terror of centre work, the small wedge. There are as +many ways of accomplishing these results as of performing the duties of +tackle or end, and it rests with the individual player to study them +out. To prevent the formation of small wedges, the most successful +method is that of sudden and, if possible, disconcerting movements. +Jostling, so far as it is allowed, sudden change of position, a +pretended charge—all these tend to break up the close formation. Once +formed and started, the change of direction is usually the most +disarranging play possible; but this should not be attempted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> by the +player or players opposite the point of the wedge. At that spot the +proper play is to check advance, even temporarily; for the advance once +checked, the wedge may be swung from the side so as to take off the +pressure from behind. So it is the men at the side who must endeavor to +turn the wedge and take off this pressure. Without the actual formation +upon the field it is difficult to fully explain this turning of the +wedge; but if the principle of the defence be borne in mind, it will not +be found so hard to understand. Check the peak even for a moment, and +get the weight off from behind as speedily as possible. The men who are +pushing must necessarily act blindly; and if their force is not directly +upon the men at the point of the V, they pass by the man with the ball +and so become useless. Both guards must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> keep their weight down low, +close to the ground, so that the wedge, if directed at either, cannot +throw that one at once off his balance backward. If this occurs, the +wedge will always make its distance, perhaps go many yards. Lying down +before the wedge is a practice based upon this principle of keeping +close to the ground, and is by no means an ineffectual way of stopping +an advance, although it is not as strong a play as bringing about the +same result without actually losing the power to straighten up if the +wedge turns. Moreover, the men in the front of a wedge are becoming so +accustomed to meeting this flat defence that they not infrequently +succeed in getting over the prostrate man and regaining headway upon the +other side. This, as one can readily see, must always yield a very +considerable gain. When a run is attempted</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/i093.jpg" width="403" height="640" alt="T. L. McCLUNG. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">T. L. McCLUNG.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>at some other point in the line, it is the duty of the guards to get +through hard and follow the runner into his opening, even if they cannot +reach him before he comes into the line. In this class of play a guard +should remember that if he can lay a hand upon the runner before he +reaches the line he can spoil the advance to a certainty, for no runner +can drag a heavy guard up into and through an opening. It is like +dragging a heavy and unwieldy anchor. A guard can afford to, and must +sometimes, tackle high. Not that he should, in the open, ever go at the +shoulders, but in close quarters he often has no time to get down low, +and must make the best of taking his man anywhere that the opportunity +offers. He must always, however, throw him towards the opponent's goal. +Another point for guards to bear in mind is, that in close<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> quarters it +is often possible to deprive the runner of the ball before he says +"down." A guard who always tries this will be surprised at the number of +times he will find the referee giving him the ball. He will also be +astonished at the way this attempt results in the runner saying "down" +as soon as he finds some one tugging at the ball. A man gives up all +thought of further advance the instant he finds the ball slipping at all +in his grasp; and when his attention is distracted from the idea of +running, as it is when he is fearful of losing the ball, he can never +make use of his opportunities to good advantage. For this reason the +coach should impress upon all the forwards the necessity of always +trying to take away the ball; but the men in and near the centre are +likely to have the best opportunity for this play, because it is there +that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> the runner encounters a number of men at once rather than a single +individual.</p> + +<p>When his own side have the ball the guard must block sharply until the +quarter has time for receiving the ball, and, at any rate, beginning the +motion of the pass. It is safer, in the case of inexperienced guards, to +tell them to block until the quarter has time to get rid of the ball. +The distinction is this: that an experienced guard sometimes likes to +gain just that second of time between the beginning of the pass and the +completion of the swing, and utilize it in getting down the field or +making an opening. So accustomed does he become to measuring the time +correctly that he will let the opponent through just too late to reach +the quarter, although it seems a very close call. It is not safe to let +green guards attempt anything so close. They must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> taught to block +securely until the ball is on its way to the runner or kicker. The +blocking of a guard is much less exacting in its requirements than that +of the tackle. Not that he must not block with equal certainty, but the +act requires no such covering of two men as often happens in the case of +a tackle. The guard forms closely towards the centre, and then follows +his man out if he moves out, but only as far as he can go, and still be +absolutely certain that the opponent cannot pass between him and the +snap-back. To be drawn or coaxed out far enough to admit of an +opponent's going through the centre shows woful ignorance in any guard.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/i099.jpg" width="411" height="640" alt="V. M. HARDING. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">V. M. HARDING.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>When a kick is to be made the blocking must be prolonged a little, and +on a drop-kick (as mentioned earlier) it should last until the ball goes +from the foot. When blocking for a run, of course much depends upon +where the opening is to be made, and a guard must be governed +accordingly. The method itself is, again, different in the guard from +that exhibited in the tackle. A guard may not move about so freely and +must face his man more squarely than a tackle, for the guard must +protect the quarter first, while the tackle considers the half only. If +a guard allows his opponent to get a fair lunge with outstretched arm +over or past his shoulder, he may reach the quarter's arm even though +his body is checked, while such a reach at the point in the line +occupied by the tackle would be of no value whatever. Previous to the +snap-back's playing the ball it is the duty of the guards to see that +their individual opponents do not succeed in either kicking the ball out +from the snap-back's hand or otherwise interfering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> with his play. This +is quite an important feature, and a centre should always feel that he +has upon either hand a steady and wide-awake assistant, who will neither +be caught napping nor allow any unfair advantage to be taken of him. The +guard should bear in mind one fact, however, and that most clearly. It +is that squabbling and general pushing about are far more liable to +disconcert his own centre and quarter than to interfere with the work of +the opponents.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CENTRE, OR SNAP-BACK</h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>The man who may be selected to fill the important position of +centre-rush must be a man of sense and strength. Brain and brawn are +here at their highest premium. But there is another element of character +without which both will be overthrown, and that is patience. Practical +experience has taught football coaches that none but a thoroughly +self-controlled man can make a success in football in any position, +while in this particular one his disposition should be of the most +equable nature. He will be called upon to face all kinds of petty +annoyances, for his opponents will endeavor to make his play as +difficult as possible; and never must he allow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> himself for one instant +to lose sight of the fact that his entire attention must be devoted to +his play, and none of it distracted by personal feeling. Moreover, while +he must be able to play the ball quickly when called upon, he can never +afford to be hurried by his opponents. With the present excellent +rulings of umpires regarding interference with the ball before it is +snapped, much of the most harassing kicking of the ball from under his +hand has been stopped; but, for all that, he is indeed a lucky centre +who does not feel the ball knocked out from under his grasp several +times during a game. In addition to this, every man who breaks through +gives him a rub. Sometimes these knocks are intentional, often they are +given purely by accident, and the latter are by no means the lightest. +Then, too, a man is pushed into the snap-back<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> just as the ball goes. It +may be his own guard, but the blow hurts just as much; and a centre who +is not amiable under such treatment soon loses his head and forgets that +he should care for nothing except to accomplish gains for his own side. +The object of placing so much stress upon this qualification is to +impress upon a coach the almost inestimable value of the quality of +patience in any men he may be trying for this position. He can never say +too much about it.</p> + +<p>As regards the duties of the place, they differ from those of any other +position in the line on account of the constant presence at that spot of +the ball. The centre is either playing the ball himself or watching his +antagonist play the ball at every down; so that while he has all the +other duties of a forward to execute, he has the special work besides.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +Here is the weakness of so many centres. They are snap-backs only or +forwards only, the former being by all odds the more common. A good +critical coach of experience will see nine out of every ten men whom he +may watch in this position playing through day after day with no more +idea of doing any forward work than if they were referees. Putting the +ball in play at the right time, and properly, is a great achievement, +but it does not free the centre-rush from all other obligations. He must +protect his quarter; he must aid in making openings, and perform any +interference that may be possible, as well as always assisting a runner +of his own side with weight or protection. He must always get down the +field under a kick, for it is by no means unusual for him to have the +best opportunity in these days when end rushers are so carefully +watched. When the opponents have the ball, he must not be content with +seeing that the opponent does not roll it to a guard, but must also see +that there is no short, tricky passing in the scrimmage. Then he must be +as ready as either guard to meet, stop, or turn a wedge. He must make +openings for his comrades to get through, even when he himself may be +blocked, and always be ready to reach out or throw himself before a +coming runner to check the advance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i109.jpg" width="480" height="565" alt="JESSE RIGGS. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">JESSE RIGGS.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>The details of the special work of the centre are many, and thorough +knowledge of them can only come from experience. During his early +progress a new snap-back usually sends the ball against his own legs, +or, if he manages to keep them out of the way, is upset by his opponent +for his pains. It is no child's play to hold a ball out at arm's-length<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +on the ground in front of one and roll it back so that it passes between +one's feet, and still preserve a good balance in spite of a sudden push +of a hundred-and-eighty-pound opponent. But that is just what a centre +has to do every time the ball is down and belongs to his side. The first +thing to teach a centre is to stand on his feet against any amount of +jostling. Then he must learn to keep possession of the ball until ready +to play it. Both of these acquirements take practice. The most finished +and experienced centres have a way of playing the ball just as they are +half straightening as though to meet a charge from in front. This +insures their not being pushed over on to the quarter, and yet does not +cause them to lean so far forward as to be pitched on their noses by a +little assistance from the opposing centre. When<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> a man stands so as to +prevent a push in the chest from upsetting him, he naturally puts one +foot back some distance as a support. When a centre does this he is apt +to put that foot and leg in the path of the ball. A second objection to +this way of standing is, that the centre does not offer nearly as much +opposition to any one attempting to pass as he does when he stands more +squarely faced about with a good spread of the legs. As to holding the +ball, some centres prefer to take it by the end, while others roll it on +its side. It can be made to rise for the quarter if sent on end, whereas +if played upon its side it lies closer to the ground. The quarter's +preference has, therefore, something to do with it. It requires longer +practice and more skill to play the ball on its end, but it permits an +umpire to see more clearly whether the ball be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> actually put in play by +the snap-back or played for him by the surreptitious kick of the +opponent. It has also the advantage of sending the ball more narrowly +upon a line, so that its course is less likely to be altered than when +rolled upon its side. While the snap-back is seldom held to the very +strictest conformity to the rule about being on side when he puts the +ball in play, it is necessary for him to practise with a view to this +particular, because he is liable to be obliged to conform every time if +the opponents insist. The reason for carelessness in this respect is, +there is no penalty for infringement except being obliged to return to +the spot and put the ball in play properly. A certain laxity, therefore, +is granted rather than to cause delays. But, as stated above, a centre +must be able to put the ball in play when fairly on side, and must live</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 399px;"> +<img src="images/i115.jpg" width="399" height="640" alt="W. H. CORBIN. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">W. H. CORBIN.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>up to this with some moderate degree of regularity, or else the umpire +will call an off-side and bring him back. A centre ought to practise +putting the ball in play with either hand until he is fairly proficient +with his left as well as his right. Not that he should use his hands +alternately in a game, but that an injury to his right hand need not +necessarily throw him out of the game. It is by no means an unrecognized +fact that the greater amount of experience possessed by the regular +centre is so valuable as to make it policy to keep him in his place so +long as his legs are good, even though a hand be injured, rather than to +replace him by the substitute with whose methods the quarter-back is not +so familiar.</p> + +<p>A coach should see to it that his centre has a variety of men to face, +some big, some tricky, some ugly. If any old players<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> come back to help +the team in the way of coaching, and among them are some centre rushers, +they can do no better work than by donning a uniform and playing against +the "'Varsity" centre.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE QUARTER-BACK</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>The quarter is, under the captain, the director of the game. With the +exception of one or two uncommon and rare plays, there is not one of any +kind, his side having the ball, in which it does not pass through his +hands. The importance of his work it is therefore impossible to +overrate. He must be, above all the qualifications of brains and agility +usually attributed to that position, of a hopeful or sanguine +disposition. He must have confidence in his centre himself, and, most of +all, in the man to whom he passes the ball. He should always believe +that the play will be a success. The coach can choose no more helpful +course during the first few days,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> as far as the quarter is concerned, +than that of persuading him to repose confidence in his men. Many +promising half-backs are ruined by the quarter. There is nothing that +makes halves fumble so badly, get into such awkward positions, start so +slowly, and withal play so half-heartedly, as the feeling that the +quarter does not think much of them, does not trust them, or believe in +their abilities. Every half-back can tell the same story—how he is +nerved up by the confidence of the quarter, and what an inspiration it +is to good work to see that confident look in the eye of the man who is +about to pass to him. But not alone in the work of the half does it make +a great difference, but in that of the quarter himself. When he lacks +confidence in his man, his passing is unsteady and erratic as well as +slow. He allows the opponents a far better chance of reaching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> the man +before he can get started, both by irregular and slow passing, and also +by a nervous looking at him before the ball is played.</p> + +<p>In practice, great stress should be laid on quick handling and sharp +passing of the ball. A quarter can slow up in a game if advisable, but +he can never do any faster work than that which he does in practice +without throwing his men completely out. In order to make the play +rapid, a quarter must be figuratively tied to the centre's coat, or +rather jacket, tails. As soon as the centre reaches the ball after a +down, he should know that the quarter is with him. Usually there is an +understood signal between them, which not only shows the centre that the +quarter is on hand, but also when he is ready to receive the ball. One +of the most common of these signals has been placing the hand upon the +centre's leg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> or back. A pinch would let him know when to snap the ball. +In spite of this method's having been used by opponents to fool a +centre, it has been, and still is, the most common. One of the best +variations of it has been for the quarter to put his hand upon the +centre and keep it there until he is ready for the ball, then take it +off and let the centre snap the ball, not instantly, but at his +convenience. Should anything occur making it advisable, for some reason, +to stop the play, the quarter puts his hand upon the centre again at +once, and until it is once more removed the snap-back understands that +the quarter is not ready to have the ball come. Almost any amount of +variation can be made in the signal of the quarter to his centre; but in +arranging this it should be constantly borne in mind that the signal +should not be such as to give the opponents the exact instant of the +play, because it gives them too close an idea of the moment when they +may start.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 393px;"> +<img src="images/i125.jpg" width="393" height="640" alt="ALEXANDER MOFFATT. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">ALEXANDER MOFFATT.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>The speed of a quarter's work depends upon his ability to take the ball +close to the snap-back and in proper position for a pass. In merely +handing the ball to a runner, one might suppose that there would be no +particular position in which the ball should be held; but in that he +would be in error, for a ball so handed to a passing runner as not to +settle properly in his arms or hands means in many instances a +disastrous fumble, or at best a slowing-up of the runner's speed. In +giving the ball to a passing runner, it should be held free and clear of +the quarter's body and slightly tilted, so that it can be taken against +the body, and without the use of both hands for more than an instant, +because the runner must almost immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> have use for his arm in +going into the line. It is impossible to give in print the exact angle +and method of holding the ball for this purpose, but practice and the +wishes of the runners, if consulted, will soon show the quarter just +what is meant. When the ball is to be passed any considerable distance, +it should be taken so that the end is well placed against the hand of +the quarter, while the ball itself lies against the forearm, the wrist +being bent sharply. This will enable the quarter to send the ball +swiftly and accurately almost any distance that it may be necessary to +cover. Of course, in many cases the ball does not actually rest against +the forearm of the quarter; but this is the best way of conveying the +idea of the proper position of the hand upon the point of the ball, and +by practising in this way the correct motion for steady<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> passing is +speedily acquired. In receiving the ball, the right hand, or the hand +with which the throw is made, should be placed upon the end of the ball, +while the other hand stops its progress, and should be placed as nearly +upon the opposite end of the ball as convenient. This is the +theoretically proper way of receiving the ball; practically, the +handling cannot be as accurately performed as this would indicate. If, +however, the quarter will in practice be constantly aiming at receiving +the ball so that his right hand grasps the end just as his left hand +stops the ball, and settles it securely against his right, he will find +that after a few weeks he can receive four out of five snap-backs in +such a way as to make any great amount of arranging the ball for his +pass, after it is in his hands, quite unnecessary. After the preliminary +weeks of practice, and when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> in a game, he must bear in mind the fact +that, in order of importance, his duties are, first, to secure the ball, +no matter how; second, to convey it to his own man, no matter whether in +good form or not. He must never pass the ball if he has fumbled it, +unless he has a perfectly clear field in which to do it. He must always +have it down in preference to taking the slightest risk of losing it. +Even though he receive it without a fumble, there may be a way through +in that part of the line towards which his pass is to be delivered; and +here, again, he should hold the ball for another down rather than take +any chance of the opponent's intercepting the pass. After letting the +ball go, the quarter should follow his pass; in fact, he should be +almost on the run as the ball leaves his hand. No matter whether the +ball be caught or fumbled, he is then</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i131.jpg" width="480" height="594" alt="RALPH WARREN. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">RALPH WARREN.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<p>ready to lend assistance; whereas if he stand still after his pass, he +is of no use to the rest of the play. When the play is a run, he can do +excellent work in interfering; and when the play is a kick, he can take +any opponent who gets through, and thus aid the half in protecting the +kicker. In either case, if his own man muff or fumble he is close at +hand to lend assistance in an emergency, which otherwise might prove +most disastrous. When lining up the quarter should take a quick glance, +not directly at the player he is to make the recipient of the ball, but +covering the general position of all the men. In doing this he locates +his individual without making it apparent to the opponents which man is +to receive the ball. Any amount of disguise may be practised in the way +of taking a last glance at the wrong man, or calling out to some one who +does not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> enter into the play. The chief point, nevertheless, is to +avoid that tell-tale glance at the right man which is so difficult to +omit.</p> + +<p>When the opponents have the ball, the quarter makes an extra man in or +near the forward line, and, as a rule, he can by his shrewdness make it +very uncomfortable for any point in the line which he chooses to assail. +No law can govern his tactics in this respect, but he should be a law +unto himself, and show by his cleverness that he is more valuable than +any man in the line whose position is fixed. One caution only is worth +giving to the quarter in this line of play, and that is, to be less free +of going forward sharply when the play is evidently to be a run than +when a kick is to be attempted. In the latter case, a quarter can always +be sent for his best.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE HALF-BACK AND BACK</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>As the game is at present played, the back is more of a third half-back +than a goal-tend, and so should be trained to half-back work. It has +been well said that all that one can ask of the best rush line is to +hold the ground their half-backs gain; and when one follows carefully +the progress of the play, he sees that this is the proper division of +the work. The half-backs, then, must be the ground-gainers of the team. +Such work calls for dash and fire—that ability to suddenly concentrate +all the bodily energy into an effort that must make way through +anything. Every one has such half-backs in mind, but unfortunately many +of those half-backs who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> possess this type of character have not the +necessary weight and strength to stand the amount of work required. +Although a light man be occasionally found who is particularly muscular +and wiry, the constant shock of going into a heavy line of forwards +usually proves too exhausting for any but those of middle weight before +the end of a season be reached. It is not that the work of a single game +proves too much for the light-weight half. It is that in both practice +and games he is so overmatched by the weight of the forwards whom he +must meet that every week finds him less strong than the preceding, +until his playing falls off so markedly that the captain or coach is at +last convinced that there is something wrong, and the man is replaced by +some one else, often too late to bring the substitute up to anything +like the mark he might have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> reached had he been tried earlier in the +season. Such thoughts as these will suggest themselves to the +experienced coach when at the outset of a season he has placed before +him a number of candidates for the position of half-back, among whom +very likely there may be two or three men of perhaps one hundred and +forty pounds' weight. Likely enough, too, these men may be at that +period easily superior to the middle or heavy weights. In such a case +the very best advice that can be whispered in the ear of coach or +captain is, to make quarters or ends of them, even though it be only +substitute quarters and ends. It will leave the way open for the proper +cultivation of half-backs better built to stand the wear and tear of a +season.</p> + +<p>Almost equally to be deprecated is the waste of time often devoted to +making half-backs of slow heavy weights. Only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> a quick man can perform a +half-back's duties successfully; and although much can be left to +practice, there must be some natural quickness to build upon. Slow men +can be improved far more rapidly in the forward line than among the +halves. All this regarding the weight of half-backs applies not only to +'varsity teams, but school teams as well, if one will make the proper +proportional changes in weight. That is, a 'varsity player will be +called upon to face a forward line averaging one hundred and +seventy-five or thereabouts, and men of less than one hundred and +thirty-five to one hundred and forty are too light to meet that weight. +In school teams the rush line will be some twenty pounds lighter, and +the halves can therefore be selected from even +one-hundred-and-twenty-five-pound men, if well built. In other words, a +half-back ought not to</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 427px;"> +<img src="images/i141.jpg" width="427" height="640" alt="JOHN CORBETT. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">JOHN CORBETT.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>face over twenty-five pounds' difference in weight; and the more that +difference is reduced, supposing that speed and agility be retained, the +more chance there is of turning out a thoroughly successful player. It +is worth while to be thus particular upon the point of the early +selection of candidates for the position of half-back, because, while no +more work is demanded of them in a game than of others of their side, +the quality of that work must be more uniformly good. When a half-back +has to tackle, he must be as sure as a steel-trap; when a half-back has +to catch, he must be a man to be relied upon; when a half-back is called +upon for a kick, it must be no fluke; and, although no one expects a +half-back to always make on his run the five yards, he must be a man who +will not be denied when he is called upon for that last yard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> which will +enable his side to retain the ball.