# Football: The Association Game/Chapter 11

CHAPTER XI.
GENERAL HINTS.
I have endeavoured to represent, as concisely as possible, the essentials for the acquirement of any great degree of excellence in any of the positions which constitute the formation of a football team. There are, however, some general rules which must be carried out strictly if the game is to be conducted in a spirit of true sport They are so obvious that it might appear superfluous in a work of this character to give them any prominence. Yet they are in the case of even experienced players, who ought to set a better example, very often overlooked, or, in the excitement of the moment, forgotten.
The power of a captain, as I have said in an earlier chapter, must be absolute. It is he who should make any ' appeals that may be required, and, though this is not always an infallible test, his capacity to command in the ordinary way may be gauged by the discipline of the team. A good captain will do his spiriting gently. His control of his men is as often as possible the result of the force of his own example, and, like Harry Coverdale, a capable captain has generally a quiet way of settling things, which is effective by the very reason of it.
Football must always, in a measure, be attended with a certain amount of risks. It is this spice of danger which makes it so essentially English, and gives it a high place among our national sports. For this very reason, though, it should be the aim of every player to discountenance, and earnestly, anything like intentional roughness. Charging is ​at times, of course, necessary, but there can be moderation even in this. Tricky tactics are infinitely more conducive to accident; and of late, particularly among northern players, there has been a growing tendency to stoop to trip, or to take other unfair advantages, which, even if they do not actually come within the scope of the law, should be checked with a very high hand. Football will inevitably suffer, and materially, in public favour if the standard of it is lowered, as it will undoubtedly be if those who have the control of clubs do not fearlessly uphold a spirit of manliness, and insist on the discouragement of any questionable practices with a view of getting a momentary advantage. The future of football emphatically depends on the firmness of those in authority, and even the merely reckless player should be taught that he is doing an injury to the game, and the incorrigible offender be punished without mercy.
It ought to be a cardinal sin to interfere in any way with the officials. Linesmen and referees are not infallible, and modern football is so fast that it is at times quite impossible for the most active of them to keep up with the ball throughout a hard game. The very fact of their appointment, though, ought to ensure that they are treated with respect. In many cases the referee's position, it must be admitted, is anything but an enviable one, and where local excitement runs high his is a thankless task. The general tendency of recent legislation, however, has been to arm him with increased powers to deal with rough play, and if he exercises them without fear he can minimize it to a great extent. It might appear to be unnecessary even to hint that the decision of a referee should be, under any circumstances, accepted without a question. On all matters of fact his verdict is final and subject to no appeal. A practised and capable official will give his decision promptly ​and unhesitatingly, and will not, as some of the less experienced sometimes do, argue the point, or assign the reasons which have influenced him in giving his verdict. In any case, whatever disputes may arise, the captain should alone be the spokesman of the side. It cannot be too clearly pointed out, too, that the referee is not infallible. His position, at the same time, is one of the greatest responsibility, and his authority is, as it ought to be, paramount. He has, for instance, power to stop the game whenever he may think fit—by reason of darkness, interference of spectators, or other cause, either permanently or for such a time as he may think fit, whenever he may deem such a course necessary. In addition, he has the right to award a free kick without any appeal in a case where he thinks the conduct of a player is dangerous, or likely to prove dangerous.
If the young player has in him a natural instinct for the game, he ought to derive benefit from a careful study of the advice given in this work. There are some points, though, in the rules which often cause misapprehension, and it will perhaps be of use if some of them are dealt with. A few years since the committee of the Football Association issued some memoranda for the guidance of officials, and as these embrace the various questions about which there is often a difference of opinion among the ill-informed, they may be utilized for the general good of players as well as officials.
​A goal is won when the ball has passed between the goal posts—ergo, the whole must go over the line to produce a score. In the same way the ball must go completely over the touch-line to be out of play, and it must not necessarily reach the ground before it is out of play.
The off-side rule is a source of much trouble to players who will not take ordinary pains to master its special features. A player cannot be off-side unless he is in front of the ball, and then only if less than three of the other side are between him and the opposite goal It is the fact of being in front of the ball, and kicked by one of his own men too, which tends to make one off-side; and he cannot be off-side if the ball was last played (i.e. touched, kicked, or thrown) by one of his own side who at the time of kicking is nearer his opponents' goal than himself. The stumbling is often in the words just marked with italics. The time of the kick constitutes the time of the infringement of the rule. A player who has less than three of the opposite side in front when the ball is sent from behind him by one of his own side is off-side at the time of kicking, and cannot put himself on-side until the ball has been played by one of his opponents. Nor can he obstruct one of the enemy to prevent him taking his kick, or in any way whatever interfere with any other player.
A goal keeper is allowed to use his hands in defence of his goal; i.e. in his own half of the ground, and he may not be charged except when he is holding the ball, or obstructing an opponent, or when he has passed outside the goal area.
Players wearing nails, bars, or studs on their boots, other than as provided in the rules, it is enacted "shall be prohibited from taking further part in the match;" and in the common interests of the players, and with a view to minimize the risks of the game, this power should be firmly exercised. ​A ball touching a linesman or referee is not dead.
Flayers should remember that a ball is always in play after an appeal until a decision is given by the referee. Handling is strictly forbidden to any one but the goal keeper, and under the reservations above stated. Handling is wilfully playing the ball with the hand or arm. The interpretation of wilful, of course, rests with the referee. The referee has also the power where a player is intentionally tripped, charged from behind, held or pushed by an opponent within twelve yards from the opposite goal-line, to give a penalty kick, particulars of which will be found in Rule 14 (see p. 79).
The penalty kick, which was introduced in the season of 1891-2, has been a source of great anxiety to those who have to make the laws. It is the punishment for intentional infringement of Law 9 by the defending side within the penalty area. Rule 9 proscribes tripping, kicking, or jumping at a player, intentionally handling the ball, holding or pushing an opponent, or charging an opponent violently or dangerously, or charging from behind unless the player charged is intentionally obstructing an opponent. In other breaches of the rules the outcome is a free kick. In the latter case the free kick has to be taken from the place where the offence occurred, and no players of the opposing side are allowed to approach within six yards of the ball unless the ball is within six yards of the goal-line, behind which players are not required to stand. It is to be regretted, of course, that a condition of things should have arisen to make such a severely repressive measure as the penalty kick advisable. At the same time one is bound to admit that it has proved to be a necessity, and as its importance cannot be overrated, it looms largely in any outline of the actual play.