The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-24
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Practising

ally an invalid by taking part in the game
Football men were apt to he considered rs slug
gers and toughs But time has wrought a
change The leaders in the sport have seen the
necessity of eliminating the brute element and
the injection Of science, and four or five years
has seen wonders in this line. The referee
has now the power to put stop to
any "scrapping" or foul tackling Teom
work has to great extent taken
the place OF brute strength. Under the new
system each team has its signals which plaiuIy
Indicate to every player exactly what course of
action is 10 be followed by his side. This idea
has been brought to q very high degree of ex-
cellenee within the past three years, and team
play is now the most important feature of foot.
ball mstch.
The intent under the new system has been to
get the ball ahead without having q free fight
over It. To accomplish this the wedge was first
developed, and this is now the usuM play at the
beginning OF game. In the wedge the center
rusher leads the rush across the field. The other
men in the rush line keep as close as possbl to
the center. forming triangle. with the quarter
back carrying the ball in the carefully pro-
tected Upon top of this have grown other
methods Of getting the ball through the
lines without a rough aud tumble tussie
to accomplish it. Besides the wedge
the plays usually made ara around the ends or
through the center In the end play the half
back who has the ball runs around the end pro-
tected by the rush line and tries to get as far
possible into the field of the opposing team. In
the center play the man with the ball lodges
through hole made by his own rush line III
that of their opponents.
In order to play football those who take part
ought, OF course, to be in good physical condi-
ton ii Ia necessary for them tn put in several
hours day in order 10 fit them for the hard
work of q match, and An occasional bruise must
not be minded The idea. however, that there
IL much danger connected with the game is a
mistake. Those who take part ought to go
through systematic course OF training, aud, If
properly clothed, with we'll padded trousers
there is little chance of serious hurt
The game Is of so recent Introduction on the
Coast that IL requires some little explanation to
many probable spectators The following ex-
tract, from treatise by Walter Camp, one of
the most famous of Yale players, gives an in
sight into the rules:
The game is played by two teams OF eleven
men each upon field $50 feet long ana 100 feet
wide. at either end OF which are goal posts with
cross bar. The ball. which Is like "A large
leather egg, Is placed IN the center OF the held,
and each team sndeavoTs TO drive 10 IN the di-
reotlon ot the opponents goal line, where any
scoring must be done Goals and touch downs
are the only points which count, aud these eau
be made only as follows:
goal can be obtained by kicking the ball in
any way except punt IA certain kind OF Kick
where the ball is dropped by.a player and kicked
before touching the groundl over the cross bar
of the opponents goat. A touchdown il Oh
tanned by touching to the ground behind tho
lane of the goal. so. III either ease, the bail
nust cross the eud of tine field in some way to
make any score. The sole object then of all the
struggles which take place ia the field is 10 nd
vance the bail TO a position such that scoring is
possible. A firm grasp of this ideB usually sim
Yl,hes the matter very much for the casual
spectator. The object of the " bite lines which
cross the fold AT every five yards Is merely To
assist the referee in deiermi 1lng how far the
ball moves at "a time. for there is u rule which
states that team must advance the ball five
yards In three attempts or retreat with IL twenty.
II they do not succeed I'm doing this the other
eide take possession OF the ball. and In their
turn try To advance IL There are certain rules
which govern the methods of making these adj
vances, any infringement of which constitutes
loUl. ana entails penalty upon thu side MAX
!ng H. ANY PLAYER can run with the ball, or
Il u. II when he receives it he is on side-that
Is. between the bail aud his own gosi line. lie
nay not take the ball II he IL OF side--thst is.
between tho ball aud hts opponents goal line
nntl ar adversary has touched the bali. " hem
ever player running with the ball - held. ho
must cry down. and msa Of his side then
places the ball on the ground aud snaps II baCS.
fnls puts IL IN play and II called q SER manage,
fnd the sCrlmmago - the most commonly gecUr-
rug feature OF the game. For the purpose of
advancing The bali or rcpcliug the attack of the
O paurutS IL has proved advisable t0c a captain
g. divide his eleven men into two general divi-
slous-the forwards aud backs. TIE forwards,
OF whom theTa seven, are usually called
rushers aud they make practically a straight
Ine across the field " hen the ball Is put in pay