</p> + +<p>Almost the first thing to be critically noted by the coach is the way in +which a half-back takes the ball from his quarter. The case in which he +takes it directly from the hands of this player has been already dwelt +upon at some length under the head of the quarter's passing; but when +the ball is thrown or passed some little distance, it is just as +important that it be properly received. Except when about to kick, the +half-back should be moving when he receives the ball, and, more than +that, the reception of it should have no perceptible effect upon his +movements. In other words, he must take it as easily and as naturally as +a batsman in a ball game drops his bat after he has hit the ball fairly. +No batsman remembers that he has had the bat in his hands after the +ball<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> has been hit, and yet, when he is at first base, he has left his +bat behind him at the plate. Thus a football half-back should so receive +the ball as not to know the exact instant of taking it, but find that he +has it as he comes up to the line. It will never do for a coach to +suppose that an inexperienced half can be told that he must take the +ball "without knowing it," but it is necessary to explain to a half that +until he does take the ball naturally, and without having to stop and +calculate about it, he can never come properly up to the line nor get +his whole power on early. To acquire the habit of taking a pass easily, +a half-back should spend a little time every day off the field in +practising taking a sharp pass when on the run. By a sharp pass is not +meant hurling the ball with all possible force against a runner so that +he is nearly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> knocked over by it, and cannot by any possibility catch it +except at the expense of giving the catch his sole and undivided +attention. Such passing in practice does far more harm than good. The +ball should be passed with that easy swing which sends it rapidly, +accurately, and evenly up to the runner without any great apparent +force, for it is remarkable how much the appearance of force tends to +rattle the runner, who easily handles fully as much speed properly +delivered. Daily practice of this nature between the quarter and halves +accustoms each to the other, so that the regular work of the team on the +field is not disorganized by loose passing and looser catching. While +this passing is progressing, the coach should stand by the side of the +half, and watch him closely, correcting any careless tendencies of +receiving or stopping, and paying</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 413px;"> +<img src="images/i147.jpg" width="413" height="640" alt="W. BULL. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">W. BULL.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>particular attention to his going in a straight line—that is, not +running up to meet the ball and then sheering off again. The best +half-backs endeavor to receive the ball at approximately the same height +relative to their bodies, no matter how it comes, and they will correct +quite a variation in the quarter's throw by a little stoop or a slight +jump. A half-back must be taught to be uniform in starting, and in +reaching the spot where the ball is to meet him. The coach will have no +great difficulty in teaching him this steady uniformity of pace, which +will enable the quarter to throw the ball so as really to assist rather +than retard his motion. There are two other things which the half-back +must practise apart from his team-play. They are kicking and catching. +The former is of sufficient importance to deserve a separate chapter, +but a few hints<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> under the half-back column will not be out of place. It +is usually the case that of all three men behind the line, the two +halves and the back, any one can do the kicking upon a pinch, but one of +the three is, nine times out of ten, manifestly superior to the other +two. In this state of affairs there is altogether too great a tendency +to slight the practice of the two inferior kickers, and rely almost +entirely upon the best man. It is quite proper to let the best man do +all the kicking possible in an important game, but it is a very +short-sighted policy to neglect the practice of the other two during the +preliminary games. Not only should they have the advantage to be gained +in the length of their kicks by daily practice, but they should also +have the steadying experience to be acquired only in games. It may +happen at any moment in a most important game that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> the kicking will +devolve upon them on account of an accident to the third man, and it is, +indeed, a foolhardy captain or coach who has not taken sufficient +forethought for this contingency. The principal reason why we develop so +few really good kickers is, that coaches, captains, and players have +given so little attention to the detail of that part of the work. Fully +nine tenths of the men who do the kicking upon American teams are more +natural kickers than practised ones. Let me explain this so as to be +fully understood. As in boxing one often sees a man who, having taken no +lessons, and being therefore unable to make the most of himself, can yet +more than hold his own against a more finished opponent on account of +his natural quickness, strength, and aptitude; so in football one sees +here and there a man who is able to do some fair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> kicking without having +devoted particular attention to it. In boxing, however, when a teacher +takes the natural hitter in hand, he begins by putting him at work upon +the rudiments of guarding, holding himself upon his feet, hitting +straight, and moving firmly. He never undertakes to make a first-class +man of him by merely encouraging him to go in harder, and increase his +power without regard to the proper methods. In football, coaches rarely +teach the kickers the first principles, but instead urge upon them only +the necessity of constant practice in their own way. For this reason our +kickers show all manner of styles, and the only wonder is that they kick +so well in such wretchedly bad form.</p> + +<p>While it is neither advisable nor necessary that a kicker be prevented +from attempting to kick hard until he has mastered every detail of the +swing and brought it to the same point of perfection that a finished +oarsman does his stroke, it certainly is best, in his practice, to +subordinate power to method until he acquire good form.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i153.jpg" width="480" height="629" alt="KNOWLTON L. AMES. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">KNOWLTON L. AMES.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>The coach should take his man in hand by watching him make a half-dozen +kicks in his own way. Then he should select the worst of his faults, and +show him why it is a fault, and how to correct it. He should keep him +upon this one point for a few days, until he is convinced that there +will be no backsliding, and then begin upon the next. In this way a few +weeks will serve to make a second-class man a good one, and open the way +for his becoming something out of the ordinary run in another season.</p> + +<p>In judging the faults of a kicker, the coach should note just where he +gets<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> his power on, what is the position of his leg and foot upon the +swing, and what part of the foot strikes the ball. These are the +principal points, and deserve the first attention. Regarding the first +of these, his power should be put on just as his foot has passed the +lowest part of the arc in which it swings, and it should meet the ball +in the upward sweep very soon after passing this point. The position of +his leg and foot is to be next noted, and the "snap the whip" phrase is +as good a one to convey the idea as any that can be adopted. As the leg +begins to swing the knee is bent and the body pitched a little forward, +so that the weight of the kick seems to start from the hip and travel +down the leg as it straightens, reaching the foot just as it meets the +ball, as above mentioned. As for the third point, the ball, when +punted,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> should be struck between the instep and the toe, impinging most +upon the former. In a drop-kick and a place-kick the ball is met by the +toe, and the sweep is made with "a longer leg," as the expression has +it; that is, the foot swings nearer—in fact, almost along the ground.</p> + +<p>All these three points can be most clearly illustrated by noting the +effect of departures from them. If the power is not put on as above +described, the man will simply send the ball along the ground, or will +hook it up, merely tossing it with his foot instead of driving it. These +two are the extremes, of course; but they illustrate where the power is +lost or wasted. If the leg be not swung in proper position, the ball +will be simply spatted with the foot, the only force coming from the +knee. Finally, if the ball be not met with the proper part of the foot +it may snap downwards off the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> toe, or be merely bunted by the ankle. +There is still another thing to be watched, which, while not the kick +proper, really belongs to it as much as the swing of the leg. It is the +way in which the ball is dropped to the foot from the hand or hands. The +usual tendency of beginners, and many half-backs who could hardly be +classed in that category, is to toss the ball from the hand; that is, to +give it a motion up from the hand, which, however slight, causes much +valuable time to be lost. The ball should always be dropped to the foot, +the distance between the hand and foot being made as short as possible. +The hand should be merely withdrawn just at the proper moment, and with +practice it is not difficult to make the entire transfer from hand to +foot so rapid as to almost eliminate any danger of having the ball +stopped or struck during that part of the play. In drop-kicking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> the +fall is necessarily greater, but it should never be a toss even then. +There has been no little argument as to whether the ball should be held +in one or both hands when about to kick, and such are the examples of +good kickers arrayed on both sides that one cannot fairly say that +either way is the only right way. If a player has become so accustomed +to the two-hand method as to make him uncomfortable and inaccurate if +forced to the one-hand way, it is hardly advisable to make the change. +But any player who is taken early enough can be taught to drop the ball +with one hand, to the great advantage of both his quickness and his +ability to kick from tight quarters or around an opponent.</p> + +<p>The entire series of motions, therefore, which go to make up a +well-performed kick should be in the coach's mind just as the separate +parts of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> oarsman's stroke are in the boating-man's mind when +coaching a crew. The ball dropped, not tossed; the leg well swung, the +power coming from both leg and hip with all the advantage that the poise +of the body may add; the foot meeting the ball with the forward part of +the instep on a punt, with the toe on a drop, and in either case just +after passing the lowest point of the arc of swing, rather later on a +punt than a drop, because the ground helps the latter to rise, while the +rise of the former must come entirely from the foot. The next step in +the education of the kicker is the side swing. The ball cannot be kicked +as far when met directly in front of the kicker—his leg swinging +straight, as it would in taking a step in running—as it can be kicked +by taking a side sweep with the leg and body, the hips acting as a sort +of pivot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>One of the most common false ideas regarding this side kick is, that it +is not performed with the same part of the foot as the straight punt, +but that the ball is struck by the side of the foot. Of course, this is +all wrong. The foot meets the ball as fairly and directly as it does in +the ordinary straight kick, and the ball impinges upon the top of the +instep and toe just as before, the word "side" referring to the swing of +the leg and position of the body only.</p> + +<p>All the suggestions thus far have been applicable to both half-backs and +back, but before bringing the chapter to an end it is well to note a few +of the special features of the full-back's position. The place +originally was that of a goal-tend, but with the increase of the +aggressive system of defence his duties have become more those of a +third half-back. Other things being equal, it is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> eminently proper to +select as a full-back an exceptionally strong tackler; but as for +placing tackling ability above that of kicking, that is a mistake which +might have been made six years ago, but of which no coach or captain +would to-day be guilty.</p> + +<p>The importance of the position is rapidly growing, and there is no doubt +that the time will come in another year, if it be not already here, when +the selection of the three men behind the line will be after this +fashion—namely, picking out the three best half-backs, all things +considered, then selecting that one of the three whose kicking is the +best, and making him the third half or full back. After the man has been +in this way chosen there will devolve upon him certain duties which do +not commonly fall to the lot of the other two half-backs. Chiefest among +these is the</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/i163.jpg" width="411" height="640" alt="W. C. RHODES. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">W. C. RHODES.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>duty of making a running return of a kick. The opponents have sent a +punt down towards him, which he secures while the opponents are still +some yards away from him, although they are coming down rapidly. In this +case, a thoroughly finished player will not only gain a few steps before +he takes his kick, but he will take that kick on the run, sometimes +dodging the first man before taking the kick. A full-back who can do +this and never lose his kick is the greatest kind of a treasure for any +team, and it is worth a captain's while to devote a good bit of +attention to the full-back's perfecting this special feature of his +play.</p> + +<p>He will also be likely to have the long place-kicking to do. In fact, it +is proper to practise him at this, because, if he be the best punter +among the men behind the line, he can be made the longest place-kicker, +and few realize the great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> advantage of these long place-kicks to a team +upon occasion of fair catches.</p> + +<p>Tackling, when it does fall to the lot of a full-back, comes with an +importance the like of which no other player is ever called upon to +face. It usually means a touch-down if he misses. For practice of this +kind it is well to play the 'varsity back once in a while upon the scrub +side. This is likely to improve the speed of his kicking also.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<h2>SIGNALS</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>When Rugby football was first adopted in this country, it was against a +strong feeling that it would never make progress against what had been +known as the American game. This old-fashioned game was much more like +the British Association in a rather demoralized state. Not only was +there no such thing as off-side, but one of the chief features consisted +in batting the ball with the fist, at which many became sufficiently +expert to drive the ball almost as far as the ordinary punter now kicks +it. There was very little division of players by name, although they +strung out along the field, and one (known as the "peanutter"—why, no +one knows) played in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> the enemies' goal. Coming to players accustomed to +this heterogeneous mingling, it is no great wonder that the first days +of Rugby were characterized by even less system than that displayed in +the old game.</p> + +<p>The first division of players was into rushers, half-backs, and a +goal-tend. The rushers had but little regard for their relative +positions in the line; and as for their duties, one can easily imagine +how little they corresponded with those of the rusher of to-day when it +is said that it was by no means unusual for one of them to pick up the +ball and punt it.</p> + +<p>The snap-back and quarter-back play soon defined these two positions, +and shortly after the individual rush line positions became distinct, +both as regards location and duties. All this was an era of development +of general play with but few particular combinations or marks of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +strategy. If a man made a run, he made it for the most part wherever he +saw the best chance after receiving the ball, and he made it unaided to +any degree by his comrades. If the ball was kicked, it was at the option +of the man receiving it, and the forwards did not know whether he would +kick or run.</p> + +<p>It was at this point that the demand for signals first showed itself. +The rushers began to insist upon it that they must be told in some way +whether the play was to be a kick or a run. They maintained quite +stoutly and correctly that there was no reason in their chasing down the +field when the half-backs did not kick. As a matter of fact, the +forwards even went so far as to contend that the running-game should be +entirely dropped in favor of one based upon long kicks well followed up. +Failing to establish this opinion, they nevertheless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> brought it about +that they should be told by some signal what the play was to be, and so +be spared useless running. This was probably the first of the present +complicated system of signals, although at about the same time some +teams took up the play of making a rather unsatisfactory opening for a +runner in the line, and made use of a signal to indicate the occasions +when this was to be done. The signalling of the quarter to the +centre-rush as to when the ball should be played antedated this +somewhat, but can hardly be classed with signals for the direction of +the play itself.</p> + +<p>To-day the teams which meet to decide the championship are brought up to +the execution of at least twenty-five different plays, each of which is +called for by a certain distinct signal of its own.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 480px;"> +<img src="images/i173.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="P. D. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">P. D. TRAFFORD.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first signals given were "word signals;" that is, a word or a +sentence called out so that the entire team might hear it and understand +whether a kick or a run was to be made. Then, when signals became more +general, "sign-signals" (that is, some motion of the hand or arm to +indicate the play) were brought in and became for a time more popular +than the word signals, particularly upon fields where the audience +pressed close upon the lines, and their enthusiastic cheering at times +interfered with hearing word signals. Of late years numerical +combinations have become most popular, and as the crowd is kept at such +a distance from the side lines as to make it possible for teams to hear +those signals, they have proven highly satisfactory. The numerical +system, while it can be readily understood by the side giving the +signal, because they know the key, is far more difficult for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +opponents to solve than either the old word signals or signs. Still, the +ingenuity of captains is generally taxed to devise systems that shall so +operate as never to confuse their own men and yet completely mystify the +opponents throughout the game. Clever forwards almost always succeed in +interpreting correctly one or two of the signals most frequently used, +in spite of the difficulty apparent in the solution of such problems. +The question as to who should give the signals is still a disputed one, +although the general opinion is that the quarter-back should perform +this duty. There is no question as to the propriety of the signals +emanating from that point, but the discussion is as to whether the +captain or the quarter should direct the play. Of course all is settled +if the captain is himself a quarter-back, but even when he is not he +ought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> to be able to so direct his quarter previous to the actual +conflict as to make it perfectly satisfactory to have the signals come +from the same place as the ball. It is in that direction that the eyes +and attention of every player are more or less turned, and hence signals +there given are far more certain to be observed. Moreover, it is +sometimes, and by no means infrequently, necessary to change a play even +after the signal has been given. This, if the quarter be giving the +signals, is not at all difficult, but is decidedly confusing when coming +from some other point in the line.</p> + +<p>The important fact to be remembered in selecting a system of signals is +that it is far more demoralizing to confuse your own team than to +mystify your opponents. A captain must therefore choose such a set of +signals as he can be sure of making his own team comprehend<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> without +difficulty and without mistake. When he is sure of that, he can think +how far it is possible for him to disguise these from his opponents. +Among the teams which contest for championship honors it is unusual to +find any which are not prepared for emergencies by the possession either +of two sets of signals, or of such changes in the manner of giving them +as to make it amount to the same thing. Considering the way the game is +played at the present time, this preparation is advisable, for one can +hardly overestimate the demoralizing effect it would have upon any team +to find their opponents in possession of a complete understanding of the +signals which were directing the play against them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 402px;"> +<img src="images/i179.jpg" width="402" height="640" alt="R. HODGE. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">R. HODGE.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<p>While it is well for the captain or coach to arrange in his own mind +early in the season such a basis for a code of signals as to render it +adaptable to almost indefinite increase in the number of plays, it is by +no means necessary to have the team at the outset understand this basis. +In fact, it is just as well to start them off very modestly upon two or +three signals which they should learn, and of which they should make use +until the captain sees fit to advance them a peg.</p> + +<p>If, for instance, the captain decides to make use of a numerical system, +he cannot do better to accustom his men to listening and following +instructions than to give them three signals, something like this: +One-two-three, to indicate that the ball is to be passed to the right +half-back, who will endeavor to run around the left end; four-five-six, +that the left half will try to run around the right end; and +seven-eight-nine, that the back will kick. The scrub side<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> will probably +"get on" to these signals in short order, and will make it pleasant at +the ends for the half-backs; but this will be the best kind of practice +in team work, and will do no harm. After a day or two of this it will be +time to make changes in the combination of numbers, not only with an +idea of deceiving the scrub side, but also to quicken the wits of the +'Varsity team. Taking the same signals as a basis, the first, or signal +for the right half-back to try on the left end, was one-two-three—the +sum of these numbers is six. Take that, then, as the key to this signal, +and any numbers the sum of which equals six will be a signal for this +play. For instance, three-three, or four-two, two-three-one—any of +these would serve to designate this play. Similarly, as the signal for +the left half at the right end was four-five-six, or a total of fifteen, +any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> numbers which added make fifteen—as six-six-three, seven-eight, or +five-four-six—would be interpreted in this way. Finally, the signal for +a kick having been seven-eight-nine, or a sum of twenty-four, any +numbers aggregating that total would answer equally well.</p> + +<p>A few days of this practice will fit the men for any further +developments upon the same lines, and accustom them to listening and +thinking at the same time. The greatest difficulty experienced by both +captains and coaches since the signals and plays became so complicated +has been to teach green players not to stop playing while they listen to +and think out a signal. By the end of the season players are so +accustomed to the signals that all this hesitation disappears, and the +signal is so familiar as to amount to a description of the play in so +many words.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + +<p>The other two methods of signalling by the use of words rather than +numbers, and signs given by certain movements, although they have now +given way in most teams to numbers, are still made use of, and have +merit enough to deserve a line or two. The word-signal was usually given +in the form of a sentence, the whole or any part of which would indicate +the play. As, for instance, to indicate a kick, the sentence "Play up +sharp, Charlie." If the quarter, or whoever gave the signals, should +call out, "Play up," or "Play up sharp," or "Play," or "Charlie," he +would in each instance be giving the signal for a kick. Sign-signals are +more difficult to disguise, but are none the less very effective, +especially where there is a great amount of noise close to the ropes. A +good example of the sign-signal is the touching of some part of the body +with the hand. For instance, half-back running would be denoted by +placing the hand on the hip, the right hip for the left half, and the +left hip for the right half. A kick would be indicated by placing the +hand upon the neck. Particular care should be exercised when +sign-signals are to be used that the ones selected, while similar to the +acts performed naturally by the quarter in stooping over to receive the +ball, are never exactly identical with these motions, else there will +likely enough be confusion.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 402px;"> +<img src="images/i185.jpg" width="402" height="640" alt="H. H. KNAPP. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">H. H. KNAPP.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>No matter what method of signalling be used, there is one important +feature to be regarded, and that is, some means of altering the play +after a signal has been given. This is, of course, a very simple thing, +and the usual plan is to have some word which means that the signal +already given is to be considered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> void, and a new signal will be given +in its place. There should also be some way of advising the team of a +change from one set of signals to another, should such a move become +necessary. It is very unwise not to be prepared for such an emergency, +because if a captain is obliged to have time called and personally +advise his team one by one of such a change, the opponents are quite +sure to see it and to gain confidence from the fact that they have been +clever enough to make such a move necessary.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> +<h2>TRAINING</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>At the present advanced athletic era there are very few who do not +understand that a certain amount of preparation is absolutely essential +to success in any physical effort requiring strength and endurance. The +matter of detail is, however, not faced until one actually becomes a +captain or a coach, and, as such, responsible for the condition, not of +himself alone, but of a team of fifteen or twenty men.</p> + +<p>Experience regarding his own needs will have taught him the value of +care and work in this line; but, unless he differs greatly from the +ordinary captain upon first assuming the duties of that position, his +knowledge of training will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> be confined to an understanding of his own +requirements, coupled with the handed-down traditions of the preceding +captains and teams. When he finds himself in this position and considers +what lines of training he shall lay down for his team, unless he be an +inordinately conceited man he will wish he had made more of a study of +this art of preparation, especially in the direction most suited to the +requirements of his own particular sport.</p> + +<p>Many inquiries from men about to undertake the training of a team have +led me to believe that, even at the expense of going over old ground, it +will be well in this book to map out a few of the important features of +a course of training. It should go without saying that there are +infinite variations in systems of this kind; but if a man will carry in +mind the reasons rather than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> the rules, he has always a test to apply +which will enable him to make the most of whatever system he adopts.</p> + +<p>He should remember that training ought to be a preparation by means of +which his men will at a certain time arrive at the best limits of their +muscular strength and activity, at the same time preserving that +equilibrium most conducive to normal health. Such a preparation can be +accomplished by the judicious use of the ordinary agents of +well-being—exercise, diet, sleep, and cleanliness.