The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-15
FOOTBALL IN RICHMOND.
1 Team 10 Be Organized at the Young
Mems Christian Association.
WILL PLAY UNDER THE RUGBY RULES.
A Compsrison of the Game with That OF
Base Baii-Its ADVANTAGES and Disao-
vnntnges-spiendd Exercise.

being hold out to the young men OF THIS CITY
to Join the Young Mems Christian Aasocia-
ton is football. The mere mentioning OF
the name of this I'D to the present time In
Richmond almos. unknown sport mis- tne
heart OF every old college student with JOY
and makes him regret that the time has gone
by when he was one of the Eleven to hnd
an ENJOYABLE recreation from the arduous
studies which he was expected to undergo
daily during the time of his stay at college.
Professor Horace f. Smith. the physical a.
rector OF the Association. IL hard at WORK 10
organize foot ball team among the mem Oers
of the gymnasium OF the Young Mems Chrls-
tian Association Several young men who
during college days tackled and twisted on
the field, and even now are enthusiastic al
mirers and efficient opponents OF lne game
have signifed their willingness TO cooperate
in the formation OF an eleven: Ihere Is
| some excellent material IN Richmond. ana
| there can be hardly any doubt that the coming
| YM. c. A. football team will make some OF
| the college teams realize that Drawn and mus
Gle. agility and courage may be found even
among the business and professional men OF
| this city
Very often the hue and cry is raised over
| the liability TO accidents in the game accI-
| ueNrS resulting not Only III ltiuIOlhiA Uub l'h-
manent dlsablement The annual IhanksgiY-
ing games on the polo grounds in New ork
city. for instance. have been cartooned in the
periodicals until many persons OF sound sense
in other respects consider the football Held
kind Of slaughter ground, and esteem that
youth fortunate above his fellows who escapes
without broken limb.
WITH SOME DANGER.
While it cannot be denied that football IS
not fraught with some danger to the PLAYER,
more in fact than many other games. II IS
admitted by all who have had experience III
pay NJ football. that the amount OF this dan
ger has been largely overstated.
Mr. Paul G. Phillips. an Amherst man and
quite an admirer of foot ball, has gathered
some statistics during an actual playing expe-
rience of nine years. which show but few
really serious accidents. not many more than
like number Of years Of baseball have FUR
nished. Almost all the injuries received were
in the shape of sore muscles. sprains, strains
and bruises. These latter injuries, once very
numerous. have been largely reduced OF late
by the introduction of padded Jackets and
pants. With elbows. shoulders, hips and
knees we'll protected bruises and sprans are
least frequent in the category of accidents.
A thorough physical examination and plenty
of preliminary training will prevent most OF
the other injuries.
mentioned as emanating from the playing OF
football is the tendency to brutality. the
development of pugllistlc spirit among the
players. which Is commonly called slug
glng." In reference to this complaint, Alr.
Phillips makes the following statement when
asked for his opinion as 10 the bad elect OF
the playing of foot ball among young men:
sLUGGNG.
Here, too. writers have depended largely
on their imagination. Go into sparrlng
room and see two men punching each others
heads. Brutal. you say. Not at all you
find when you look into the matter that both
are perfect gentlemen. Watch the rushers IN
a football match. showing. jostling and but
ting one another like very demons. Revolt
ing Wait and see them after the game
shaking hands and talking over the plays the
best OF friends. The look on their faces
which you thought to be one of anger was
only one of intense earnestness and resolu-
ton. He did not butt his opponent to see
how much he could disable him. but to help
his side to victory A little private sp9rrng
match used formerly to be INDUCED in on the
rush line. but the game OF to-day is too scen-
tifc and too fast TO he we'll played unless
man gives his undivided attention to the sig
nails and plays. No time is given for paying
old grudges or satisfying personal ambition"
Those two unfavorable points which are Of
ten made against football are, however,
largely Offset by the numerous advantages
which are brought about by skill al playing.
FOOT ball certainly is a fine physical deyel-
oper. There is no game played to-day which
developes q man b well all round. Legs are
at work, running and pushing al the time.
Lungs are called into most vigorous action.
Neck and arms and back and IONS, in the
writhing and twisting ard pushing of the
rush-line all are exerci ed. Foot-b ball men, IS
a class. are the best trained and most sym
d fyt.. fool hall
developer not OF one or two men. but of all.
In base ball two men do the work while the
rest look on. In foot ball ali the men are at
work the greater part Of the time.
Again, football Away has been and from
its very nature is likely TO be forever an
amateur sport. The spirit of professionalism
in athletes is Numerically opposed 10 hard
work. For the same reason football attracts
little Of that sport" element which Is
hard TO control III association athletics of the
several countries. Betting is notably absent.
ASA RECREATION.
As recreation game 10 the participant and
an interesting one TO tie spectator, foot ball
stands first. A BASEL ball game is not interest
ing unless the score is close there is too much
sameness in it, But IN football all the
players are in action and in that manner get
recreation. while the spectators see an ever
changing scene. Now the men are lined up
after a down. Now there is a confused ma 5
of men piled one above another, never two
pOsitions alike So even Il vlctOryls assured
10 one team. all stay TO watch the game out.
Football cultivates push and determination
in men. wide experience has furnished
much material T. prove that the members oil
a college football team. Tor instance cannot
be matched for manly determination by any
other eleven men in the college. THIS Is the
more true in their alter lie. The cOndtlO
sine qua non of goodfoot- ball player is grit
or sand Often has the sand developed
by the hard knocks of the football nee stood
the man IN good stead when sub ect 10 the
hard knocks OF business or professional lie.
AS a rule the foot ball men succeed best OF all
the college athletes.
Still another advantage of football is that
it is easily learned. and is best played at
time when tho weather Is too cod for other
sports few games suffice 10 teach one the
rudlments and often a man o. good athletic
ability in other lines gains prominent place
on an eleven during his first year OF practical
experience.
FROM GREAT BRITAIN.
The game of football has been imported
into this country from Great Br tain where
il has long been afavorlte. There are at present
two distinct styles OF foot-b ball games played
the one known as the Rugby game" the
other as the Association game" from its
introduction ana patronage by the Foot Bal
Asso iation instituted III 1865. In both
games the object is u drive the ball between
certain ounds placed at opposite ends of
the grounds-the game being played in the
intervening space and called goals. The
goal is formed by two upright posts.
viii b. in the Rugby game are
joined by a eross-b4r at tho height of
tan feet. and in the Association game
by q tape at the Leight of eight feet he