The sun., 1898-10-03
THE TACKLE POSITION
Should be Played by Hard Working,
Speedy, Fearless Man..-Quick
Thinking Necessary.

Compactness of build, dazzling speed,
the power of concentrating the mind
while in intense action. fearlessness in
tackling and an absolute imperviousness
to injuries are the main attributes OF q
football tackle. He must be the nearest
hound to the hare throughout the chase.
His position is on the ball every minute.
There are some positions on football
team where man can loaf and still
make fair showing. Tackle is not one
of them. There can be no resting if
player intends to make success OF his
position. He is the apex of the defence,
the corner of the stone wall that must
stop every battering ram that is aimed at
it, and must drop any combinations, no
matter how powerful or swift, that may
come within his territory.
1t is no excuse that the runner is
guarded by five or six interferers. He
must break through the hedge, one way
or another, either dropping the runner
through his own means or driving him
into the arms of his end or guard on
either side. It is little war all by it.
self, where you have no help but your
own exertions, and must offer no ex-
cuses for failures.
Not satisfied with these onerous duties,
the position requires also that the player
be the leader of the attack. He must
guide the different plays through the
rush line, or must even take the ball
himself and advance it. 1t does not
make any difference whether he is out of
breath or exhausted, when the signal
comes he must be prepared to do his
duty, or take the consequences. It re-
quires the most careful training, there
fore, in the matter Of physical condition
and needs mental organization that is
beyond the ordinary.
It does not do for tackle to see his
mistakes after a game. He must see the
danger on the field and be fertile enough
in his style of playing to avoid accidents
and to foil any new methods that may
appear.
Dash and vim, mixed with the deter
mination of expending the last pound of
strength and power, are perhaps the most
useful qualities to push player into the
front ranks as tackle. When he leaves
the line for his run, he must be away
like flash, with impetus enough to butt
his way through the armor of the other
side, should his protection fail.
There must be no hesitation in any of
his movements. His signals must be so
Thoroughly learned, and the duties that
are required to carry them out, that his
actions in each play become second
nature. He must formulate his plans at
top speed, he must overcome obstacles
by thinking in fraction of an instant,
and, when he is walled in by seeming
impossibilities, he must shoulder his
way out, even at the cost of certain in
jury.
There are great many men, tackles,
SO called, who play their positions by
mere routine, because such and such
coach has told them that it is the right
thing to do. They fill their minds with
a certain amount Of advice, and are able
to drink in very little by experience.
There can be no star tackle who is not
versatile.
There are moments in hard game of
football when the coach is not at hand to
y hisper his advice; the tackle must think
for himself, perhaps originate new
methods, and SO formulate his style of
play to assault the attack which his op-
ponents have sprung upon him.
Football is game Of originality. No
;wo games are ever played alike or ever
will be. There isl constant changing of
plays and men who make them; there
'ore, to be prominent player in any po-
,ition you must be ready to adapt your
,elf to the circumstances. Remember
what has been told you, keep vividly in
your mind former experiences, and then
oe ready to adapt your abilities to the
situation at hand. A tackle who leaves
he game Of football with one pound of
strength left, either physically or men-
ally, has not done his proper duty.
HARRY BEECHER.