</p> + +<p>One can follow out the reasons for or against any particular point in a +system rather better if he cares to see why these agents act towards +health and strength.</p> + +<p>Exercise is a prime requisite, because the human mechanism, unlike the +inanimate machine, gains strength from use. Muscular movement causes +disintegration<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> and death of substance, but at the same time there is an +increased flow of blood to the part, and that means an increased supply +of nourishment and increased activity in rebuilding. As MacLaren has +expressed it, strength means newness of the muscle. The amount and +quality of this exercise will be treated of later in this chapter.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 411px;"> +<img src="images/i195.jpg" width="411" height="640" alt="A. J. CUMNOCK. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">A. J. CUMNOCK.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>In considering the matter of Diet, a captain or coach should think of +this question not according to the tradition of his club, nor according +to his own idiosyncrasies. He should regard the general principle of not +depriving a man of anything to which he is accustomed and which agrees +with him. Of course, it is advisable to do without such articles of food +as would be injurious to the majority of the men, even though there +might be one or two to whom they would do no harm. Men should enjoy +their food, and it should be properly served. I remember once being +asked my opinion regarding a certain team at the time in training, and I +expressed the conviction that something was wrong with their diet. The +team, as a whole, were not seriously affected, but some three or four +were manifestly out of sorts. I heard the coach go over the bill of +fare, and it sounded all right. I then decided to take dinner with them +and see if I could discover the trouble. One meal was sufficient, for it +was a meal! The beef—and an excellent roast it was, too—was literally +served in junks, such as one might throw to a dog. The dishes were +dirty, so was the cloth. Vegetables were dumped on to the plates in a +mess, and each one grabbed for what he wanted. Some of the men might +have been brought up to eat at such a table, still others were not +sufficiently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> sensitive to have their appetites greatly impaired by +anything, but the three or four who were "off" were boys whose home life +had accustomed them to a different way of dining, and their natures +revolted. So, too, did their appetites. As it was then too late to +correct the manners of the mess, I simply advised sending these men +elsewhere to board, and they speedily came into shape. I cannot too +strongly advocate good service at a training table. The men should enjoy +their dinners, should eat them slowly, and should be encouraged to be as +long about it as they will. As food is to repair the waste, it should be +generous in quantity and taken when the man will not, from being +over-tired, have lost his appetite. Sometimes a team is not overworked, +but worked too late in the day, so that the men rush to the table almost +directly from the field,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> and fail to feel hungry, while within an hour +they would have eaten with a zest. This course persevered in for several +days will show its folly in a general falling-off in the strength as +well as the weight of the men. To train a football team should be, in +the matter of the diet at least, the simplest matter compared with +training for other sports, because the season of the year is so +favorable to good condition.</p> + +<p>Crews and ball nines have oftentimes the trial of exceptionally hot and +exhausting weather to face, while a football team, after the few warm +days of September are passed, enjoy the very best of bracing +weather—weather which will give almost any man who spends his time in +out-door work a healthy, hearty appetite. In order that any captain or +coach reading this book may feel that, while it offers several courses<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +of diet, it would emphatically present the fact that there is no +hard-and-fast system of diet that must be religiously followed, I submit +a variety of tables, showing some old as well as new school diets. None +of them are very bad, several are excellent; and I don't think that a +captain or coach would be called upon to draw his pencil through very +many of the items enumerated.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 467px;"> +<img src="images/i201.jpg" width="467" height="640" alt="JEREMIAH S. BLACK. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">JEREMIAH S. BLACK.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>THE OXFORD SYSTEM.—(Summer Races.)</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise about 7 A.M.</td><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>So as to be in chapel; but early rising not compulsory.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise</td><td align='left'> A short walk or run</td><td align='left'>Not compulsory (walk only, and short).</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Breakfast, 8.30</td><td align='left'>Meat, beef or mutton.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread or toast, dry</td><td align='left'>The crust only recommended.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tea</td><td align='left'>As little as possible recommended.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise (forenoon)</td><td align='left'> None</td><td align='left'>American football men should kick, catch, and pass.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="4">Dinner, 2 P.M</td><td align='left'>Meat; much the same as for breakfast.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread</td><td align='left'> Crust only recommended.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vegetables, none allowed</td><td align='left'> A rule, however, not always adhered to.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beer, one pint</td><td align='left'>This is what Americans call ale, and not indulged in to any great extent except after a hard game.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise</td><td align='left'>About 5 o'clock start for the river, and row twice over the course, the speed increasing with the strength of the crew.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Supper, 8.30 or 9.</td><td align='left'>Meat, cold.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread; perhaps a jelly or watercresses.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beer, one pint (see above).</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed about 10.</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> As has been stated elsewhere, improvements have been made +in diet since this table was compiled. This will also apply to the +Cambridge System, page 143.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p></div> + + +<h4>TORPID RACES.</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise about 7.30 A.M.</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'>Early rising not compulsory.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'>A short walk or run.</td><td align='left'> Not compulsory.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Breakfast, 9.</td><td align='left'>As for summer races.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise (forenoon).</td><td align='left'> None.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Luncheon about 1 P.M.</td><td align='left'>Bread, or a sandwich.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beer, half a pint.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'>About 2 o'clock start for the river, and row twice over the course.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="5">Dinner, 5.</td><td align='left'>Meat, as for summer races.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vegetables, as for summer races.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pudding (rice), or jelly.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beer, half a pint.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed, 10.30.</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>THE CAMBRIDGE SYSTEM. Summer Races (1866).</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise at 7 A.M.</td><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'>Run 100 or 200 yards as as fast as possible.</td><td align='left'>"The old system of running a mile or so before breakfast is fast going out, except in the case of men who want to get a good deal of flesh off."</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="4">Breakfast, 8.30.</td><td align='left'>Meat, beef or mutton.</td><td rowspan="4"> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Toast, dry.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tea, two cups, or towards the end of training a cup and a half only.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Watercresses occasionally.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise (forenoon).</td><td align='left'>None.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="6">Dinner about 2 P.M.</td><td align='left'>Meat, beef or mutton.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vegetables—potatoes, greens</td><td align='left'>Some colleges have baked apples, or jellies, or rice puddings.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Beer, one pint.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dessert—oranges, or biscuits,or figs;</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>wine, two glasses.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'>About 5.30 start for the river, and row to the starting-post and back</td><td align='left'>"Most men get out for a little time before rowing back."</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Supper about 8.30 or 9.</td><td align='left'>Meat, cold.</td><td rowspan="3"> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Vegetables—lettuce or watercresses.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed at 10.</td><td align='left'>Beer, one pint.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>H. CLASPER'S SYSTEM.</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise between 6 and 7 a.m.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise. </td><td align='left'>A country walk of four or five miles.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="4">Breakfast, 8.</td><td align='left'>Meat, chop or</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Couple of eggs.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bread.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tea. ("We never drink coffee.")</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'>Rest for half an hour, and then a brisk walk or run.<br /> If morning exercise has not been heavy, a row on the river, terminating about 11 A.M.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="5">Dinner, 12 M.</td><td align='left'>Meat, beef or mutton (broiled).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Egg pudding, with currants in it if desired, or other light farinaceous pudding.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ale, one glass.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Wine, one glass (port), or</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ale, two glasses, without wine.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Exercise.</td><td align='left'>Rest for an hour, and then on the river again for a hard row.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> "Rowing exercise should be taken twice every day."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tea.</td><td align='left'>"Tea, with toasted bread sparingly buttered, with one<br /> egg only—more has a tendency to choke the system."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Supper.</td><td align='left'>Not recommended. When taken, to consist of new milk and bread,<br /> or gruel, with raisins and currants and a glass of port wine in it.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed about 10.</td><td align='left'> </td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>C. WESTHALL'S SYSTEM. For Amateurs.</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise at 6 A.M., or earlier in the summer.</td><td align='left'> Cold bath and rub down.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Exercise.</td><td align='left'> Sharp walk about a mile out, and run home; or a row of a couple of miles at three-parts speed.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> A dry rub-down.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Breakfast (time not stated).</td><td align='left'> Meat, mutton-chop or steak (broiled).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Bread, stale or toast.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Tea, half a pint.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise.</td><td align='left'> (Not stated.)</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="4">Dinner, 2 P.M.</td><td align='left'> Meat (as at breakfast).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Vegetables, none; "except a mealy potato."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Bread, stale.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Beer, one pint.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise (afternoon).</td><td align='left'> Rowing.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2">If dinner be late, luncheon to be taken to consist of Meat, beef or mutton, hot or cold. Bread. Beer, one glass.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="2">(If dinner be early, "tea with viands and liquids as at breakfast" to be taken.)</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Supper.</td><td align='left'> Half a pint of thin gruel, or dry toast and a glass of ale.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed.</td><td align='left'> Time not stated.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>N.B.—It is added "that the above rules are of course open to alteration +according to circumstances, and the diet varied successfully by the +introduction of fowls, either roast or boiled—the latter preferred;" +and "it must never be lost sight of that sharp work, regularity, and +cleanliness are the chief if not the only rules to be followed to +produce thorough good condition."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>McLAREN'S SYSTEM.</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Rise at about 7 A.M. </td><td align='left'>(Glass of cold water recommended.)</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Exercise.</td><td align='left'> The crew meet at 7, walk and run for four or five miles; or, in later practice, quick run of two miles.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Wash and dress.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Breakfast, 9.</td><td align='left'> Meat (broiled); bread (brown) and butter; tea, two cups.<br /> "Cocoa made of the nibs boiled for four hours is better than tea for breakfast."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Smoking allowed (conditionally). "Smoking is barred, for, though here also a man's habits are to be taken into account,<br /> the subjects of training in match-boats are usually too young <br />to have contracted a custom of smoking so inveterate as to have made tobacco indispensable to the body's internal functions, <br />though it is not unfrequently so in older men. After breakfast is the only time allotted to the pipe."</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Luncheon at 1.</td><td align='left'> Beef sandwich with half a pint of beer, or</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Biscuit and glass of sherry, or egg in sherry.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Exercise.</td><td align='left'> At 2.30 go out to row, and row over the whole course. "This altogether depends on the state of the crew."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Wash in tepid water.</td></tr> + +<tr><td rowspan="9">Dinner at 6 p.m.</td><td align='left'> Meat (roast, broiled, or boiled). "Any kind of wholesome meat thoroughly cooked."</td><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Vegetables—"The green foods permissible contain in their list spinach—the very best of all; sea-kale, asparagus, but without melted butter; turnip-tops, young unhearted greens, but not solid cabbages; broccoli, carrots, parsnips, and cooked celery.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Turnips are also favored, and pease condemned; also cucumbers, and all salad mixtures. But boiled beet-root is good, and Jerusalem artichokes; and French beans stand next to spinach in virtue."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> The course is varied daily, so that no two days together shall see the same articles on the table.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Pudding. ("Light puddings may be eaten.")</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Bread. Beer, one pint.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Wine, two glasses of old port or sherry, or three of claret. Biscuits and dried fruits, as cherries, figs, etc., allowed. ("All fresh fruits are avoided.")</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Jellies. ("Plain jellies are innocuous.")</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Water. ("As much spring water as they have a mind to.")</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Supper, 9.</td><td align='left'> Oatmeal gruel if desired.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed at 10.</td><td align='left'> N. B.—On Sundays a brisk walk of three hours or so is taken.</td></tr> +</table></div> + <h4>Summary.</h4> +<h4>Sleep, eight or nine hours. Exercise, about three hours. Diet, very varied.</h4> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>STONEHENGE'S SYSTEM.</h4> + +<h4>A DAY'S TRAINING.</h4> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td rowspan="2">Rise at 8 A.M.</td><td align='left'> According to season and weather.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Cold bath.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise, 8.30 to 9.</td><td align='left'> Walking or running. "Let all take a gentle run or smart walk."</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Breakfast, 9 to 9.30.</td><td align='left'> Oatmeal porridge, with meat (beef or mutton, broiled) and bread.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Tea or coffee, or table beer, one pint.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> "Tea is preferred to coffee. Cocoa is too greasy."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise, 9.30 to 11.30,</td><td align='left'> Billiards, skittles, quoits, or other light exercise.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>11.30 to 1.30.</td><td align='left'> Rowing.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="2">1.30 to about 2.30.</td><td align='left'> Running. "According to circumstances."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> Rubbed dry and linen changed.</td></tr> +<tr><td rowspan="3">Dinner, 2.30 to 3 or 3.30</td><td align='left'> Meat—beef (roast) or mutton (boiled mutton occasionally), <br />roast fowl, partridges, or pheasants (allowed), or venison (nothing better).</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> "It is generally directed that the steak or chop should be underdone;this, I am sure, is a fallacy."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>—Bread (<i>ad lib</i>.).—Puddings occasionally, made of bread,eggs, and milk, and served with preserved fruits.<br />—Vegetables—potatoes (one or two only), cauliflowers,and broccoli (only as an occasional change).<br /> If training is protracted, fish allowed (cod or soles).—Beer, from a pint to a pint and a half.—Wine, a glass or two, port or sherry.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>After dinner, until 5 or 6.</td><td align='left'>A gentle stroll or book.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Exercise, 6 to 7.</td><td align='left'>Rowing.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Supper, 8.</td><td align='left'>Oatmeal porridge with dry toast or chop, with glass of port.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bed at 9 or 10.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>SYSTEM OF JACKSON AND GODBOLD.</h4> + +<p><span class="smcap">Breakfast.</span>—Stale or whole-meal bread, or toast, a little butter, plenty +of marmalade if you like, but not jam. Bacon and eggs, or chops or +steaks, with watercress if obtainable. To those who like it, a basin of +oatmeal porridge, <i>properly made</i>, taken with pure milk about an hour +before breakfast, is an excellent thing, and has a very beneficial +effect upon the stomach, but it should not be taken every day. It is +better to miss it every third day, or to take it regularly for a +fortnight and then omit it from the next week's diet, as the too +frequent use of it is rather injurious to the skin of some persons. +Tea—not too strong—is better than coffee. Good ripe fruit is a +capital<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> adjunct to the breakfast-table, and is an excellent article of +food.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dinner.</span>—Lamb, mutton, beef, fowl (tender and boiled), varied by fish, +of which haddock, whiting, and soles are the best, with potatoes (well +boiled, and not much of them), and well-cooked vegetables, followed by a +small allowance of light farinaceous pudding or stewed fruit, will be a +good, wholesome diet. If you want bread, have it stale. Never eat <i>new</i> +bread. Avoid all sauces, or made dishes, and adhere to plain food only. +One thing we would particularly impress upon the reader, and that is +never to take his exercise immediately before or after meals, nothing is +more injurious, or likely to produce indigestion, and its concomitant +evils. Some authorities abjure the use of sugar, but taken in moderation +it is not injurious. A well-known champion of our acquaintance,</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"> +<img src="images/i213.jpg" width="398" height="640" alt="C. O. GILL. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">C. O. GILL.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>when in the pink of condition, was wont to amuse himself by eating the +contents of a sugar basin, if one were inadvertently left near him, and +without feeling any ill effects from so doing. Our readers need not +follow his example, for although it might suit him, it probably would +not agree with them. We have said, take sugar in <i>moderation</i>. Now, in +this last word lies all the lectures one can give on this subject. Be +moderate in all things, one might say, but above all things be moderate +in the use of all edibles not actually necessary to support the +increased exertion which a man in training is called upon to perform. No +liquid should be taken except with, or just after meals, but we would +not advise stinting the quantity too much. In summer three or four +pints, and in winter two or three pints per diem would be about the +quantity. Never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> drink just before exercise, and it is better not to +drink just before going to bed. In fact, the less one has to digest when +retiring for sleep the better, and be sure not to drink tea late at +night.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tea</span>, or <span class="smcap">supper</span>, should be taken at least two hours before bedtime, and +we would allow a small chop, or some light fish, bread, and very little +butter, with some ripe fruit. The best meal to take before a race, and +which should be taken about two hours before starting-time, is the lean +of mutton-chops and a little dry toast. We have said that no liquids +should be taken except at meal-times; but we do not intend to state that +if a man be very thirsty he may not touch them. If he does so, it must +be a very small quantity. Thirst can often be assuaged by rinsing the +mouth out with cold water, and this is by far the better plan if it is +efficacious.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>A COMMON-SENSE SYSTEM.</h4> + +<p>One author says: "Rise at six; bathe; take about two ounces (a small +cup) of coffee with milk: this is really a stimulating soup. Then light +exercise, chiefly devoted to lungs; a little rest; the breakfast of +meat, bread, or oatmeal, vegetables, with no coffee; an hour's rest. +Then the heaviest exercise of the day. This is contrary to rule; but I +believe the heaviest exercise should be taken before the heaviest meal; +a rest before dinner. This meal, if breakfast be taken at seven or +eight, should be at one or two, not leaving a longer interval than five +hours between the meals. At dinner, again meat, vegetables, bread, +perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> a half-pint of malt liquor, no sweets. Then a longer rest; +exercise till five. Supper light—bread, milk, perhaps with an egg. Half +an hour later a cup of tea, and bed at nine."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>J. B. O'REILLY.</h4> + +<p>Seven o'clock is a good time for an athlete in training to rise. He +ought to get a good dry-rubbing, and then sponge his body with cold +water, or have a shower-bath, with a thorough rubbing afterwards. He +will then go out to exercise before breakfast, not to run hard, as is +commonly taught, but to walk briskly for an hour, while exercising his +lungs in deep-breathing. Before this walk, an egg in a cup of tea, or +something of the kind, should be taken.</p> + +<p>The breakfast need not always consist of a broiled mutton-chop or +cutlet; a broiled steak, broiled chicken, or broiled fish, or some of +each, may be taken with tea or coffee.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>Dinner may be far more varied than is usually allowed by the trainer's +"system." Any kind of butcher's meat, plainly cooked, with a variety of +fresh vegetables, may be taken, with ordinary light puddings, stewed +fruit, but no pastry. A good time for dinner is one o'clock.</p> + +<p>An American athlete, when thirsty, ought to have only one drink—water. +The climate and the custom in England favor the drinking of beer or +claret; but, beyond question, the best drink for a man in training is +pure water. After dinner, rest, but no dozing or <i>siesta</i>. This sort of +rest only spoils digestion, and makes men feel slack and "limp."</p> + +<p>Supper, at six o'clock, should not be a second dinner; but neither +should it consist of "slops" or gruel. The athlete ought to be in bed by +ten o'clock, in a room with open window, and a draught through the room, +if possible, though not across the bed.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 416px;"> +<img src="images/i221.jpg" width="416" height="640" alt="E. C. PEACE. + +Princeton." title="" /> +<span class="caption">E. C. PEACE.<br /> + +Princeton.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>The American football captain or coach should bear in mind, when reading +these various systems, that the use of ale and port seems to be much +better borne by those who live in the English climate than upon this +side of the water.</p> + +<p>Also, that stiff exercise before breakfast has not been proven +advantageous to our athletes except as a flesh-reducer, and then only in +exceptionally vigorous constitutions.</p> + +<p>Also, that tea is not as popular with us as with the men who train in +England.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>SLEEP AND CLEANLINESS.</h4> + +<p>To come to the third agent of health enumerated some pages back, Sleep. +As a rule, it is not a difficult matter to see that members of a +football team take the requisite amount of sleep. There are occasions, +as in college, when some society event of unusual importance tempts the +men to sit up late, but with such exceptions as these there is no great +difficulty experienced in making the majority of the men keep good +hours. And this is growing more and more simple as athletics become more +general, for they take the place of much of the dissipation which was +formerly the only outlet for the superabundant animal spirits of young +men. In the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> case, however, of the occasional candidate for the team who +comes under the captain's eye as inclined to late hours, there must be +the strictest kind of discipline shown. Such a man is the very one whose +stamina will be affected after a while by lack of sleep, and that too at +a time when the rest of the men are nearing the perfection of condition. +Thus he will be found falling off at the very time when it is a most +serious matter very likely to fill his position with a new man. Eight or +nine hours sleep should be insisted upon, and that sleep should be taken +with regularity. In fact, not only the sleep, but the meals and the +exercise, should all be made as nearly regular, regarding hours, as +possible. Men should have separate rooms, and particularly when off upon +trips they should not sleep together. Plenty of fresh air should be +admitted to the sleeping-room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> but draughts are to be avoided. This is +not because every time the air blows upon a man he is liable to contract +a severe cold, for the chances are against this, but because there are +times when he is particularly prone to such an accident, and if he is in +the habit of sleeping without regard to draughts it is not likely that +he will take precautions then. If a man has, for instance, played an +especially stiff game and upon a muggy and exhausting day, he will +undoubtedly turn in thoroughly tired out, and perhaps still somewhat +heated. Now if he, when in that state, sleeps in a draught, he will +probably find himself very lame in the morning, even though he escape +other more serious consequences. Just one more word of caution regarding +sleep, and that is in the matter of obtaining a good night's rest just +before the important match of the season. To insure this is to do much +towards securing the best work of which the men are capable from the +team upon the following day.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;"> +<img src="images/i227.jpg" width="407" height="640" alt="W. HEFFELFINGER. + +Yale." title="" /> +<span class="caption">W. HEFFELFINGER.<br /> + +Yale.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>First and foremost, they should not be allowed to talk about the game or +the signals or anything connected with football during that evening. If +possible, they should do something to entirely divert their minds from +all thought of the game. Nor should they be hustled off to bed an hour +or two earlier than usual. Rather ought it to be a half-hour later, for +then the chances are that the men drop off to sleep immediately instead +of tossing about, thinking of the exciting event of the morrow.</p> + +<p>Finally, as to overtrained men, and that restlessness and inability to +sleep that almost always comes with the worst cases of this kind. There +is but one thing to do with a man when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> "goes fine" to this extent, +and that is to sever his connection with the team for a time. If it is +early in the season, there is some chance of his recuperating rapidly +enough to still become serviceable. If it is late, there is no hope of +this. In either case he must neither play, eat, nor spend his time with +the members of the team. He can do almost anything else; he can go and +watch the crew row or the ball nine play; he can study or read; he can, +and in fact should, do everything possible to disassociate himself from +football and violent exercise for a time, and, unless the trouble has +gone too far, it will only be a couple of weeks before he will find +himself coming out of it all right, and among the first signs will be +good, refreshing sleep.</p> + +<p>To pass now to the fourth of our agents for health, Cleanliness. It is +fortunately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> seldom necessary to argue the advantages of the "tub" or +"sponge bath" to our football players, because they are usually +accustomed to it. A daily splashing has been their ordinary habit. It is +well to mention also that a fortnightly warm bath may be indulged in to +advantage. But with the present understanding of all these advantages, +the wisest remarks that can be made are cautions as to indiscretions in +the use of baths. In the first place, one bath a day is enough, and any +other should be a mere sponging and rubbing. Men who indulge in a tub in +the morning and then spend another fifteen minutes in a plunge after +practice in the afternoon get too much of it. Again, the habit of +spending a long time under the shower every day is a mistake. It feels +so refreshing after a hard practice that a man is tempted to stay<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> too +long, and it does him no good. The best and safest plan is to take a +light, quick sponge bath in the morning immediately upon rising, and +then, after practice in the afternoon, to take just a moment under the +shower, and follow it by a good rubbing. This, with the fortnightly warm +bath, will be all that a man may do to advantage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> +<h2>A CHAPTER FOR SPECTATORS</h2> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>To those who have never played the game of football, but who chance to +open the covers of this book, a short explanation of the divisions and +duties of the players will not be out of place. For these this chapter +is added.</p> + +<p>The game is played by two teams, of eleven men each, upon a field 330 +feet long and 160 feet wide, at either end of which are goal-posts with +a cross-bar.</p> + +<p>The ball, which is like a large leather egg, is placed in the centre of +this field, and each team endeavors to drive it in the direction of the +opponents' goal-line, where any scoring must be done. Goals and +touch-downs are the only points which count, and these can be made only +as follows:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>A goal can be obtained by kicking the ball in any way except a punt (a +certain kind of kick where the ball is dropped by a player and kicked +before touching the ground) over the cross-bar of the opponents' goal. A +touch-down is obtained by touching the ball to the ground behind the +line of the goal. So, in either case, the ball must cross the end of the +field in some way to make any score. The sole object, then, of all the +struggles which take place in the field is to advance the ball to a +position such that scoring is possible. A firm grasp of this idea +usually simplifies matters very much for the casual spectator.</p> + +<p>The object of the white lines which cross the field at every five yards +is merely to assist the referee in determining how far the ball moves at +a time; for there is a rule which states that a team must advance the +ball five yards in three attempts or retreat with it twenty. If they do +not succeed in doing this, the other side take possession of the ball, +and in their turn try to advance it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i237.jpg" width="400" height="640" alt="R. M. APPLETON. + +Harvard." title="" /> +<span class="caption">R. M. APPLETON.<br /> + +Harvard.</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<p>There are certain rules which govern the methods of making these +advances, any infringement of which constitutes what is called <i>a foul</i>, +and entails a penalty upon the side making it.</p> + +<p>Any player can run with the ball or kick it if, when he receives it, he +is "on side"—that is, between the ball and his own goal-line. He may +not take the ball if he is "off-side"—that is, between the ball and his +opponents' goal-line—until an adversary has touched the ball.</p> + +<p>Whenever a player running with the ball is held, he must cry "down," and +a man of his side then places the ball on the ground and snaps it back. +This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> puts it in play, and is called a scrimmage, and this scrimmage is +the most commonly recurring feature of the game.</p> + +<p>For the purposes of advancing the ball or repelling the attack of the +opponents it has proved advisable for a captain to divide his eleven men +into two general divisions: the forwards and backs. The forwards, of +whom there are seven, are usually called rushers, and they make +practically a straight line across the field when the ball is put in +play on a "down." Next behind them is the quarter-back, who does the +passing of the ball to one or another of the players, while just behind +him are the two half-backs and the back, usually in something of a +triangle in arrangement, with the last named nearest the goal which his +team is defending.</p> + +<p>The following definitions will also aid the spectator in understanding +many of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> the expressions used by the devotees of the sport:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>A <i>drop-kick</i> is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and +kicking it at the very instant it rises.</p> + +<p>A <i>place-kick</i> is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed +on the ground.</p> + +<p>A <i>punt</i> is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and +kicking it before it touches the ground.</p> + +<p><i>Kick-off</i> is a place-kick from the centre of the field of play.</p> + +<p><i>Kick-out</i> is a drop-kick, or place-kick, by a player of the side +which has touched the ball down in their own goal, or into whose +touch-in-goal the ball has gone.</p> + +<p><i>In touch</i> means out of bounds.</p> + +<p>A <i>fair</i> is putting the ball in play, from touch.</p> + +<p>A <i>foul</i> is any violation of a rule.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>A <i>touch-down</i> is made when the ball is carried, kicked, or passed +across the goal-line and there held, either in goal or +touch-in-goal.</p> + +<p>A <i>safety</i> is made when a player, guarding his goal, receives the +ball from a player of his own side, and touches it down behind his +goal-line, or carries the ball across his own goal-line and touches +it down, or puts the ball into his own touch-in-goal.</p> + +<p>A <i>touch-back</i> is made when a player touches the ball to the ground +behind his own goal, the impetus which sent the ball across the +line having been received from an opponent.</p> + +<p>A <i>fair catch</i> is a catch made direct from a kick by one of the +opponents, provided the catcher made a mark with his heel at the +spot where he made the catch.</p> + +<p><i>Interference</i> is using the hands or arms in any way to obstruct or +hold a player who has not the ball.</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 640px;"> +<img src="images/i243.jpg" width="640" height="363" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>The <i>penalty</i> for fouls and violation of rules, except otherwise +provided, is a down for the other side; or, if the side making the foul +has not the ball, five yards to the opponents.</p> + +<p>The following is the value of each point in the scoring:</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>Goal obtained by touch-down,</td><td align='left'>6</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Goal from field kick,</td><td align='left'>5</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Touch-down failing goal,</td><td align='left'>4</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Safety by opponents,</td><td align='left'>2</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>The rules which bear most directly upon the play are:</p> + +<p>The time of a game is an hour and a half, each side playing forty-five +minutes from each goal. There is ten minutes' intermission between the +two halves, and the game is decided by the score of even halves.</p> + +<p>The ball is kicked off at the beginning of each half; and whenever a +goal has been obtained, the side which has lost it shall kick off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>A player may throw or pass the ball in any direction except towards +opponents' goal. If the ball be batted or thrown forward, it shall go +down on the spot to opponents.</p> + +<p>If a player having the ball be tackled and the ball fairly held, the man +so tackling shall cry "held," the one so tackled must cry "down," and +some player of his side put it down for a scrimmage. If, in three +consecutive fairs and downs, unless the ball cross the goal-line, a team +shall not have advanced the ball five or taken it back twenty yards, it +shall go to the opponents on spot of fourth.</p> + +<p>If the ball goes into touch, whether it bounds back or not, a player on +the side which touches it down must bring it to the spot where the line +was crossed, and there either bound the ball in the field of play, or +touch it in with both hands, at right angles to the touch line, and then +run with it, kick it, or throw it back; or throw it out at right<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> angles +to the touch line; or walk out with it at right angles to touch line, +any distance not less than five nor more than fifteen yards, and there +put it down.</p> + +<p>A side which has made a touch-down in their opponents' goal <i>must</i> try +at goal.</p> + + +<h4>THE END.</h4> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<h3>BLAIKIE'S HOW TO GET STRONG.</h3> + +<p>How to Get Strong, and How to Stay So. By <span class="smcap">William Blaikie</span>. Illustrated. +16mo, Cloth, $1 00.</p> + +<p>Mr. Blaikie has treated his theme in a practical common-sense way that +appeals at once to the judgment and the understanding. A complete and +healthful system of exercise is given for boys and girls; instructions +are set down for the development of every individual class of muscles, +and there is sound advice for daily exercise for children, young men and +women, business men and consumptives. There are instructions for home +gymnastics, and an easy routine of practice laid out.—<i>Saturday Evening +Gazette</i>, Boston.</p> + +<p>Every word of it has been tested and confirmed by the author's own +experience. It may be read with interest and profit by all.—<i>Christian +Instructor</i>, Chicago.</p> + +<p>A successful performance, everything in the line of gymnastic exercise +receiving copious illustrations by pen and pencil. The authors aim is +genuinely philanthropic, in the right sense of the word, and his work is +a useful contribution to the cause of physical culture.—<i>Christian +Register</i>, Boston.</p> + +<p>Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.</p> + +<p><i>The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>BLAIKIE'S SOUND BODIES.</h3> + +<p><b>Sound Bodies for our Boys and Girls.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>By <span class="smcap">William Blaikie</span>. With Illustrations. 16mo, Cloth, 40 cents. A +manual of safe and simple exercises for developing the physical +system.</p></div> + +<p>Mr. William Blaikie's new manual cannot fail to receive a warm welcome +from parents and teachers, and should be introduced as a working +text-book into thousands of schools throughout the country.—<i>Boston +Herald.</i></p> + +<p>A book which ought to be placed at the elbow of every +school-teacher.—<i>Springfield Union.</i></p> + +<p>The directions are so simple and sensible that they appeal to the reason +of every parent and teacher.—<i>Philadelphia Press.</i></p> + +<p>The influence of judicious exercise upon mind as well as body cannot be +overestimated, and this will be a safe guide to this end, requiring no +costume nor expensive apparatus.—<i>Presbyterian</i>, Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.</p> + +<p><i>The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>BOOKS FOR ANGLERS.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><b>Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle.</b> Suggestions as to their Manufacture and +Use. By <span class="smcap">Henry P. Wells</span>. Illustrated. Square 8vo, Cloth, $2 50.</p></div> + +<p>The book is one of great value, and will take its place as a standard +authority, and we cannot commend it too highly.—<i>Forest and Stream</i>, +New York.</p> + +<p>An illustrated volume, elegantly presented, that will make all anglers +jealous of possession until upon their shelf or centre-table.—<i>Boston +Commonwealth.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Wells's competence to expound the somewhat intricate principles and +delicate processes of fly-fishing will be plain to any reader who +himself has some practical acquaintance with the art discussed. The +value of the author's instructions and suggestions is signally enhanced +by their minuteness and lucidity.—<i>N. Y. Sun.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><b>The American Salmon-Fisherman.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry P. Wells</span>. Ill'd. Square +8vo, Cloth, $1 00.</p></div> + +<p>The success of Mr. Wells's "Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle" has made his name +familiar to thousands of American anglers. "The American +Salmon-Fisherman," like the former work, is the fruit of the author's +long experience and practical knowledge of this subject. The text is +illustrated throughout.—<i>Boston Traveller.</i></p> + +<p>A practical, interesting guide to the sport of salmon-fishing. The tyro +will read it through profitably; the old hand will not be offended by it +as too elementary. The author is alert and companionable.—<i>Atlantic +Monthly</i>, Boston.</p> + +<p>Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.</p> + +<p><i>Either of the above works will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any +part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price.</i></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>Dr. C. C. ABBOTT'S WORKS.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><b>Upland and Meadow.</b> A Poaetquissings Chronicle. By <span class="smcap">Charles C. +Abbott</span>, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.</p></div> + +<p>Delightful reading for students and lovers of outdoor nature.... Here +the author discourses with the greatest charm of style about wood and +stream, marsh-wrens, the spade-foot toad, summer, winter, +trumpet-creepers and ruby throats, September sunshine, a colony of +grakles, the queer little dwellers in the water, and countless other +things that the ordinary eye passes without notice.... The book may be +heartily commended to every reader of taste, and to every admirer of +graceful and nervous English.—<i>Saturday Evening Gazette</i>, Boston.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><b>Waste-Land Wanderings.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles C. Abbott</span>, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 +50.</p></div> + +<p>There is a freshness about his anecdotes of fishes and birds, and his +descriptions of unfamiliar scenery, that must make the book delightful +to every lover of similar sports. To those who have not the leisure nor +the enterprise for similar expeditions the reading of it will charm many +an idle hour, besides imparting in the most agreeable manner possible a +large fund of interesting information.—<i>St. Louis Republican.</i></p> + +<p>It is a charming book, introducing the reader to the interesting guests +and dwellers in the forests, upon the downs, and by the river-side. All +lovers of nature will find an abundant source of instruction and +pleasure in it.—<i>Zion's Herald</i>, Boston.</p> + +<h4>Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.</h4> + +<p><i>Either of the above works will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any +part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price.</i></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of American Football, by Walter Camp + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN FOOTBALL *** + +***** This file should be named 39743-h.htm or 39743-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/7/4/39743/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net. 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b/39743-h/images/i243.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..83986a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/39743-h/images/i243.jpg diff --git a/39743.txt b/39743.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ac1f50 --- /dev/null +++ b/39743.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3010 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of American Football, by Walter Camp + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: American Football + +Author: Walter Camp + +Release Date: May 20, 2012 [EBook #39743] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AMERICAN FOOTBALL *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HECTOR COWAN. + +Princeton.] + + + + +AMERICAN FOOTBALL + +BY + +WALTER CAMP + +WITH THIRTY-ONE PORTRAITS + +NEW YORK +HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE +1891 + + +Copyright, 1891, by HARPER & BROTHERS. + +_All rights reserved._ + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The progress of the sport of football in this country, and a +corresponding growth of inquiry as to the methods adopted by experienced +teams, have prompted the publication of this book. Should any of the +suggestions herein contained conduce to the further popularity of the +game, the object of the writer will be attained. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + PAGE + +ENGLISH AND AMERICAN RUGBY 1 + +END RUSHER 23 + +THE TACKLE 39 + +THE GUARD 53 + +THE CENTRE, OR SNAP-BACK 67 + +THE QUARTER-BACK 79 + +THE HALF-BACK AND BACK 91 + +SIGNALS 115 + +TRAINING 131 + +A CHAPTER FOR SPECTATORS 165 + + + + +LIST OF PORTRAITS. + +[P. stands for Princeton, Y. for Yale, and H. for Harvard.] + + +HECTOR COWAN, P _Frontispiece._ + +HARRY W. BEECHER, Y _Facing p._ 4 + +HENRY C. LAMAR, P " 8 + +D. S. DEAN, H " 12 + +E. L. RICHARDS, JR., Y " 16 + +W. A. BROOKS, H " 20 + +R. S. CHANNING, P " 28 + +L. K. HULL, Y " 32 + +E. A. POE, P " 36 + +EVERETT J. LAKE, H " 44 + +WYLLYS TERRY, Y " 48 + +B. W. TRAFFORD, H " 56 + +T. L. MCCLUNG, Y " 60 + +V. M. HARDING, H " 64 + +JESSE RIGGS, P " 72 + +W. H. CORBIN, Y " 76 + +ALEXANDER MOFFATT, P " 84 + +RALPH WARREN, P " 88 + +JOHN CORBETT, H " 96 + +W. BULL, Y " 100 + +KNOWLTON L. AMES, P " 104 + +W. C. RHODES, Y " 112 + +P. D. TRAFFORD, H " 120 + +R. HODGE, P " 124 + +H. H. KNAPP, Y " 128 + +A. J. CUMNOCK, H " 136 + +JEREMIAH S. BLACK, P " 140 + +C. O. GILL, Y " 150 + +E. C. PEACE, P " 156 + +W. HEFFELFINGER, Y " 160 + +R. M. APPLETON, H " 168 + + + + +ENGLISH AND AMERICAN RUGBY + +AMERICAN FOOTBALL. + + +Rugby football--for it is from the Rugby Union Rules that our American +Intercollegiate game was derived--dates its present era of popularity +from the formation in England, in 1871, of a union of some score of +clubs. Nearly ten years before this there had been an attempt made to +unite the various diverging football factions under a common set of +laws; but this proved a failure, and the styles of play became farther +and farther apart. Of the Association game one can say but little as +regards its American following. It is quite extensively played in this +country, but more by those who have themselves played it in Great +Britain than by native-born Americans. Its popularity is extending, and +at some day it will very likely become as well understood in this +country as the derived Rugby is to-day. Its essential characteristic is, +that it is played with the feet, in distinction from the Rugby, in which +the ball may be carried in the hands. + +To revert to the Rugby Union. Years before the formation of this +association the game was played by sides almost unlimited in numbers. +One of the favorite school matches was "Sixth form against all the rest +of the school." Twenty on a side, however, became the ruling number; but +this was, after a time, replaced by fifteens, as the days of twenties +proved only shoving matches. With the reduction in numbers came +increased running and an added interest. This change to fifteens was +made in 1877, at the request of Scotland. At once there followed a more +open style of play, and before long short passing became common. In 1882 +the Oxford team instituted the long low pass to the open, and by the use +of it remained undefeated for three seasons. + +[Illustration: HARRY W. BEECHER. + +Yale.] + +After the decrease to fifteen men the number of three-quarter-backs, who +really represent our American half-backs, was increased from one to two, +and two full-backs were played. A little later British captains put +another full-back up into the three-quarter line, playing with only one +full-back. + +The Englishmen also play two men whom they call half-backs, but whose +duties are like those of our quarter-back, for they seize the ball when +it comes out of the scrimmage and pass it to a three-quarter for a run. + +Nine men is the usual number for an English rush line, although a +captain will sometimes take his ninth rusher back as a fourth +three-quarter-back. There is much discussion as to when this should be +done. The captain selects his men much as we do in America, and he is +generally himself a player of some position behind the line, centre +three-quarter being preferred. The opening play in an English Rugby game +is, as a rule, a high kick well followed up. If one will bear in mind +that the half-backs are, like our quarter, the ones to seize the ball +when it emerges from a scrimmage and pass it to the three-quarters, he +will gain some idea of the character of the English method. He should +understand, however, that the English half-back is obliged to look out +sharply for the ball, because it comes out by chance and at random, and +not directly as in our game, where the quarter can usually expect to +receive the ball without trouble from the snap-back. + +The forwards in an English match endeavor, when a scrimmage occurs, by +kicking and pushing to drive the ball in the direction of their +opponents' goal line, and they become extremely expert in the use of +their feet. There are two umpires, whose duty it is to make claims +(which they do by raising their flags), and a referee, who allows or +disallows these claims. The penalty for fouls, which was at first only a +down, is now in many cases a free kick. + +The American game, it must be remembered, came from the Rugby Union in +1875, and not from the Rugby Union of to-day, although the changes in +the English game have been by no manner of means commensurate with +those made on this side the water. Being bound by no traditions, and +having seen no play, the American took the English rules for a +starting-point, and almost immediately proceeded to add and subtract, +according to what seemed his pressing needs. And they were many. A +favored few, whose intercourse with Canadian players had given them some +of the English ideas, were able to explain the knotty points to a small +degree, but not enough to really assist the mass of uninitiated players +to an understanding. Misinterpretations were so numerous as to render +satisfactory rulings almost out of the question and explanatory +legislation imperative. In the autumn of 1876 the first game under Rugby +rules between American colleges was played at New Haven, and before +another was attempted a convention had tried its hand at correcting the +weak points, as they appeared to the minds of the legislators, in the +Rugby Union Rules. + +[Illustration: HENRY C. LAMAR. + +Princeton.] + +The feature of the American game in distinction from the English is, +just as it was within a year from the time of the adoption of the sport, +the _outlet of the scrimmage_. + +In this lies the backbone to which the entire body of American football +is attached. The English half-backs stand outside the scrimmage, and +when the ball pops out it is their duty to seize it and pass it out to a +three-quarter, who runs with it. The American quarter-back stands behind +the scrimmage and gives a signal, immediately after which he knows the +ball will come directly into his hands to be passed for a run or a kick. +What is, therefore, in the English game a matter of considerable chance +is "cut-and-dried" in the American game; and the element of chance +being eliminated, opportunity is given for the display in the latter +game of far more skill in the development of brilliant plays and +carefully planned manoeuvres. + +The Americans started with the English scrimmage, kicked at the ball, +and pushed and scrambled for a season, until it was discovered that a +very clever manifestation of the play was to let the opponents do the +kicking--in fact, to leave an opening at the proper moment through which +the ball would come, and a man a few feet behind this opening could +always get the ball and pass it while the men who kicked it were still +entangled in the scrimmage. After a little of this, no one was anxious +to kick the ball through, and the rushers began to roll the ball +sidewise along between the lines. Then almost immediately it was +discovered that a man could snap the ball backwards with his toe, and +the American outlet was installed. + +At first the play was crude in the extreme, but even in its earliest +stages it proved distinctly more satisfactory to both player and +spectator than the kicking and shoving which marked the English method. + +The same man did not always snap the ball back as he does now, but any +one of the rushers would do it upon occasion. The men did not preserve +their relative positions in the line, and any one of the men behind the +line would act as a quarter-back. Such a condition of affairs could not, +however, last long where intercollegiate rivalry proved such an +incentive to the perfection of play, and the positions of centre-rush or +snap-back and quarter-back became the most distinctive of any upon the +field. The centre-rush at that time was selected more for his agility, +strange to say, than for his weight and strength; but in case he was a +light man he was always flanked by two heavy guards. One season's play +convinced all captains that the centre section of the forward line must +be heavy, and if any light-weights were to be used among the rushers +they should be near the wings. + +Quarter-back has, from the very outset, been a position in which a small +man can be used to great advantage. The half-backs and backs have +usually been men of speed coupled with skill as kickers. + +The number originally adopted for matches in this country was eleven on +a side. From some silly notion that it would increase the skill +displayed, this number was changed to fifteen, although the Englishmen +were moving in the other direction by reducing their numbers from +twenties to fifteens. A year or two of fifteen on a side drove the +American players back to elevens, and there the number has rested. + +[Illustration: D. S. DEAN. + +Harvard.] + +In the early days of the sport, while the players individually were +courageous, the team play was cowardly; that is, the tacticians were so +taken up with a study of defence--how to protect the goal--that the +attack was weak. The direct result of this was to place too few men in +the forward line and too many behind it. If to-day we were to revert to +fifteen on a side, there is little doubt that we should throw eleven of +them up into the rush line, and upon occasion even twelve. We now +realize that the best defence does not consist in planning how to stop a +man after he has obtained a fair start towards the goal, but in throwing +all available force up against him before he can get free of the forward +line. The only way to effectively defeat this aggressive defence is by +means of skilled kicking. It is possible with really good kickers to +throw a team playing in this fashion into disorder by well-placed and +long punting, followed up most sharply; but it requires nerve and an +unfailing accuracy of aim and judgment. + +It is only a few years ago that it required considerable argument to +convince a captain that he could with safety send one of his halves up +into the forward line when his opponents had the ball; but it will take +better kicking than is exhibited in most of the championship matches to +frighten that half-back out of the line now. Even the quarter was wont +upon occasion to drop back among the halves and assist them rather than +the rushers. + +All the tendency for the last two years has been towards diminishing +the number of men held in reserve, as it were, behind the line, and +increasing by this means the crushing force by which the forwards might +check either runner or kicker before his play could be executed. + +Should the English ever adopt an outlet for their scrimmage, making the +play as direct as is ours, their men would gravitate to the forward line +as rapidly as have our players. + +Next to the difference in scrimmage outlet between our game and that of +the British stands a much more recent development, which we call +interference. This is the assistance given to a runner by a companion or +companions who go before him and break a path for him or shoulder off +would-be tacklers. This, to the Englishman, would be the most detestable +kind of off-side play, and not tolerated for an instant upon any field +in the United Kingdom. + +Even into this the Americans did not plunge suddenly, but rather little +by little they stepped in, until it was necessary to do one of two +things--either legalize what was being tacitly consented to, or penalize +it heavily. The result was that it was legalized. With this concession, +though, there went a certain condition which gained a measure of +confidence for the new ruling. + +[Illustration: E. L. RICHARDS. + +Yale.] + +To understand just how this state of affairs above mentioned came about +one should know that, in the attempt to block opponents when the +quarter-back was receiving and passing the ball, the forwards fell into +the habit of extending their arms horizontally from the shoulder, as by +this method each man could cover more space. For a number of years this +went on without detriment to the sport in any way, but after a time +there was more or less complaint of holding in the line, and it was +ruled that a man must not change his position after the ball was +snapped, nor bend his arms about an opponent at such a time. +Unfortunately the referee (for at this stage of the game there was no +umpire) could not watch the ball and the players with sufficient care to +enforce this ruling, and the temper of the players suffered accordingly. +It is always the case when a rule is not enforced unflinchingly, no +matter from what cause, that both sides suffer, and the tendency always +is towards devising additional infringements. The additional +infringement in this instance was even worse than could have been +foreseen; for, not content with simply blocking or even holding an +opponent until the quarter should have passed the ball in safety, the +players in the forward line saw an opportunity for going a step +farther, and actually began the practice of seizing an opponent long +after the ball had been played, and dragging him out of the way of the +running half-back. In the thick of the rush line this was frequently +possible without risk of discovery by the referee; and, emboldened by +successes of this kind, men would reach out even in the open, and drag +back a struggling tackler just as he was about to lay his hands upon the +runner. It was this state of affairs which brought up the question, "How +much should a comrade be allowed to aid the runner?" + +American football legislators answered this question satisfactorily, +after long discussion, by determining that the runner might be assisted +to any extent, provided the assistant did not use his hands or arms in +performing this office. The first result of this was to lower the arms +of the rushers when lined up, and, in spite of some forebodings, this +proved really a benefit to the game. The second result has been to +perfect a system of flanking a runner by companions who form almost an +impassable barrier at times to the would-be tacklers. + +At the same time with mention of the solution of this problem, one +should also call attention to a menace which threatened American +football far more seriously than did this; and that, too, at a time when +the sport was by no means so strong in years or popularity as when this +later difficulty arose. I refer to the "block game." This method of +play, which consisted in a succession of "downs" without advance and +without allowing the opponents any chance of securing possession of the +ball, proved a means by which a weak team could avoid defeat. The whole +object of the match was thus frustrated, the game resulting in no +score. + +To meet this difficulty a rule was introduced making it incumbent upon a +side to advance the ball five yards or retreat with it ten in three +"downs." If this advance or retreat were not accomplished, the ball went +at once into the possession of the opponents. Never did a rule in any +sport work so immediate and satisfactory a reform as did this five-yard +rule. + +[Illustration: W. A. BROOKS. + +Harvard.] + +Within the last few years there has been no important change in the +conduct of the American game, nor in the rules. Outside of the above +mentioned points of difference between it and the English game, there is +only that of the methods of enforcing rules and determining differences. +The English have a referee and two umpires, although the umpires are +sometimes replaced by touch-judges. The umpires act, as did the judges +in our game of ten years ago, as advocates for their respective sides, +and it is this advocacy which is causing them to fall into disfavor +there exactly as they did here. Touch-judges merely watch the lines of +the field, and decide when and where the ball goes into touch. In cases +where they are employed, the referee renders all decisions upon claim of +the captains. In our method there is a division of labor, but along +different lines. Our two officials, the umpire and referee, have their +separate provinces, the former ruling upon the conduct of players as to +off-side and other offences, while the latter determines questions of +fact as to when the ball is held or goes into touch, also whether a goal +is kicked or not. As the rule has it, the umpire is judge for the +players, and the referee for the ball. + + + + +END RUSHER + + +The end rusher must get into condition early. Unless he does, he cannot +handle the work that must fall to his share, and the effect of a poor +performance by the end is to produce disorder at once in the proportion +of work as well as the quality of the work of the tackles and +half-backs. This is not well understood by captains and coaches, but it +is easy to see if one follows the play. A tired end rusher, even one who +has experience and a good idea of his place, will lope down the field +under a kick, and by his lack of speed will allow a return; and, against +a running game, while he will, it is true, force his man in, he will do +it so slowly that the runner is enabled to pass the tackle. The first +will surely result in his own halves shortening their kicks, and the +second in drawing his own tackle too widely from the guard. Both these +results seriously affect the value of the practice for halves and +tackles; consequently, the end must be put in condition early. The finer +points of his position can be worked up gradually, but his endurance +must be good at the outset, in order that the others may become +accustomed to rely upon him for regular work. But it sometimes happens +that the captain or coach has no chance to make sure of this. His +candidates may be raw, and only appear upon the first day of fall +practice. In that case there is a method which he can adopt to +advantage, and which answers the purpose. It is to play his candidates +for that position one after the other in rotation, insisting upon hard +playing even if it be for only five minutes at a time. In this way not +only will the tackle receive the proper support, but the ends themselves +will improve far more rapidly than under the usual method. Every player +upon a team has to labor under two distinctly different sets of +circumstances: one set arising from the possession of the ball by his +opponents, and the other from the possession of the ball by his own +side. Many an error in instruction or coaching arises from terming the +tactics adopted under these two conditions defensive and offensive. It +is no uncommon thing to see an end rusher, who has been told that such +and such is his defensive play, so affected by the word _defensive_, as +applied to his action, as to fail entirely to perform any aggressive +work when his opponents have the ball. And a similarly undesirable state +of affairs is brought about by the term _offensive_ when his own side +have the ball. In this latter case, he seems inspired to become +aggressive in his conduct towards his opponent from the moment the men +are lined up, and this very often leads him to make any interference of +his so premature as to render it useless towards favoring his runner. +One of the first things, therefore, for a coach to tell an end rusher is +that the terms offensive and defensive, as applied to team work, have +nothing to do with the aggressiveness of any individual. Then, as a +matter of still better policy, let him avoid using these terms in +individual coaching. + +[Illustration: R. S. CHANNING. + +Princeton.] + +When the opponents have the ball, the end rusher must, in the case of a +kick, do his utmost to prevent his _vis-a-vis_ from getting down the +field early under the ball. That is the cardinal point, and it is not +necessary for him to do much thinking regarding anything else when he is +facing a kicking game. When his opponents are about to make a run, the +situation is much more involved. He must then consider himself as the +sole guardian of that space of ground extending from his tackle to the +edge of the field, and he must begin at the touch line and work in. That +is, he must remember that, while on one side of him there is the tackle, +who will do his utmost to help him out, there is on the other side--that +is, towards touch--no one to assist him, and a run around the end means +a free run for many yards. "Force the man in" is always a good motto for +an end, and one he will do well to follow conscientiously. To force the +man in does not mean, however, to stand with one foot on the touch line, +and then reach in as far as possible and watch the man go by, as nine +out of every ten ends have been doing for two years. It means, go at the +runner with the determination of getting him any way, but taking him +always from the outside. An end cannot tackle as occasionally does a +half-back or back, slowly and even waiting for his man, then meeting him +low and strong. An end always has to face interference, and good +interference will bowl over a waiting end with ease. An end must go up +as far and fast as he dares to meet the runner, and when his moment +comes--which must be a selected moment--he must shoot in at his man, +reaching him, if possible, with his shoulder, and at the same time +extending his arms as far around him as possible. Many times this +reaching enables an end to grasp his man even though a clever interferer +break the force of his tackle. And when his fingers touch the runner, +he must grip with the tenacity of the bull-dog, and never let go. + +It seems almost unnecessary to say that a high tackler has no chance +whatever as an end rusher. He may play guard or centre, but before a man +ever essays the end he must have passed through all the rudimentary +schooling in tackling, and be such an adept that to pass him without the +assistance of the most clever interference is an impossibility. + +An end should be a good follower; that is, if the runner make in towards +the tackle, the end should run him down from behind when interference +cuts off the tackle. This is one of the best points for cultivation, +because it effectually prevents any dodging by the runner. If he fail to +take his opening cleanly, a following end is sure of him. This is not a +safe point, however, to teach until the player has fairly mastered the +ordinary end-work; for the tendency is to leave his own position too +soon, giving the runner an opportunity to turn out behind him, and thus +elude the tackle without difficulty. + +[Illustration: L. K. HULL. + +Yale]. + +A few years ago there was quite a fashion for the man putting the ball +in from touch to run with it along the edge of the field. For some +unknown reason this play seems to have been abandoned, but it is likely +at any time to be revived, and the end rusher should therefore be posted +upon the _modus operandi_ of it, as well as the best method of +preventing its success. The most popular execution of this manoeuvre +was the simplest; that is, the man merely touched the ball to the ground +and plunged ahead as far as he could until brought to earth or thrown +out into touch. This was accompanied by more or less helpful +interferences upon the part of his own end and tackle. There were more +intricate methods, however; and surely, with the amount of interference +allowed in these days, it is odd that the side line has not been more +fancied by those who have generalled the great games. There was one team +a few years ago whose captain used to deliberately place the ball just +inside the line on the ground, as though only thoughtlessly leaving it +there, and then spring in, crowding the end rusher three or four feet +from the touch line, while a running half, who was well started, came +tearing up the field, seized the ball, and usually made a long run +before he was stopped by the astonished halves. Many also were the +combination passes in which the ball was handed to the end rusher, who, +turning suddenly with his back to the foes, would pass to his quarter +or running half. Of these close double passes at the edge of the field +the most effective were those wherein the runner darted by just inside +the touch line, and the weakest the ones wherein the attempt was made to +advance out into the field. For this reason there ought to be no +particular necessity for coaching any but the end rusher and the tackle +upon means to prevent advances of this nature. To the players in the +centre of the line there is no apparent difference whether the ball be +played from touch in any of these ways above mentioned, or through the +more customary channel of the quarter-back. To the end and tackle, +however, the difference is marked, because the runner comes so much +sooner and the play is so greatly condensed and focussed, as it were, +directly upon them. + +The instructions to the end are to handle the ball as much as possible +while the opponent is endeavoring to get it in, and thus make the work +of that individual as difficult as possible; and, secondly, to plant one +foot close to the touch line and the other as far out into the field as +is consistent with stability, and to maintain that position until the +play is over. He must neither try to go forward nor around, but, braced +well forward, hold his ground. If he does this, no runner can pass +within three feet of the touch line, and outside of that the tackle can +take care of him. This player, like the end, should, when the ball is +played from a fair, be very loath to plunge forward until the play is +located, because in the present stage of development of the game one can +be quite sure that the opponents will not play the ball from touch +unless they have some definite and usually deceptive line of action. +Without such it is by far the better policy to walk out the fifteen +paces and have it down. The quarter-back also has work to do upon +side-line plays, in assisting at the edge as much as possible. But to +return to the end. When his own side have possession of the ball, his +play, like that of any other man, must be governed by the character of +the intended move, and the knowledge of what this move will be is +conveyed to him by the signal. The nearer the play is to his end, the +greater is the assistance he can render. There is little need of +coaching him to do his work when the run is along his line, nor, in +fact, when it is upon his side of the centre. The knowledge of the +proximity of the runner stirs him up sufficiently, if he have any +football blood in him. The point towards which coaching should be +directed and where it is needed is in starting instantly to render +assistance when the play is upon the other side of the line. There is no +limit to the amount of work an end may perform in this direction. A good +end can toss his man back so that he cannot interfere with the play, and +then cross over so quickly as to perform effective interference even +upon end runs. In "bucking the centre" he can come from behind with +valuable weight and pressure. A coach should remember, though, that it +will not do to start an end into doing too much unless he is able to +stand the work, for an end had better do the work well upon his own side +than be only half way useful upon both ends. A tired-out end makes the +opponents doubly strong. + +[Illustration: E. A. POE. + +Princeton.] + + + + +THE TACKLE + + +Those teams upon which the work of end and tackle has been best +developed have, for the last few years, been markedly superior in the +opposition offered to plays of their opponents. This fact in itself is +an excellent guide to the style of play one ought to expect from these +two positions. The four men occupying them are the ones to meet nine +tenths of the aggressive work of the opponents. The position of end has +already been dwelt upon at length. That of tackle, a position much later +to reach the full stage of development than the end, has nevertheless +now attained almost an equal prominence. The tackle is an assistant to +both end and guard, while he has also duties of his own demanding +constant attention. + +When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the tackle is +one of the most active components of the line. He may not be moving +until the ball is snapped, but upon the instant that it is played he is +at work. He may himself go through to prevent the pass or kick, or still +oftener he may make a chance for a line half-back to do this. By a line +half-back is meant that one who, upon his opponents' plays, comes up +into the line and performs the duties of a rusher. This method has +become so common of late that it is well understood. The play of this +line half-back must dovetail into the work of the tackle so well as to +make their system one of thoroughly mutual understanding. For this +reason they should do plenty of talking and planning together off the +field, and carry their plans into execution in daily practice until they +become in company a veritable terror to opponents, particularly to +kicking halves. + +One of the very simple, yet clever and successful, combinations worked +in this way has been for the line half to take his position outside the +tackle, who immediately begins to edge out towards the end. This opens a +gap between the opposing tackle and guard, for the tackle will naturally +follow his man. This line half simply watches the centre, and as he sees +the ball played goes sharply behind the tackle and through the opening. +This play can be greatly aided by cleverness on the part of the tackle, +who, to perform it to perfection, should edge out most cautiously, and +with an evident intention of going to the outside of his man. He should +also watch the centre play, and, most important of all, jump directly +forward into his man when the ball is snapped. This will enable the half +to take almost a direct line for the half, and with his flying start +have more than a fair chance of spoiling the kick. The tackle must not +be idle after his plunge, but should follow in sharply, because there +will always be an opposing half protecting the kicker; and if the line +half be checked by this man, as is not unlikely, the following tackle +has an excellent opportunity by getting in rapidly. The tackle and half +should alternate in their arrangement, neither one always going through +first, and thus add to the anxiety and discomfort of the opponents. + +[Illustration: EVERETT J. LAKE. + +Harvard.] + +When the opponents are about to run instead of kick, the same +combination of line half and tackle can be put in operation, except that +it will not do for these two to follow each other through with such +freedom, as there is too much danger of both being shunted off by a +clever turn coupled with well-timed interference. The cardinal point to +be remembered is, to be far enough apart so that a single dodge and one +interference cannot possibly throw off both men. + +The tackle's duties towards the end have been partially described in +dwelling upon the work of the latter, but there is plenty of detail to +be studied. One of the first things to impress upon the tackle is, that +he must watch the ball, not only upon the pass from the quarter, but +also after it settles in the runner's arms, for the most successful +double or combination passes are those which draw the tackle in towards +the centre and give the second recipient of the ball only the end to +pass. It has been too common a mistake of coaches to caution a tackle +who has been deceived by this double pass against "going so hard." This +is wrong. It soon results in making a slow man of the player, for he +hangs back to see if the runner be not about to pass the ball, until he +is too late to try for the man before he reaches the rush line; and, +with the present system of interference and crowding a runner after he +reaches the rush line, there is no chance to stop him short of three, +and it may very likely be five, yards. The proper coaching is to send +him through on the jump, with his eyes open for tricks. Let him take a +step or two towards the runner, so that, if no second pass be made, the +tackle will be sure to meet him before he reaches the rush line, and not +after it. This method of coaching makes not only sharp tackles, but +quick and clever ones, with plenty of independence, which will be found +a most excellent quality. + +As regards the relations between the tackle and guard, they are best +defined by saying that the guard expects to receive the assistance of +the tackle in all cases requiring agility, while in cases requiring +weight the guard is equally ready to lend assistance to the tackle. + +[Illustration: WYLLYS TERRY. + +Yale.] + +When his own side has the ball, the tackle has far more than the end to +do. In fact, the tackle has the most responsible work of any man along +the line, having more openings to make, and at the same time the +blocking he has to perform is more difficult. The earlier description of +the work of a line half and the tackle in getting through is sufficient +to indicate the difficulties which the opposing tackle must face in +preventing this breaking through. While blocking may not be the most +important duty, it is certainly the one which will bear the most +cultivation in the tackles of the present day, for the ones who are +really adept in it are marked exceptions to the general run. It is no +exaggeration to say that more than two thirds of the breaking through +that does real damage comes between the end and guard, and therefore in +the space supposed to be under the care of the tackle. By successful +blocking is meant, not unfair holding, which sooner or later will result +in disaster, nor backing upon a runner or kicker as the charger +advances, which is almost as bad as no blocking, but that clever and +properly timed body-checking of the opponent which delays him just long +enough to render his effort to reach his man futile every time. This +kind of blocking looks so easy, and is so difficult, that it is found +only in a man who is willing to make a study of it. Coaching can but +give any one wishing to acquire this a few points; the real +accomplishment depends upon the man's unflagging perseverance and study. +The first thing to be noted is, that a really good forward cannot +possibly be blocked every time in the same way. He soon becomes used to +the method, and is able to avoid the attempt. Dashing violently against +him just as he is starting may work once or twice, and then he will make +a false start to draw this charge, and easily go by the man. Standing +motionless, and then turning with a sharp swing back against him, will +disconcert his charge once in a while. Shouldering him in the side as he +passes will throw him off his balance or against some other man, if well +performed, occasionally. Falling down before him by a plunge will upset +him even when he has quite a clear space apparently, but it will not +work if played too often. By a preconcerted plan he may be coaxed +through upon a pretended snap, and then the ball played while he is +guarded and five yards gained by his off-side play, but he will not be +taken in again by the same method. These are but a few of the strategies +which engage the study of the tackle. How soon to let the man through is +also an important question. When the ball is to be punted, the tackle +upon the kicker's side must block long and hard, while the tackle upon +the other end should block sharply, and then let his man through for the +sake of getting down the field under the kick. When a drop is to be +attempted, the blocking upon both sides must be close and long, much +longer than for a punt. Moreover, it is by no means a bad policy to have +the blocking last until the ball is actually seen in the air in front +of the line, because then, if the kick be stopped, the tackles can go +back to assist the backs in recovering the ball. The blocking for a +kick, as a rule, should be close; that is, every opponent must be +matched from the centre out, leaving the free man or men on the ends. +This rule has its exceptions, but when there is any doubt about the play +it is safest to block close, and take the chances from the ends rather +than through breaks in the line. + +In blocking for a run the case is very different, and depends upon the +point of assault. If the run is to be made around the right end, for +instance, by the left half-back, the right tackle must block very slowly +and long. That is, he must not dash up to his man the instant the ball +is snapped and butt him aside, for the runner will not be near enough +to derive any advantage from this, and the opponent will easily recover +in time to tackle him. Rather should he avoid contact with his man until +his runner makes headway, and then keep between the opponent and runner +until the latter puts on steam to circle, when it is his duty to engage +his man sharply, and thus let the runner pass. In blocking for an inside +run upon his own side, he should turn his man out or in, as the case may +be, just as the runner reaches the opening, being particularly careful +not to make the break too early, lest the opponent reach the runner +before he comes to the opening. + + + + +THE GUARD + + +The position of guard, while it requires less agility than that of +tackle, can never be satisfactorily filled by a man who is slow. Many a +coach makes this mistake and fails to see his error until too late to +correct it. I remember once seeing upon a minor team a guard who weighed +at least 190 pounds replaced by a man of 155, and the latter actually +filled the position--greatly to my astonishment, I confess--in excellent +fashion. This does not at all go to prove that weight is of no value in +a guard. On the contrary, it is a quality especially to be desired, and +if one can find a heavy man who is not slow he is the choice by all +means. But weight must be given work to do, and that work demands +practice, and slowness of execution cannot be tolerated. At the outset +the coach must impress this fact upon the guards, and insist upon their +doing their work quickly. It is really wonderful how much better the +effect of that work will prove to be when performed with a snap and dash +that are not difficult to acquire. + +[Illustration: B. W. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard.] + +When the opponents have the ball and are about to kick, the guard should +have in his mind one persistent thought, and that is, to reach the +quarter before the ball is away from his hand, but not to stop there. It +is only once in a great while that fortune favors sufficiently to crown +this attempt with success. When it does, so much the better; but the +guard should take in the quarter only in a general sweep, making on for +the kicker, and at the same time getting his arms up in the air when he +comes before him, so as to take every possible chance of stopping the +ball. Just here it may be well to explain the confidence with which in +these details of coaching the phrases are used "when the opponents are +about to kick" and "when the opponents are about to run." It is true +that one cannot tell infallibly every time whether the play will be a +kick or a run, but experienced players are really so seldom at fault in +their judgment upon this point that it is safe to coach as though there +never existed any doubt about the matter. + +[Illustration: T. L. McCLUNG. + +Yale.] + +To continue with the work of the guard when the opponents are about to +attempt a run. One of the most important features of the play in this +position is to guard against small wedges. If a guard simply stands +still and straight he will be swept over like a wisp of straw by any +well-executed wedge play directed at him. An experienced man knows this, +and his chief thought is how to avoid it, and how, first, to prevent the +formation; second, to alter the direction, and, finally, to stop the +progress, of this terror of centre work, the small wedge. There are as +many ways of accomplishing these results as of performing the duties of +tackle or end, and it rests with the individual player to study them +out. To prevent the formation of small wedges, the most successful +method is that of sudden and, if possible, disconcerting movements. +Jostling, so far as it is allowed, sudden change of position, a +pretended charge--all these tend to break up the close formation. Once +formed and started, the change of direction is usually the most +disarranging play possible; but this should not be attempted by the +player or players opposite the point of the wedge. At that spot the +proper play is to check advance, even temporarily; for the advance once +checked, the wedge may be swung from the side so as to take off the +pressure from behind. So it is the men at the side who must endeavor to +turn the wedge and take off this pressure. Without the actual formation +upon the field it is difficult to fully explain this turning of the +wedge; but if the principle of the defence be borne in mind, it will not +be found so hard to understand. Check the peak even for a moment, and +get the weight off from behind as speedily as possible. The men who are +pushing must necessarily act blindly; and if their force is not directly +upon the men at the point of the V, they pass by the man with the ball +and so become useless. Both guards must keep their weight down low, +close to the ground, so that the wedge, if directed at either, cannot +throw that one at once off his balance backward. If this occurs, the +wedge will always make its distance, perhaps go many yards. Lying down +before the wedge is a practice based upon this principle of keeping +close to the ground, and is by no means an ineffectual way of stopping +an advance, although it is not as strong a play as bringing about the +same result without actually losing the power to straighten up if the +wedge turns. Moreover, the men in the front of a wedge are becoming so +accustomed to meeting this flat defence that they not infrequently +succeed in getting over the prostrate man and regaining headway upon the +other side. This, as one can readily see, must always yield a very +considerable gain. When a run is attempted at some other point in the +line, it is the duty of the guards to get through hard and follow the +runner into his opening, even if they cannot reach him before he comes +into the line. In this class of play a guard should remember that if he +can lay a hand upon the runner before he reaches the line he can spoil +the advance to a certainty, for no runner can drag a heavy guard up into +and through an opening. It is like dragging a heavy and unwieldy anchor. +A guard can afford to, and must sometimes, tackle high. Not that he +should, in the open, ever go at the shoulders, but in close quarters he +often has no time to get down low, and must make the best of taking his +man anywhere that the opportunity offers. He must always, however, throw +him towards the opponent's goal. Another point for guards to bear in +mind is, that in close quarters it is often possible to deprive the +runner of the ball before he says "down." A guard who always tries this +will be surprised at the number of times he will find the referee giving +him the ball. He will also be astonished at the way this attempt results +in the runner saying "down" as soon as he finds some one tugging at the +ball. A man gives up all thought of further advance the instant he finds +the ball slipping at all in his grasp; and when his attention is +distracted from the idea of running, as it is when he is fearful of +losing the ball, he can never make use of his opportunities to good +advantage. For this reason the coach should impress upon all the +forwards the necessity of always trying to take away the ball; but the +men in and near the centre are likely to have the best opportunity for +this play, because it is there that the runner encounters a number of +men at once rather than a single individual. + +When his own side have the ball the guard must block sharply until the +quarter has time for receiving the ball, and, at any rate, beginning the +motion of the pass. It is safer, in the case of inexperienced guards, to +tell them to block until the quarter has time to get rid of the ball. +The distinction is this: that an experienced guard sometimes likes to +gain just that second of time between the beginning of the pass and the +completion of the swing, and utilize it in getting down the field or +making an opening. So accustomed does he become to measuring the time +correctly that he will let the opponent through just too late to reach +the quarter, although it seems a very close call. It is not safe to let +green guards attempt anything so close. They must be taught to block +securely until the ball is on its way to the runner or kicker. The +blocking of a guard is much less exacting in its requirements than that +of the tackle. Not that he must not block with equal certainty, but the +act requires no such covering of two men as often happens in the case of +a tackle. The guard forms closely towards the centre, and then follows +his man out if he moves out, but only as far as he can go, and still be +absolutely certain that the opponent cannot pass between him and the +snap-back. To be drawn or coaxed out far enough to admit of an +opponent's going through the centre shows woful ignorance in any guard. + +[Illustration: V. M. HARDING. + +Harvard.] + +When a kick is to be made the blocking must be prolonged a little, and +on a drop-kick (as mentioned earlier) it should last until the ball goes +from the foot. When blocking for a run, of course much depends upon +where the opening is to be made, and a guard must be governed +accordingly. The method itself is, again, different in the guard from +that exhibited in the tackle. A guard may not move about so freely and +must face his man more squarely than a tackle, for the guard must +protect the quarter first, while the tackle considers the half only. If +a guard allows his opponent to get a fair lunge with outstretched arm +over or past his shoulder, he may reach the quarter's arm even though +his body is checked, while such a reach at the point in the line +occupied by the tackle would be of no value whatever. Previous to the +snap-back's playing the ball it is the duty of the guards to see that +their individual opponents do not succeed in either kicking the ball out +from the snap-back's hand or otherwise interfering with his play. This +is quite an important feature, and a centre should always feel that he +has upon either hand a steady and wide-awake assistant, who will neither +be caught napping nor allow any unfair advantage to be taken of him. The +guard should bear in mind one fact, however, and that most clearly. It +is that squabbling and general pushing about are far more liable to +disconcert his own centre and quarter than to interfere with the work of +the opponents. + + + + +THE CENTRE, OR SNAP-BACK + + +The man who may be selected to fill the important position of +centre-rush must be a man of sense and strength. Brain and brawn are +here at their highest premium. But there is another element of character +without which both will be overthrown, and that is patience. Practical +experience has taught football coaches that none but a thoroughly +self-controlled man can make a success in football in any position, +while in this particular one his disposition should be of the most +equable nature. He will be called upon to face all kinds of petty +annoyances, for his opponents will endeavor to make his play as +difficult as possible; and never must he allow himself for one instant +to lose sight of the fact that his entire attention must be devoted to +his play, and none of it distracted by personal feeling. Moreover, while +he must be able to play the ball quickly when called upon, he can never +afford to be hurried by his opponents. With the present excellent +rulings of umpires regarding interference with the ball before it is +snapped, much of the most harassing kicking of the ball from under his +hand has been stopped; but, for all that, he is indeed a lucky centre +who does not feel the ball knocked out from under his grasp several +times during a game. In addition to this, every man who breaks through +gives him a rub. Sometimes these knocks are intentional, often they are +given purely by accident, and the latter are by no means the lightest. +Then, too, a man is pushed into the snap-back just as the ball goes. It +may be his own guard, but the blow hurts just as much; and a centre who +is not amiable under such treatment soon loses his head and forgets that +he should care for nothing except to accomplish gains for his own side. +The object of placing so much stress upon this qualification is to +impress upon a coach the almost inestimable value of the quality of +patience in any men he may be trying for this position. He can never say +too much about it. + +As regards the duties of the place, they differ from those of any other +position in the line on account of the constant presence at that spot of +the ball. The centre is either playing the ball himself or watching his +antagonist play the ball at every down; so that while he has all the +other duties of a forward to execute, he has the special work besides. +Here is the weakness of so many centres. They are snap-backs only or +forwards only, the former being by all odds the more common. A good +critical coach of experience will see nine out of every ten men whom he +may watch in this position playing through day after day with no more +idea of doing any forward work than if they were referees. Putting the +ball in play at the right time, and properly, is a great achievement, +but it does not free the centre-rush from all other obligations. He must +protect his quarter; he must aid in making openings, and perform any +interference that may be possible, as well as always assisting a runner +of his own side with weight or protection. He must always get down the +field under a kick, for it is by no means unusual for him to have the +best opportunity in these days when end rushers are so carefully +watched. When the opponents have the ball, he must not be content with +seeing that the opponent does not roll it to a guard, but must also see +that there is no short, tricky passing in the scrimmage. Then he must be +as ready as either guard to meet, stop, or turn a wedge. He must make +openings for his comrades to get through, even when he himself may be +blocked, and always be ready to reach out or throw himself before a +coming runner to check the advance. + +[Illustration: JESSE RIGGS. + +Princeton.] + +The details of the special work of the centre are many, and thorough +knowledge of them can only come from experience. During his early +progress a new snap-back usually sends the ball against his own legs, +or, if he manages to keep them out of the way, is upset by his opponent +for his pains. It is no child's play to hold a ball out at arm's-length +on the ground in front of one and roll it back so that it passes between +one's feet, and still preserve a good balance in spite of a sudden push +of a hundred-and-eighty-pound opponent. But that is just what a centre +has to do every time the ball is down and belongs to his side. The first +thing to teach a centre is to stand on his feet against any amount of +jostling. Then he must learn to keep possession of the ball until ready +to play it. Both of these acquirements take practice. The most finished +and experienced centres have a way of playing the ball just as they are +half straightening as though to meet a charge from in front. This +insures their not being pushed over on to the quarter, and yet does not +cause them to lean so far forward as to be pitched on their noses by a +little assistance from the opposing centre. When a man stands so as to +prevent a push in the chest from upsetting him, he naturally puts one +foot back some distance as a support. When a centre does this he is apt +to put that foot and leg in the path of the ball. A second objection to +this way of standing is, that the centre does not offer nearly as much +opposition to any one attempting to pass as he does when he stands more +squarely faced about with a good spread of the legs. As to holding the +ball, some centres prefer to take it by the end, while others roll it on +its side. It can be made to rise for the quarter if sent on end, whereas +if played upon its side it lies closer to the ground. The quarter's +preference has, therefore, something to do with it. It requires longer +practice and more skill to play the ball on its end, but it permits an +umpire to see more clearly whether the ball be actually put in play by +the snap-back or played for him by the surreptitious kick of the +opponent. It has also the advantage of sending the ball more narrowly +upon a line, so that its course is less likely to be altered than when +rolled upon its side. While the snap-back is seldom held to the very +strictest conformity to the rule about being on side when he puts the +ball in play, it is necessary for him to practise with a view to this +particular, because he is liable to be obliged to conform every time if +the opponents insist. The reason for carelessness in this respect is, +there is no penalty for infringement except being obliged to return to +the spot and put the ball in play properly. A certain laxity, therefore, +is granted rather than to cause delays. But, as stated above, a centre +must be able to put the ball in play when fairly on side, and must live +up to this with some moderate degree of regularity, or else the umpire +will call an off-side and bring him back. A centre ought to practise +putting the ball in play with either hand until he is fairly proficient +with his left as well as his right. Not that he should use his hands +alternately in a game, but that an injury to his right hand need not +necessarily throw him out of the game. It is by no means an unrecognized +fact that the greater amount of experience possessed by the regular +centre is so valuable as to make it policy to keep him in his place so +long as his legs are good, even though a hand be injured, rather than to +replace him by the substitute with whose methods the quarter-back is not +so familiar. + +[Illustration: W. H. CORBIN. + +Yale.] + +A coach should see to it that his centre has a variety of men to face, +some big, some tricky, some ugly. If any old players come back to help +the team in the way of coaching, and among them are some centre rushers, +they can do no better work than by donning a uniform and playing against +the "'Varsity" centre. + + + + +THE QUARTER-BACK + + +The quarter is, under the captain, the director of the game. With the +exception of one or two uncommon and rare plays, there is not one of any +kind, his side having the ball, in which it does not pass through his +hands. The importance of his work it is therefore impossible to +overrate. He must be, above all the qualifications of brains and agility +usually attributed to that position, of a hopeful or sanguine +disposition. He must have confidence in his centre himself, and, most of +all, in the man to whom he passes the ball. He should always believe +that the play will be a success. The coach can choose no more helpful +course during the first few days, as far as the quarter is concerned, +than that of persuading him to repose confidence in his men. Many +promising half-backs are ruined by the quarter. There is nothing that +makes halves fumble so badly, get into such awkward positions, start so +slowly, and withal play so half-heartedly, as the feeling that the +quarter does not think much of them, does not trust them, or believe in +their abilities. Every half-back can tell the same story--how he is +nerved up by the confidence of the quarter, and what an inspiration it +is to good work to see that confident look in the eye of the man who is +about to pass to him. But not alone in the work of the half does it make +a great difference, but in that of the quarter himself. When he lacks +confidence in his man, his passing is unsteady and erratic as well as +slow. He allows the opponents a far better chance of reaching the man +before he can get started, both by irregular and slow passing, and also +by a nervous looking at him before the ball is played. + +In practice, great stress should be laid on quick handling and sharp +passing of the ball. A quarter can slow up in a game if advisable, but +he can never do any faster work than that which he does in practice +without throwing his men completely out. In order to make the play +rapid, a quarter must be figuratively tied to the centre's coat, or +rather jacket, tails. As soon as the centre reaches the ball after a +down, he should know that the quarter is with him. Usually there is an +understood signal between them, which not only shows the centre that the +quarter is on hand, but also when he is ready to receive the ball. One +of the most common of these signals has been placing the hand upon the +centre's leg or back. A pinch would let him know when to snap the ball. +In spite of this method's having been used by opponents to fool a +centre, it has been, and still is, the most common. One of the best +variations of it has been for the quarter to put his hand upon the +centre and keep it there until he is ready for the ball, then take it +off and let the centre snap the ball, not instantly, but at his +convenience. Should anything occur making it advisable, for some reason, +to stop the play, the quarter puts his hand upon the centre again at +once, and until it is once more removed the snap-back understands that +the quarter is not ready to have the ball come. Almost any amount of +variation can be made in the signal of the quarter to his centre; but in +arranging this it should be constantly borne in mind that the signal +should not be such as to give the opponents the exact instant of the +play, because it gives them too close an idea of the moment when they +may start. + +[Illustration: ALEXANDER MOFFATT. + +Princeton.] + +The speed of a quarter's work depends upon his ability to take the ball +close to the snap-back and in proper position for a pass. In merely +handing the ball to a runner, one might suppose that there would be no +particular position in which the ball should be held; but in that he +would be in error, for a ball so handed to a passing runner as not to +settle properly in his arms or hands means in many instances a +disastrous fumble, or at best a slowing-up of the runner's speed. In +giving the ball to a passing runner, it should be held free and clear of +the quarter's body and slightly tilted, so that it can be taken against +the body, and without the use of both hands for more than an instant, +because the runner must almost immediately have use for his arm in +going into the line. It is impossible to give in print the exact angle +and method of holding the ball for this purpose, but practice and the +wishes of the runners, if consulted, will soon show the quarter just +what is meant. When the ball is to be passed any considerable distance, +it should be taken so that the end is well placed against the hand of +the quarter, while the ball itself lies against the forearm, the wrist +being bent sharply. This will enable the quarter to send the ball +swiftly and accurately almost any distance that it may be necessary to +cover. Of course, in many cases the ball does not actually rest against +the forearm of the quarter; but this is the best way of conveying the +idea of the proper position of the hand upon the point of the ball, and +by practising in this way the correct motion for steady passing is +speedily acquired. In receiving the ball, the right hand, or the hand +with which the throw is made, should be placed upon the end of the ball, +while the other hand stops its progress, and should be placed as nearly +upon the opposite end of the ball as convenient. This is the +theoretically proper way of receiving the ball; practically, the +handling cannot be as accurately performed as this would indicate. If, +however, the quarter will in practice be constantly aiming at receiving +the ball so that his right hand grasps the end just as his left hand +stops the ball, and settles it securely against his right, he will find +that after a few weeks he can receive four out of five snap-backs in +such a way as to make any great amount of arranging the ball for his +pass, after it is in his hands, quite unnecessary. After the preliminary +weeks of practice, and when in a game, he must bear in mind the fact +that, in order of importance, his duties are, first, to secure the ball, +no matter how; second, to convey it to his own man, no matter whether in +good form or not. He must never pass the ball if he has fumbled it, +unless he has a perfectly clear field in which to do it. He must always +have it down in preference to taking the slightest risk of losing it. +Even though he receive it without a fumble, there may be a way through +in that part of the line towards which his pass is to be delivered; and +here, again, he should hold the ball for another down rather than take +any chance of the opponent's intercepting the pass. After letting the +ball go, the quarter should follow his pass; in fact, he should be +almost on the run as the ball leaves his hand. No matter whether the +ball be caught or fumbled, he is then ready to lend assistance; +whereas if he stand still after his pass, he is of no use to the rest of +the play. When the play is a run, he can do excellent work in +interfering; and when the play is a kick, he can take any opponent who +gets through, and thus aid the half in protecting the kicker. In either +case, if his own man muff or fumble he is close at hand to lend +assistance in an emergency, which otherwise might prove most disastrous. +When lining up the quarter should take a quick glance, not directly at +the player he is to make the recipient of the ball, but covering the +general position of all the men. In doing this he locates his individual +without making it apparent to the opponents which man is to receive the +ball. Any amount of disguise may be practised in the way of taking a +last glance at the wrong man, or calling out to some one who does not +enter into the play. The chief point, nevertheless, is to avoid that +tell-tale glance at the right man which is so difficult to omit. + +[Illustration: RALPH WARREN. + +Princeton.] + +When the opponents have the ball, the quarter makes an extra man in or +near the forward line, and, as a rule, he can by his shrewdness make it +very uncomfortable for any point in the line which he chooses to assail. +No law can govern his tactics in this respect, but he should be a law +unto himself, and show by his cleverness that he is more valuable than +any man in the line whose position is fixed. One caution only is worth +giving to the quarter in this line of play, and that is, to be less free +of going forward sharply when the play is evidently to be a run than +when a kick is to be attempted. In the latter case, a quarter can always +be sent for his best. + + + + +THE HALF-BACK AND BACK + + +As the game is at present played, the back is more of a third half-back +than a goal-tend, and so should be trained to half-back work. It has +been well said that all that one can ask of the best rush line is to +hold the ground their half-backs gain; and when one follows carefully +the progress of the play, he sees that this is the proper division of +the work. The half-backs, then, must be the ground-gainers of the team. +Such work calls for dash and fire--that ability to suddenly concentrate +all the bodily energy into an effort that must make way through +anything. Every one has such half-backs in mind, but unfortunately many +of those half-backs who possess this type of character have not the +necessary weight and strength to stand the amount of work required. +Although a light man be occasionally found who is particularly muscular +and wiry, the constant shock of going into a heavy line of forwards +usually proves too exhausting for any but those of middle weight before +the end of a season be reached. It is not that the work of a single game +proves too much for the light-weight half. It is that in both practice +and games he is so overmatched by the weight of the forwards whom he +must meet that every week finds him less strong than the preceding, +until his playing falls off so markedly that the captain or coach is at +last convinced that there is something wrong, and the man is replaced by +some one else, often too late to bring the substitute up to anything +like the mark he might have reached had he been tried earlier in the +season. Such thoughts as these will suggest themselves to the +experienced coach when at the outset of a season he has placed before +him a number of candidates for the position of half-back, among whom +very likely there may be two or three men of perhaps one hundred and +forty pounds' weight. Likely enough, too, these men may be at that +period easily superior to the middle or heavy weights. In such a case +the very best advice that can be whispered in the ear of coach or +captain is, to make quarters or ends of them, even though it be only +substitute quarters and ends. It will leave the way open for the proper +cultivation of half-backs better built to stand the wear and tear of a +season. + +Almost equally to be deprecated is the waste of time often devoted to +making half-backs of slow heavy weights. Only a quick man can perform a +half-back's duties successfully; and although much can be left to +practice, there must be some natural quickness to build upon. Slow men +can be improved far more rapidly in the forward line than among the +halves. All this regarding the weight of half-backs applies not only to +'varsity teams, but school teams as well, if one will make the proper +proportional changes in weight. That is, a 'varsity player will be +called upon to face a forward line averaging one hundred and +seventy-five or thereabouts, and men of less than one hundred and +thirty-five to one hundred and forty are too light to meet that +weight. In school teams the rush line will be some twenty pounds +lighter, and the halves can therefore be selected from even +one-hundred-and-twenty-five-pound men, if well built. In other words, a +half-back ought not to face over twenty-five pounds' difference in +weight; and the more that difference is reduced, supposing that speed +and agility be retained, the more chance there is of turning out a +thoroughly successful player. It is worth while to be thus particular +upon the point of the early selection of candidates for the position of +half-back, because, while no more work is demanded of them in a game +than of others of their side, the quality of that work must be more +uniformly good. When a half-back has to tackle, he must be as sure as a +steel-trap; when a half-back has to catch, he must be a man to be relied +upon; when a half-back is called upon for a kick, it must be no fluke; +and, although no one expects a half-back to always make on his run the +five yards, he must be a man who will not be denied when he is called +upon for that last yard which will enable his side to retain the ball. + +[Illustration: JOHN CORBETT. + +Harvard.] + +Almost the first thing to be critically noted by the coach is the way in +which a half-back takes the ball from his quarter. The case in which he +takes it directly from the hands of this player has been already dwelt +upon at some length under the head of the quarter's passing; but when +the ball is thrown or passed some little distance, it is just as +important that it be properly received. Except when about to kick, the +half-back should be moving when he receives the ball, and, more than +that, the reception of it should have no perceptible effect upon his +movements. In other words, he must take it as easily and as naturally as +a batsman in a ball game drops his bat after he has hit the ball fairly. +No batsman remembers that he has had the bat in his hands after the +ball has been hit, and yet, when he is at first base, he has left his +bat behind him at the plate. Thus a football half-back should so receive +the ball as not to know the exact instant of taking it, but find that he +has it as he comes up to the line. It will never do for a coach to +suppose that an inexperienced half can be told that he must take the +ball "without knowing it," but it is necessary to explain to a half that +until he does take the ball naturally, and without having to stop and +calculate about it, he can never come properly up to the line nor get +his whole power on early. To acquire the habit of taking a pass easily, +a half-back should spend a little time every day off the field in +practising taking a sharp pass when on the run. By a sharp pass is not +meant hurling the ball with all possible force against a runner so that +he is nearly knocked over by it, and cannot by any possibility catch it +except at the expense of giving the catch his sole and undivided +attention. Such passing in practice does far more harm than good. The +ball should be passed with that easy swing which sends it rapidly, +accurately, and evenly up to the runner without any great apparent +force, for it is remarkable how much the appearance of force tends to +rattle the runner, who easily handles fully as much speed properly +delivered. Daily practice of this nature between the quarter and halves +accustoms each to the other, so that the regular work of the team on the +field is not disorganized by loose passing and looser catching. While +this passing is progressing, the coach should stand by the side of the +half, and watch him closely, correcting any careless tendencies of +receiving or stopping, and paying particular attention to his going in +a straight line--that is, not running up to meet the ball and then +sheering off again. The best half-backs endeavor to receive the ball at +approximately the same height relative to their bodies, no matter how it +comes, and they will correct quite a variation in the quarter's throw by +a little stoop or a slight jump. A half-back must be taught to be +uniform in starting, and in reaching the spot where the ball is to meet +him. The coach will have no great difficulty in teaching him this steady +uniformity of pace, which will enable the quarter to throw the ball so +as really to assist rather than retard his motion. There are two other +things which the half-back must practise apart from his team-play. They +are kicking and catching. The former is of sufficient importance to +deserve a separate chapter, but a few hints under the half-back column +will not be out of place. It is usually the case that of all three men +behind the line, the two halves and the back, any one can do the kicking +upon a pinch, but one of the three is, nine times out of ten, manifestly +superior to the other two. In this state of affairs there is altogether +too great a tendency to slight the practice of the two inferior kickers, +and rely almost entirely upon the best man. It is quite proper to let +the best man do all the kicking possible in an important game, but it is +a very short-sighted policy to neglect the practice of the other two +during the preliminary games. Not only should they have the advantage to +be gained in the length of their kicks by daily practice, but they +should also have the steadying experience to be acquired only in games. +It may happen at any moment in a most important game that the kicking +will devolve upon them on account of an accident to the third man, and +it is, indeed, a foolhardy captain or coach who has not taken sufficient +forethought for this contingency. The principal reason why we develop so +few really good kickers is, that coaches, captains, and players have +given so little attention to the detail of that part of the work. Fully +nine tenths of the men who do the kicking upon American teams are more +natural kickers than practised ones. Let me explain this so as to be +fully understood. As in boxing one often sees a man who, having taken no +lessons, and being therefore unable to make the most of himself, can yet +more than hold his own against a more finished opponent on account of +his natural quickness, strength, and aptitude; so in football one sees +here and there a man who is able to do some fair kicking without having +devoted particular attention to it. In boxing, however, when a teacher +takes the natural hitter in hand, he begins by putting him at work upon +the rudiments of guarding, holding himself upon his feet, hitting +straight, and moving firmly. He never undertakes to make a first-class +man of him by merely encouraging him to go in harder, and increase his +power without regard to the proper methods. In football, coaches rarely +teach the kickers the first principles, but instead urge upon them only +the necessity of constant practice in their own way. For this reason our +kickers show all manner of styles, and the only wonder is that they kick +so well in such wretchedly bad form. + +[Illustration: W. BULL. + +Yale.] + +While it is neither advisable nor necessary that a kicker be prevented +from attempting to kick hard until he has mastered every detail of the +swing and brought it to the same point of perfection that a finished +oarsman does his stroke, it certainly is best, in his practice, to +subordinate power to method until he acquire good form. + +[Illustration: KNOWLTON L. AMES. + +Princeton.] + +The coach should take his man in hand by watching him make a half-dozen +kicks in his own way. Then he should select the worst of his faults, and +show him why it is a fault, and how to correct it. He should keep him +upon this one point for a few days, until he is convinced that there +will be no backsliding, and then begin upon the next. In this way a few +weeks will serve to make a second-class man a good one, and open the way +for his becoming something out of the ordinary run in another season. + +In judging the faults of a kicker, the coach should note just where he +gets his power on, what is the position of his leg and foot upon the +swing, and what part of the foot strikes the ball. These are the +principal points, and deserve the first attention. Regarding the first +of these, his power should be put on just as his foot has passed the +lowest part of the arc in which it swings, and it should meet the ball +in the upward sweep very soon after passing this point. The position of +his leg and foot is to be next noted, and the "snap the whip" phrase is +as good a one to convey the idea as any that can be adopted. As the leg +begins to swing the knee is bent and the body pitched a little forward, +so that the weight of the kick seems to start from the hip and travel +down the leg as it straightens, reaching the foot just as it meets the +ball, as above mentioned. As for the third point, the ball, when +punted, should be struck between the instep and the toe, impinging most +upon the former. In a drop-kick and a place-kick the ball is met by the +toe, and the sweep is made with "a longer leg," as the expression has +it; that is, the foot swings nearer--in fact, almost along the ground. + +All these three points can be most clearly illustrated by noting the +effect of departures from them. If the power is not put on as above +described, the man will simply send the ball along the ground, or will +hook it up, merely tossing it with his foot instead of driving it. These +two are the extremes, of course; but they illustrate where the power is +lost or wasted. If the leg be not swung in proper position, the ball +will be simply spatted with the foot, the only force coming from the +knee. Finally, if the ball be not met with the proper part of the foot +it may snap downwards off the toe, or be merely bunted by the ankle. +There is still another thing to be watched, which, while not the kick +proper, really belongs to it as much as the swing of the leg. It is the +way in which the ball is dropped to the foot from the hand or hands. The +usual tendency of beginners, and many half-backs who could hardly be +classed in that category, is to toss the ball from the hand; that is, to +give it a motion up from the hand, which, however slight, causes much +valuable time to be lost. The ball should always be dropped to the foot, +the distance between the hand and foot being made as short as possible. +The hand should be merely withdrawn just at the proper moment, and with +practice it is not difficult to make the entire transfer from hand to +foot so rapid as to almost eliminate any danger of having the ball +stopped or struck during that part of the play. In drop-kicking the +fall is necessarily greater, but it should never be a toss even then. +There has been no little argument as to whether the ball should be held +in one or both hands when about to kick, and such are the examples of +good kickers arrayed on both sides that one cannot fairly say that +either way is the only right way. If a player has become so accustomed +to the two-hand method as to make him uncomfortable and inaccurate if +forced to the one-hand way, it is hardly advisable to make the change. +But any player who is taken early enough can be taught to drop the ball +with one hand, to the great advantage of both his quickness and his +ability to kick from tight quarters or around an opponent. + +The entire series of motions, therefore, which go to make up a +well-performed kick should be in the coach's mind just as the separate +parts of an oarsman's stroke are in the boating-man's mind when +coaching a crew. The ball dropped, not tossed; the leg well swung, the +power coming from both leg and hip with all the advantage that the poise +of the body may add; the foot meeting the ball with the forward part of +the instep on a punt, with the toe on a drop, and in either case just +after passing the lowest point of the arc of swing, rather later on a +punt than a drop, because the ground helps the latter to rise, while the +rise of the former must come entirely from the foot. The next step in +the education of the kicker is the side swing. The ball cannot be kicked +as far when met directly in front of the kicker--his leg swinging +straight, as it would in taking a step in running--as it can be kicked +by taking a side sweep with the leg and body, the hips acting as a sort +of pivot. + +One of the most common false ideas regarding this side kick is, that it +is not performed with the same part of the foot as the straight punt, +but that the ball is struck by the side of the foot. Of course, this is +all wrong. The foot meets the ball as fairly and directly as it does in +the ordinary straight kick, and the ball impinges upon the top of the +instep and toe just as before, the word "side" referring to the swing of +the leg and position of the body only. + +All the suggestions thus far have been applicable to both half-backs and +back, but before bringing the chapter to an end it is well to note a few +of the special features of the full-back's position. The place +originally was that of a goal-tend, but with the increase of the +aggressive system of defence his duties have become more those of a +third half-back. Other things being equal, it is eminently proper to +select as a full-back an exceptionally strong tackler; but as for +placing tackling ability above that of kicking, that is a mistake which +might have been made six years ago, but of which no coach or captain +would to-day be guilty. + +[Illustration: W. C. RHODES. + +Yale.] + +The importance of the position is rapidly growing, and there is no doubt +that the time will come in another year, if it be not already here, when +the selection of the three men behind the line will be after this +fashion--namely, picking out the three best half-backs, all things +considered, then selecting that one of the three whose kicking is the +best, and making him the third half or full back. After the man has been +in this way chosen there will devolve upon him certain duties which do +not commonly fall to the lot of the other two half-backs. Chiefest among +these is the duty of making a running return of a kick. The opponents +have sent a punt down towards him, which he secures while the opponents +are still some yards away from him, although they are coming down +rapidly. In this case, a thoroughly finished player will not only gain a +few steps before he takes his kick, but he will take that kick on the +run, sometimes dodging the first man before taking the kick. A full-back +who can do this and never lose his kick is the greatest kind of a +treasure for any team, and it is worth a captain's while to devote a +good bit of attention to the full-back's perfecting this special feature +of his play. + +He will also be likely to have the long place-kicking to do. In fact, it +is proper to practise him at this, because, if he be the best punter +among the men behind the line, he can be made the longest place-kicker, +and few realize the great advantage of these long place-kicks to a team +upon occasion of fair catches. + +Tackling, when it does fall to the lot of a full-back, comes with an +importance the like of which no other player is ever called upon to +face. It usually means a touch-down if he misses. For practice of this +kind it is well to play the 'varsity back once in a while upon the scrub +side. This is likely to improve the speed of his kicking also. + + + + +SIGNALS + + +When Rugby football was first adopted in this country, it was against a +strong feeling that it would never make progress against what had been +known as the American game. This old-fashioned game was much more like +the British Association in a rather demoralized state. Not only was +there no such thing as off-side, but one of the chief features consisted +in batting the ball with the fist, at which many became sufficiently +expert to drive the ball almost as far as the ordinary punter now kicks +it. There was very little division of players by name, although they +strung out along the field, and one (known as the "peanutter"--why, no +one knows) played in the enemies' goal. Coming to players accustomed to +this heterogeneous mingling, it is no great wonder that the first days +of Rugby were characterized by even less system than that displayed in +the old game. + +The first division of players was into rushers, half-backs, and a +goal-tend. The rushers had but little regard for their relative +positions in the line; and as for their duties, one can easily imagine +how little they corresponded with those of the rusher of to-day when it +is said that it was by no means unusual for one of them to pick up the +ball and punt it. + +The snap-back and quarter-back play soon defined these two positions, +and shortly after the individual rush line positions became distinct, +both as regards location and duties. All this was an era of development +of general play with but few particular combinations or marks of +strategy. If a man made a run, he made it for the most part wherever he +saw the best chance after receiving the ball, and he made it unaided to +any degree by his comrades. If the ball was kicked, it was at the option +of the man receiving it, and the forwards did not know whether he would +kick or run. + +It was at this point that the demand for signals first showed itself. +The rushers began to insist upon it that they must be told in some way +whether the play was to be a kick or a run. They maintained quite +stoutly and correctly that there was no reason in their chasing down the +field when the half-backs did not kick. As a matter of fact, the +forwards even went so far as to contend that the running-game should be +entirely dropped in favor of one based upon long kicks well followed up. +Failing to establish this opinion, they nevertheless brought it about +that they should be told by some signal what the play was to be, and so +be spared useless running. This was probably the first of the present +complicated system of signals, although at about the same time some +teams took up the play of making a rather unsatisfactory opening for a +runner in the line, and made use of a signal to indicate the occasions +when this was to be done. The signalling of the quarter to the +centre-rush as to when the ball should be played antedated this +somewhat, but can hardly be classed with signals for the direction of +the play itself. + +To-day the teams which meet to decide the championship are brought up to +the execution of at least twenty-five different plays, each of which is +called for by a certain distinct signal of its own. + +[Illustration: P. D. TRAFFORD. + +Harvard.] + +The first signals given were "word signals;" that is, a word or a +sentence called out so that the entire team might hear it and understand +whether a kick or a run was to be made. Then, when signals became more +general, "sign-signals" (that is, some motion of the hand or arm to +indicate the play) were brought in and became for a time more popular +than the word signals, particularly upon fields where the audience +pressed close upon the lines, and their enthusiastic cheering at times +interfered with hearing word signals. Of late years numerical +combinations have become most popular, and as the crowd is kept at such +a distance from the side lines as to make it possible for teams to hear +those signals, they have proven highly satisfactory. The numerical +system, while it can be readily understood by the side giving the +signal, because they know the key, is far more difficult for the +opponents to solve than either the old word signals or signs. Still, the +ingenuity of captains is generally taxed to devise systems that shall so +operate as never to confuse their own men and yet completely mystify the +opponents throughout the game. Clever forwards almost always succeed in +interpreting correctly one or two of the signals most frequently used, +in spite of the difficulty apparent in the solution of such problems. +The question as to who should give the signals is still a disputed one, +although the general opinion is that the quarter-back should perform +this duty. There is no question as to the propriety of the signals +emanating from that point, but the discussion is as to whether the +captain or the quarter should direct the play. Of course all is settled +if the captain is himself a quarter-back, but even when he is not he +ought to be able to so direct his quarter previous to the actual +conflict as to make it perfectly satisfactory to have the signals come +from the same place as the ball. It is in that direction that the eyes +and attention of every player are more or less turned, and hence signals +there given are far more certain to be observed. Moreover, it is +sometimes, and by no means infrequently, necessary to change a play even +after the signal has been given. This, if the quarter be giving the +signals, is not at all difficult, but is decidedly confusing when coming +from some other point in the line. + +The important fact to be remembered in selecting a system of signals is +that it is far more demoralizing to confuse your own team than to +mystify your opponents. A captain must therefore choose such a set of +signals as he can be sure of making his own team comprehend without +difficulty and without mistake. When he is sure of that, he can think +how far it is possible for him to disguise these from his opponents. +Among the teams which contest for championship honors it is unusual to +find any which are not prepared for emergencies by the possession either +of two sets of signals, or of such changes in the manner of giving them +as to make it amount to the same thing. Considering the way the game is +played at the present time, this preparation is advisable, for one can +hardly overestimate the demoralizing effect it would have upon any team +to find their opponents in possession of a complete understanding of the +signals which were directing the play against them. + +[Illustration: R. HODGE. + +Princeton.] + +While it is well for the captain or coach to arrange in his own mind +early in the season such a basis for a code of signals as to render it +adaptable to almost indefinite increase in the number of plays, it is by +no means necessary to have the team at the outset understand this basis. +In fact, it is just as well to start them off very modestly upon two or +three signals which they should learn, and of which they should make use +until the captain sees fit to advance them a peg. + +If, for instance, the captain decides to make use of a numerical system, +he cannot do better to accustom his men to listening and following +instructions than to give them three signals, something like this: +One-two-three, to indicate that the ball is to be passed to the right +half-back, who will endeavor to run around the left end; four-five-six, +that the left half will try to run around the right end; and +seven-eight-nine, that the back will kick. The scrub side will probably +"get on" to these signals in short order, and will make it pleasant at +the ends for the half-backs; but this will be the best kind of practice +in team work, and will do no harm. After a day or two of this it will be +time to make changes in the combination of numbers, not only with an +idea of deceiving the scrub side, but also to quicken the wits of the +'Varsity team. Taking the same signals as a basis, the first, or signal +for the right half-back to try on the left end, was one-two-three--the +sum of these numbers is six. Take that, then, as the key to this signal, +and any numbers the sum of which equals six will be a signal for this +play. For instance, three-three, or four-two, two-three-one--any of +these would serve to designate this play. Similarly, as the signal for +the left half at the right end was four-five-six, or a total of fifteen, +any numbers which added make fifteen--as six-six-three, seven-eight, or +five-four-six--would be interpreted in this way. Finally, the signal for +a kick having been seven-eight-nine, or a sum of twenty-four, any +numbers aggregating that total would answer equally well. + +A few days of this practice will fit the men for any further +developments upon the same lines, and accustom them to listening and +thinking at the same time. The greatest difficulty experienced by both +captains and coaches since the signals and plays became so complicated +has been to teach green players not to stop playing while they listen to +and think out a signal. By the end of the season players are so +accustomed to the signals that all this hesitation disappears, and the +signal is so familiar as to amount to a description of the play in so +many words. + +The other two methods of signalling by the use of words rather than +numbers, and signs given by certain movements, although they have now +given way in most teams to numbers, are still made use of, and have +merit enough to deserve a line or two. The word-signal was usually given +in the form of a sentence, the whole or any part of which would indicate +the play. As, for instance, to indicate a kick, the sentence "Play up +sharp, Charlie." If the quarter, or whoever gave the signals, should +call out, "Play up," or "Play up sharp," or "Play," or "Charlie," he +would in each instance be giving the signal for a kick. Sign-signals are +more difficult to disguise, but are none the less very effective, +especially where there is a great amount of noise close to the ropes. A +good example of the sign-signal is the touching of some part of the body +with the hand. For instance, half-back running would be denoted by +placing the hand on the hip, the right hip for the left half, and the +left hip for the right half. A kick would be indicated by placing the +hand upon the neck. Particular care should be exercised when +sign-signals are to be used that the ones selected, while similar to the +acts performed naturally by the quarter in stooping over to receive the +ball, are never exactly identical with these motions, else there will +likely enough be confusion. + +[Illustration: H. H. KNAPP. + +Yale.] + +No matter what method of signalling be used, there is one important +feature to be regarded, and that is, some means of altering the play +after a signal has been given. This is, of course, a very simple thing, +and the usual plan is to have some word which means that the signal +already given is to be considered void, and a new signal will be given +in its place. There should also be some way of advising the team of a +change from one set of signals to another, should such a move become +necessary. It is very unwise not to be prepared for such an emergency, +because if a captain is obliged to have time called and personally +advise his team one by one of such a change, the opponents are quite +sure to see it and to gain confidence from the fact that they have been +clever enough to make such a move necessary. + + + + +TRAINING + + +At the present advanced athletic era there are very few who do not +understand that a certain amount of preparation is absolutely essential +to success in any physical effort requiring strength and endurance. The +matter of detail is, however, not faced until one actually becomes a +captain or a coach, and, as such, responsible for the condition, not of +himself alone, but of a team of fifteen or twenty men. + +Experience regarding his own needs will have taught him the value of +care and work in this line; but, unless he differs greatly from the +ordinary captain upon first assuming the duties of that position, his +knowledge of training will be confined to an understanding of his own +requirements, coupled with the handed-down traditions of the preceding +captains and teams. When he finds himself in this position and considers +what lines of training he shall lay down for his team, unless he be an +inordinately conceited man he will wish he had made more of a study of +this art of preparation, especially in the direction most suited to the +requirements of his own particular sport. + +Many inquiries from men about to undertake the training of a team have +led me to believe that, even at the expense of going over old ground, it +will be well in this book to map out a few of the important features of +a course of training. It should go without saying that there are +infinite variations in systems of this kind; but if a man will carry in +mind the reasons rather than the rules, he has always a test to apply +which will enable him to make the most of whatever system he adopts. + +He should remember that training ought to be a preparation by means of +which his men will at a certain time arrive at the best limits of their +muscular strength and activity, at the same time preserving that +equilibrium most conducive to normal health. Such a preparation can be +accomplished by the judicious use of the ordinary agents of +well-being--exercise, diet, sleep, and cleanliness. + +One can follow out the reasons for or against any particular point in a +system rather better if he cares to see why these agents act towards +health and strength. + +Exercise is a prime requisite, because the human mechanism, unlike the +inanimate machine, gains strength from use. Muscular movement causes +disintegration and death of substance, but at the same time there is an +increased flow of blood to the part, and that means an increased supply +of nourishment and increased activity in rebuilding. As MacLaren has +expressed it, strength means newness of the muscle. The amount and +quality of this exercise will be treated of later in this chapter. + +[Illustration: A. J. CUMNOCK. + +Harvard.] + +In considering the matter of Diet, a captain or coach should think of +this question not according to the tradition of his club, nor according +to his own idiosyncrasies. He should regard the general principle of not +depriving a man of anything to which he is accustomed and which agrees +with him. Of course, it is advisable to do without such articles of food +as would be injurious to the majority of the men, even though there +might be one or two to whom they would do no harm. Men should enjoy +their food, and it should be properly served. I remember once being +asked my opinion regarding a certain team at the time in training, and I +expressed the conviction that something was wrong with their diet. The +team, as a whole, were not seriously affected, but some three or four +were manifestly out of sorts. I heard the coach go over the bill of +fare, and it sounded all right. I then decided to take dinner with them +and see if I could discover the trouble. One meal was sufficient, for it +was a meal! The beef--and an excellent roast it was, too--was literally +served in junks, such as one might throw to a dog. The dishes were +dirty, so was the cloth. Vegetables were dumped on to the plates in a +mess, and each one grabbed for what he wanted. Some of the men might +have been brought up to eat at such a table, still others were not +sufficiently sensitive to have their appetites greatly impaired by +anything, but the three or four who were "off" were boys whose home life +had accustomed them to a different way of dining, and their natures +revolted. So, too, did their appetites. As it was then too late to +correct the manners of the mess, I simply advised sending these men +elsewhere to board, and they speedily came into shape. I cannot too +strongly advocate good service at a training table. The men should enjoy +their dinners, should eat them slowly, and should be encouraged to be as +long about it as they will. As food is to repair the waste, it should be +generous in quantity and taken when the man will not, from being +over-tired, have lost his appetite. Sometimes a team is not overworked, +but worked too late in the day, so that the men rush to the table almost +directly from the field, and fail to feel hungry, while within an hour +they would have eaten with a zest. This course persevered in for several +days will show its folly in a general falling-off in the strength as +well as the weight of the men. To train a football team should be, in +the matter of the diet at least, the simplest matter compared with +training for other sports, because the season of the year is so +favorable to good condition. + +Crews and ball nines have oftentimes the trial of exceptionally hot and +exhausting weather to face, while a football team, after the few warm +days of September are passed, enjoy the very best of bracing +weather--weather which will give almost any man who spends his time in +out-door work a healthy, hearty appetite. In order that any captain or +coach reading this book may feel that, while it offers several courses +of diet, it would emphatically present the fact that there is no +hard-and-fast system of diet that must be religiously followed, I submit +a variety of tables, showing some old as well as new school diets. None +of them are very bad, several are excellent; and I don't think that a +captain or coach would be called upon to draw his pencil through very +many of the items enumerated. + +[Illustration: JEREMIAH S. BLACK. + +Princeton.] + + +THE OXFORD SYSTEM.--(Summer Races.) + +A DAY'S TRAINING.[A] + +Rise about 7 A.M. | |So as to be in chapel; but + | | early rising not compulsory. + +Exercise | A short walk or run |Not compulsory (walk only, and + | | short). + +Breakfast, 8.30 |Meat, beef or mutton. | + |Bread or toast, dry |The crust only recommended. + |Tea |As little as possible + | |recommended. + +Exercise (forenoon)| None |American football men should + | | kick, catch, and pass. + +Dinner, 2 P.M. |Meat; much the same as | + | for breakfast. | + |Bread | Crust only recommended. + |Vegetables, none allowed | A rule, however, not always + | | adhered to. + |Beer, one pint |This is what Americans call + | |ale, and not indulged in to + | |any great extent except after + | |a hard game. + +Exercise |About 5 o'clock start | + | for the river, and row | + | twice over the course, | + | the speed increasing | + | with the strength | + | of the crew. | + +Supper, 8.30 or 9. |Meat, cold. | + |Bread; perhaps a jelly | + | or watercresses. | + |Beer, one pint (see above).| +Bed about 10. + +[Footnote A: As has been stated elsewhere, improvements have been made +in diet since this table was compiled. This will also apply to the +Cambridge System, page 143.] + + +TORPID RACES. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise about 7.30 A.M. | |Early rising not compulsory. + +Exercise. |A short walk or run. | Not compulsory. + +Breakfast, 9. |As for summer races. | + +Exercise (forenoon). | None. | + +Luncheon about 1 P.M.|Bread, or a sandwich. | + |Beer, half a pint. | + +Exercise. |About 2 o'clock start | + | for the river, and row | + | twice over the course. | + +Dinner, 5. |Meat, as for summer races.| + |Bread. | + |Vegetables, as for summer | + | races. | + |Pudding (rice), or jelly. | + |Beer, half a pint. | + +Bed, 10.30. + + +THE CAMBRIDGE SYSTEM. Summer Races (1866). + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 7 A.M. + +Exercise. |Run 100 or 200 yards as |"The old system of running a + | fast as possible. | mile or so before breakfast is + | | fast going out, except + | | in the case of men who + | | want to get a good deal of + | | flesh off." + +Breakfast, 8.30. |Meat, beef or mutton. + |Toast, dry. + |Tea, two cups, or towards the end of training a + |cup and a half only. Watercresses occasionally. + +Exercise (forenoon).| None. + +Dinner about 2 P.M. |Meat, beef or mutton. | + |Bread. | + |Vegetables--potatoes, |Some colleges have baked apples, + |greens |or jellies, or rice puddings. + |Beer, one pint. | + |Dessert--oranges, or | + | biscuits, or figs; | + | wine, two glasses. | + +Exercise. |About 5.30 start for the river, | "Most men get out for a + | and row to the starting-post | little time before + | and back | rowing back." + + |Meat, cold. +Supper about 8.30 |Bread. + or 9. |Vegetables--lettuce or watercresses. +Bed at 10. |Beer, one pint. + + +H. CLASPER'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise between 6 and 7 A.M. + +Exercise. A country walk of four or five miles. + + |Meat, chop or +Breakfast, 8. |Couple of eggs. + |Bread. + |Tea. ("We never drink coffee.") + +Exercise. |Rest for half an hour, and then a brisk walk + | or run. If morning exercise has not been heavy, + | a row on the river, terminating about 11 A.M. + +Dinner, 12 M. |Meat, beef or mutton (broiled). + |Egg pudding, with currants in it if desired, or other light + | farinaceous pudding. + |Ale, one glass. + |Wine, one glass (port), or + |Ale, two glasses, without wine. + +Exercise. |Rest for an hour, and then on the river again for a hard row. + | "Rowing exercise should be taken twice every day." + +Tea. |"Tea, with toasted bread sparingly buttered, with one egg + | only--more has a tendency to choke the system." + +Supper. |Not recommended. When taken, to consist of new milk and + | bread, or gruel, with raisins and currants and a glass + | of port wine in it. + +Bed about 10. + + +C. WESTHALL'S SYSTEM. For Amateurs. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 6 A.M., | Cold bath and rub down. + or earlier in the summer. | + +Exercise. | Sharp walk about a mile out, and run home; or a + | row of a couple of miles at three-parts speed. + | A dry rub-down. + + +Breakfast (time not stated). | Meat, mutton-chop or steak (broiled). + | Bread, stale or toast. + | Tea, half a pint. + +Exercise. | (Not stated.) + +Dinner, 2 P.M. | Meat (as at breakfast). + | Vegetables, none; "except a mealy potato." + | Bread, stale. + | Beer, one pint. + +Exercise (afternoon). | Rowing. + +If dinner be late, luncheon to be taken to consist of +Meat, beef or mutton, hot or cold. Bread. Beer, one glass. +(If dinner be early, "tea with viands and liquids as at breakfast" to be +taken.) + +Supper. | Half a pint of thin gruel, or dry toast + | and a glass of ale. + +Bed. | Time not stated. + +N.B.--It is added "that the above rules are of course open to alteration +according to circumstances, and the diet varied successfully by the +introduction of fowls, either roast or boiled--the latter preferred;" +and "it must never be lost sight of that sharp work, regularity, and +cleanliness are the chief if not the only rules to be followed to +produce thorough good condition." + + +McLAREN'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at about 7 A.M. (Glass of cold water recommended.) + +Exercise. | The crew meet at 7, walk and run for four or five + | miles; or, in later practice, quick run of two + | miles. + | Wash and dress. + +Breakfast, 9. | Meat (broiled); bread (brown) and butter; tea, two + | cups. "Cocoa made of the nibs boiled for four hours + | is better than tea for breakfast." + | Smoking allowed (conditionally). "Smoking is barred, + | for, though here also a man's habits are to be + | taken into account, the subjects + | of training in match-boats are usually too young to + | have contracted a custom of smoking so inveterate + | as to have made tobacco indispensable + | to the body's internal functions, though it is not + | unfrequently so in older men. After breakfast is + | the only time allotted to the pipe." + +Luncheon at 1. | Beef sandwich with half a pint of beer, or + | Biscuit and glass of sherry, or egg in sherry. + +Exercise. | At 2.30 go out to row, and row over the whole + | course. "This altogether + | depends on the state of the crew." + | Wash in tepid water. + +Dinner at 6 p.m. | Meat (roast, broiled, or boiled). "Any kind of + | wholesome meat thoroughly cooked." + | Vegetables--"The green foods permissible contain in + | their list spinach--the very best of all; sea-kale, + | asparagus, but without melted butter; turnip-tops, + | young unhearted greens, but not solid cabbages; + | broccoli, carrots, parsnips, and cooked celery. + | Turnips are also favored, and pease condemned; also + | cucumbers, and all salad mixtures. But boiled + | beet-root is good, and Jerusalem artichokes; + | and French beans stand next to spinach in virtue." + | The course is varied daily, so that no two days + | together shall see the same articles on the table. + | Pudding. ("Light puddings may be eaten.") + | Bread. Beer, one pint. + | Wine, two glasses of old port or sherry, or three of + | claret. Biscuits and dried fruits, as cherries, + | figs, etc., allowed. ("All fresh fruits are + | avoided.") + | Jellies. ("Plain jellies are innocuous.") + | Water. ("As much spring water as they have a mind + | to.") + +Supper, 9. Oatmeal gruel if desired. + +Bed at 10. N. B.--On Sundays a brisk walk of three hours or so + is taken. + + SUMMARY. + +Sleep, eight or nine hours. Exercise, about three hours. Diet, very +varied. + + +STONEHENGE'S SYSTEM. + +A DAY'S TRAINING. + +Rise at 8 A.M. | According to season and weather. + | Cold bath. + +Exercise, 8.30 to 9. | Walking or running. "Let all take a gentle run + | or smart walk." + +Breakfast, 9 to 9.30. | Oatmeal porridge, with meat (beef or mutton, + | broiled) and bread. + | Tea or coffee, or table beer, one pint. + | "Tea is preferred to coffee. + | Cocoa is too greasy." + +Exercise, 9.30 to 11.30, | Billiards, skittles, quoits, or + | other light exercise. + +11.30 to 1.30. | Rowing. + +1.30 to about 2.30. | Running. "According to circumstances." + | Rubbed dry and linen changed. + +Dinner, 2.30 to 3 or 3.30| Meat--beef (roast) or mutton (boiled mutton + | occasionally), roast fowl, partridges, or pheasants + | (allowed), or venison (nothing better). + | "It is generally directed that the steak or chop + | should be underdone; this, I am sure, is a fallacy." + |--Bread (_ad lib_.).--Puddings occasionally, + | made of bread, eggs, and milk, and served with + | preserved fruits.--Vegetables--potatoes (one or two + | only), cauliflowers, and broccoli (only as an + | occasional change). If training is protracted, + | fish allowed (cod or soles).--Beer, from a pint to + | a pint and a half.--Wine, a glass or two, port or + | sherry. + +After dinner, + until 5 or 6. |A gentle stroll or book. + +Exercise, 6 to 7. |Rowing. + +Supper, 8. |Oatmeal porridge with dry toast or chop, + | with glass of port. + +Bed at 9 or 10. + + +SYSTEM OF JACKSON AND GODBOLD. + +BREAKFAST.--Stale or whole-meal bread, or toast, a little butter, plenty +of marmalade if you like, but not jam. Bacon and eggs, or chops or +steaks, with watercress if obtainable. To those who like it, a basin of +oatmeal porridge, _properly made_, taken with pure milk about an hour +before breakfast, is an excellent thing, and has a very beneficial +effect upon the stomach, but it should not be taken every day. It is +better to miss it every third day, or to take it regularly for a +fortnight and then omit it from the next week's diet, as the too +frequent use of it is rather injurious to the skin of some persons. +Tea--not too strong--is better than coffee. Good ripe fruit is a +capital adjunct to the breakfast-table, and is an excellent article of +food. + +DINNER.--Lamb, mutton, beef, fowl (tender and boiled), varied by fish, +of which haddock, whiting, and soles are the best, with potatoes (well +boiled, and not much of them), and well-cooked vegetables, followed by a +small allowance of light farinaceous pudding or stewed fruit, will be a +good, wholesome diet. If you want bread, have it stale. Never eat _new_ +bread. Avoid all sauces, or made dishes, and adhere to plain food only. +One thing we would particularly impress upon the reader, and that is +never to take his exercise immediately before or after meals, nothing is +more injurious, or likely to produce indigestion, and its concomitant +evils. Some authorities abjure the use of sugar, but taken in moderation +it is not injurious. A well-known champion of our acquaintance, when +in the pink of condition, was wont to amuse himself by eating the +contents of a sugar basin, if one were inadvertently left near him, and +without feeling any ill effects from so doing. Our readers need not +follow his example, for although it might suit him, it probably would +not agree with them. We have said, take sugar in _moderation_. Now, in +this last word lies all the lectures one can give on this subject. Be +moderate in all things, one might say, but above all things be moderate +in the use of all edibles not actually necessary to support the +increased exertion which a man in training is called upon to perform. No +liquid should be taken except with, or just after meals, but we would +not advise stinting the quantity too much. In summer three or four +pints, and in winter two or three pints per diem would be about the +quantity. Never drink just before exercise, and it is better not to +drink just before going to bed. In fact, the less one has to digest when +retiring for sleep the better, and be sure not to drink tea late at +night. + +[Illustration: C. O. GILL. + +Yale.] + +TEA, or SUPPER, should be taken at least two hours before bedtime, and +we would allow a small chop, or some light fish, bread, and very little +butter, with some ripe fruit. The best meal to take before a race, and +which should be taken about two hours before starting-time, is the lean +of mutton-chops and a little dry toast. We have said that no liquids +should be taken except at meal-times; but we do not intend to state that +if a man be very thirsty he may not touch them. If he does so, it must +be a very small quantity. Thirst can often be assuaged by rinsing the +mouth out with cold water, and this is by far the better plan if it is +efficacious. + + +A COMMON-SENSE SYSTEM. + +One author says: "Rise at six; bathe; take about two ounces (a small +cup) of coffee with milk: this is really a stimulating soup. Then light +exercise, chiefly devoted to lungs; a little rest; the breakfast of +meat, bread, or oatmeal, vegetables, with no coffee; an hour's rest. +Then the heaviest exercise of the day. This is contrary to rule; but I +believe the heaviest exercise should be taken before the heaviest meal; +a rest before dinner. This meal, if breakfast be taken at seven or +eight, should be at one or two, not leaving a longer interval than five +hours between the meals. At dinner, again meat, vegetables, bread, +perhaps a half-pint of malt liquor, no sweets. Then a longer rest; +exercise till five. Supper light--bread, milk, perhaps with an egg. Half +an hour later a cup of tea, and bed at nine." + + +J. B. O'REILLY. + +Seven o'clock is a good time for an athlete in training to rise. He +ought to get a good dry-rubbing, and then sponge his body with cold +water, or have a shower-bath, with a thorough rubbing afterwards. He +will then go out to exercise before breakfast, not to run hard, as is +commonly taught, but to walk briskly for an hour, while exercising his +lungs in deep-breathing. Before this walk, an egg in a cup of tea, or +something of the kind, should be taken. + +The breakfast need not always consist of a broiled mutton-chop or +cutlet; a broiled steak, broiled chicken, or broiled fish, or some of +each, may be taken with tea or coffee. + +Dinner may be far more varied than is usually allowed by the trainer's +"system." Any kind of butcher's meat, plainly cooked, with a variety of +fresh vegetables, may be taken, with ordinary light puddings, stewed +fruit, but no pastry. A good time for dinner is one o'clock. + +An American athlete, when thirsty, ought to have only one drink--water. +The climate and the custom in England favor the drinking of beer or +claret; but, beyond question, the best drink for a man in training is +pure water. After dinner, rest, but no dozing or _siesta_. This sort of +rest only spoils digestion, and makes men feel slack and "limp." + +Supper, at six o'clock, should not be a second dinner; but neither +should it consist of "slops" or gruel. The athlete ought to be in bed by +ten o'clock, in a room with open window, and a draught through the room, +if possible, though not across the bed. + +[Illustration: E. C. PEACE. + +Princeton.] + +The American football captain or coach should bear in mind, when reading +these various systems, that the use of ale and port seems to be much +better borne by those who live in the English climate than upon this +side of the water. + +Also, that stiff exercise before breakfast has not been proven +advantageous to our athletes except as a flesh-reducer, and then only in +exceptionally vigorous constitutions. + +Also, that tea is not as popular with us as with the men who train in +England. + + +SLEEP AND CLEANLINESS. + +To come to the third agent of health enumerated some pages back, Sleep. +As a rule, it is not a difficult matter to see that members of a +football team take the requisite amount of sleep. There are occasions, +as in college, when some society event of unusual importance tempts the +men to sit up late, but with such exceptions as these there is no great +difficulty experienced in making the majority of the men keep good +hours. And this is growing more and more simple as athletics become more +general, for they take the place of much of the dissipation which was +formerly the only outlet for the superabundant animal spirits of young +men. In the case, however, of the occasional candidate for the team who +comes under the captain's eye as inclined to late hours, there must be +the strictest kind of discipline shown. Such a man is the very one whose +stamina will be affected after a while by lack of sleep, and that too at +a time when the rest of the men are nearing the perfection of condition. +Thus he will be found falling off at the very time when it is a most +serious matter very likely to fill his position with a new man. Eight or +nine hours sleep should be insisted upon, and that sleep should be taken +with regularity. In fact, not only the sleep, but the meals and the +exercise, should all be made as nearly regular, regarding hours, as +possible. Men should have separate rooms, and particularly when off upon +trips they should not sleep together. Plenty of fresh air should be +admitted to the sleeping-room, but draughts are to be avoided. This is +not because every time the air blows upon a man he is liable to contract +a severe cold, for the chances are against this, but because there are +times when he is particularly prone to such an accident, and if he is in +the habit of sleeping without regard to draughts it is not likely that +he will take precautions then. If a man has, for instance, played an +especially stiff game and upon a muggy and exhausting day, he will +undoubtedly turn in thoroughly tired out, and perhaps still somewhat +heated. Now if he, when in that state, sleeps in a draught, he will +probably find himself very lame in the morning, even though he escape +other more serious consequences. Just one more word of caution regarding +sleep, and that is in the matter of obtaining a good night's rest just +before the important match of the season. To insure this is to do much +towards securing the best work of which the men are capable from the +team upon the following day. + +[Illustration: W. HEFFELFINGER. + +Yale.] + +First and foremost, they should not be allowed to talk about the game or +the signals or anything connected with football during that evening. If +possible, they should do something to entirely divert their minds from +all thought of the game. Nor should they be hustled off to bed an hour +or two earlier than usual. Rather ought it to be a half-hour later, for +then the chances are that the men drop off to sleep immediately instead +of tossing about, thinking of the exciting event of the morrow. + +Finally, as to overtrained men, and that restlessness and inability to +sleep that almost always comes with the worst cases of this kind. There +is but one thing to do with a man when he "goes fine" to this extent, +and that is to sever his connection with the team for a time. If it is +early in the season, there is some chance of his recuperating rapidly +enough to still become serviceable. If it is late, there is no hope of +this. In either case he must neither play, eat, nor spend his time with +the members of the team. He can do almost anything else; he can go and +watch the crew row or the ball nine play; he can study or read; he can, +and in fact should, do everything possible to disassociate himself from +football and violent exercise for a time, and, unless the trouble has +gone too far, it will only be a couple of weeks before he will find +himself coming out of it all right, and among the first signs will be +good, refreshing sleep. + +To pass now to the fourth of our agents for health, Cleanliness. It is +fortunately seldom necessary to argue the advantages of the "tub" or +"sponge bath" to our football players, because they are usually +accustomed to it. A daily splashing has been their ordinary habit. It is +well to mention also that a fortnightly warm bath may be indulged in to +advantage. But with the present understanding of all these advantages, +the wisest remarks that can be made are cautions as to indiscretions in +the use of baths. In the first place, one bath a day is enough, and any +other should be a mere sponging and rubbing. Men who indulge in a tub in +the morning and then spend another fifteen minutes in a plunge after +practice in the afternoon get too much of it. Again, the habit of +spending a long time under the shower every day is a mistake. It feels +so refreshing after a hard practice that a man is tempted to stay too +long, and it does him no good. The best and safest plan is to take a +light, quick sponge bath in the morning immediately upon rising, and +then, after practice in the afternoon, to take just a moment under the +shower, and follow it by a good rubbing. This, with the fortnightly warm +bath, will be all that a man may do to advantage. + + + + +A CHAPTER FOR SPECTATORS + + +To those who have never played the game of football, but who chance to +open the covers of this book, a short explanation of the divisions and +duties of the players will not be out of place. For these this chapter +is added. + +The game is played by two teams, of eleven men each, upon a field 330 +feet long and 160 feet wide, at either end of which are goal-posts with +a cross-bar. + +The ball, which is like a large leather egg, is placed in the centre of +this field, and each team endeavors to drive it in the direction of the +opponents' goal-line, where any scoring must be done. Goals and +touch-downs are the only points which count, and these can be made only +as follows: + +A goal can be obtained by kicking the ball in any way except a punt (a +certain kind of kick where the ball is dropped by a player and kicked +before touching the ground) over the cross-bar of the opponents' goal. A +touch-down is obtained by touching the ball to the ground behind the +line of the goal. So, in either case, the ball must cross the end of the +field in some way to make any score. The sole object, then, of all the +struggles which take place in the field is to advance the ball to a +position such that scoring is possible. A firm grasp of this idea +usually simplifies matters very much for the casual spectator. + +The object of the white lines which cross the field at every five yards +is merely to assist the referee in determining how far the ball moves at +a time; for there is a rule which states that a team must advance the +ball five yards in three attempts or retreat with it twenty. If they do +not succeed in doing this, the other side take possession of the ball, +and in their turn try to advance it. + +[Illustration: R. M. APPLETON. + +Harvard.] + +There are certain rules which govern the methods of making these +advances, any infringement of which constitutes what is called _a foul_, +and entails a penalty upon the side making it. + +Any player can run with the ball or kick it if, when he receives it, he +is "on side"--that is, between the ball and his own goal-line. He may +not take the ball if he is "off-side"--that is, between the ball and his +opponents' goal-line--until an adversary has touched the ball. + +Whenever a player running with the ball is held, he must cry "down," and +a man of his side then places the ball on the ground and snaps it back. +This puts it in play, and is called a scrimmage, and this scrimmage is +the most commonly recurring feature of the game. + +For the purposes of advancing the ball or repelling the attack of the +opponents it has proved advisable for a captain to divide his eleven men +into two general divisions: the forwards and backs. The forwards, of +whom there are seven, are usually called rushers, and they make +practically a straight line across the field when the ball is put in +play on a "down." Next behind them is the quarter-back, who does the +passing of the ball to one or another of the players, while just behind +him are the two half-backs and the back, usually in something of a +triangle in arrangement, with the last named nearest the goal which his +team is defending. + +The following definitions will also aid the spectator in understanding +many of the expressions used by the devotees of the sport: + + A _drop-kick_ is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and + kicking it at the very instant it rises. + + A _place-kick_ is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed + on the ground. + + A _punt_ is made by letting the ball fall from the hands, and + kicking it before it touches the ground. + + _Kick-off_ is a place-kick from the centre of the field of play. + + _Kick-out_ is a drop-kick, or place-kick, by a player of the side + which has touched the ball down in their own goal, or into whose + touch-in-goal the ball has gone. + + _In touch_ means out of bounds. + + A _fair_ is putting the ball in play, from touch. + + A _foul_ is any violation of a rule. + + A _touch-down_ is made when the ball is carried, kicked, or passed + across the goal-line and there held, either in goal or + touch-in-goal. + + A _safety_ is made when a player, guarding his goal, receives the + ball from a player of his own side, and touches it down behind his + goal-line, or carries the ball across his own goal-line and touches + it down, or puts the ball into his own touch-in-goal. + + A _touch-back_ is made when a player touches the ball to the ground + behind his own goal, the impetus which sent the ball across the + line having been received from an opponent. + + A _fair catch_ is a catch made direct from a kick by one of the + opponents, provided the catcher made a mark with his heel at the + spot where he made the catch. + + _Interference_ is using the hands or arms in any way to obstruct or + hold a player who has not the ball. + +[Illustration] + +The _penalty_ for fouls and violation of rules, except otherwise +provided, is a down for the other side; or, if the side making the foul +has not the ball, five yards to the opponents. + +The following is the value of each point in the scoring: + + Goal obtained by touch-down, 6 + + Goal from field kick, 5 + + Touch-down failing goal, 4 + + Safety by opponents, 2 + +The rules which bear most directly upon the play are: + +The time of a game is an hour and a half, each side playing forty-five +minutes from each goal. There is ten minutes' intermission between the +two halves, and the game is decided by the score of even halves. + +The ball is kicked off at the beginning of each half; and whenever a +goal has been obtained, the side which has lost it shall kick off. + +A player may throw or pass the ball in any direction except towards +opponents' goal. If the ball be batted or thrown forward, it shall go +down on the spot to opponents. + +If a player having the ball be tackled and the ball fairly held, the man +so tackling shall cry "held," the one so tackled must cry "down," and +some player of his side put it down for a scrimmage. If, in three +consecutive fairs and downs, unless the ball cross the goal-line, a team +shall not have advanced the ball five or taken it back twenty yards, it +shall go to the opponents on spot of fourth. + +If the ball goes into touch, whether it bounds back or not, a player on +the side which touches it down must bring it to the spot where the line +was crossed, and there either bound the ball in the field of play, or +touch it in with both hands, at right angles to the touch line, and then +run with it, kick it, or throw it back; or throw it out at right angles +to the touch line; or walk out with it at right angles to touch line, +any distance not less than five nor more than fifteen yards, and there +put it down. + +A side which has made a touch-down in their opponents' goal _must_ try +at goal. + + +THE END. + + * * * * * + + +BLAIKIE'S HOW TO GET STRONG. + +How to Get Strong, and How to Stay So. By WILLIAM BLAIKIE. Illustrated. +16mo, Cloth, $1 00. + +Mr. Blaikie has treated his theme in a practical common-sense way that +appeals at once to the judgment and the understanding. A complete and +healthful system of exercise is given for boys and girls; instructions +are set down for the development of every individual class of muscles, +and there is sound advice for daily exercise for children, young men and +women, business men and consumptives. There are instructions for home +gymnastics, and an easy routine of practice laid out.--_Saturday Evening +Gazette_, Boston. + +Every word of it has been tested and confirmed by the author's own +experience. It may be read with interest and profit by all.--_Christian +Instructor_, Chicago. + +A successful performance, everything in the line of gymnastic exercise +receiving copious illustrations by pen and pencil. The authors aim is +genuinely philanthropic, in the right sense of the word, and his work is +a useful contribution to the cause of physical culture.--_Christian +Register_, Boston. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +BLAIKIE'S SOUND BODIES. + +Sound Bodies for our Boys and Girls. + + By WILLIAM BLAIKIE. With Illustrations. 16mo, Cloth, 40 cents. A + manual of safe and simple exercises for developing the physical + system. + +Mr. William Blaikie's new manual cannot fail to receive a warm welcome +from parents and teachers, and should be introduced as a working +text-book into thousands of schools throughout the country.--_Boston +Herald._ + +A book which ought to be placed at the elbow of every +school-teacher.--_Springfield Union._ + +The directions are so simple and sensible that they appeal to the reason +of every parent and teacher.--_Philadelphia Press._ + +The influence of judicious exercise upon mind as well as body cannot be +overestimated, and this will be a safe guide to this end, requiring no +costume nor expensive apparatus.--_Presbyterian_, Philadelphia. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any part of +the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +BOOKS FOR ANGLERS. + + Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle. Suggestions as to their Manufacture and + Use. By HENRY P. WELLS. Illustrated. Square 8vo, Cloth, $2 50. + +The book is one of great value, and will take its place as a standard +authority, and we cannot commend it too highly.--_Forest and Stream_, +New York. + +An illustrated volume, elegantly presented, that will make all anglers +jealous of possession until upon their shelf or centre-table.--_Boston +Commonwealth._ + +Mr. Wells's competence to expound the somewhat intricate principles and +delicate processes of fly-fishing will be plain to any reader who +himself has some practical acquaintance with the art discussed. The +value of the author's instructions and suggestions is signally enhanced +by their minuteness and lucidity.--_N. Y. Sun._ + + The American Salmon-Fisherman. By HENRY P. WELLS. Ill'd. Square + 8vo, Cloth, $1 00. + +The success of Mr. Wells's "Fly-Rods and Fly-Tackle" has made his name +familiar to thousands of American anglers. "The American +Salmon-Fisherman," like the former work, is the fruit of the author's +long experience and practical knowledge of this subject. The text is +illustrated throughout.--_Boston Traveller._ + +A practical, interesting guide to the sport of salmon-fishing. The tyro +will read it through profitably; the old hand will not be offended by it +as too elementary. The author is alert and companionable.--_Atlantic +Monthly_, Boston. + +Published by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York. + +_Either of the above works will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, to any +part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt of the price._ + + * * * * * + +Dr. C. C. ABBOTT'S WORKS. + + Upland and Meadow. A Poaetquissings Chronicle. By CHARLES C. + ABBOTT, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50. + +Delightful reading for students and lovers of outdoor nature.... Here +the author discourses with the greatest charm of style about wood and +stream, marsh-wrens, the spade-foot toad, summer, winter, +trumpet-creepers and ruby throats, September sunshine, a colony of +grakles, the queer little dwellers in the water, and countless other +things that the ordinary eye passes without notice.... The book may be +heartily commended to every reader of taste, and to every admirer of +graceful and nervous English.--_Saturday Evening Gazette_, Boston. + + Waste-Land Wanderings. By CHARLES C. ABBOTT, M.D. 12mo, Cloth, $1 + 50. + +There is a freshness about his anecdotes of fishes and birds, and his +descriptions of unfamiliar scenery, that must make the book delightful +to every lover of similar sports. To those who have not the leisure nor +the enterprise for similar expeditions the reading of it will charm many +an idle hour, besides imparting in the most agreeable manner possible a +large fund of interesting information.--_St. Louis Republican._ + +It is a charming book, introducing the reader to the interesting guests +and dwellers in the forests, upon the downs, and by the river-side. 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