The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-09-25
FOR YOUNG AsToRIANS
Rules Of the Rugby Football Game
Seasonable Information.


II there are any young novices in foot
hall in or about Astoria, anxious &
know the real rules of the game the fol
lowing rules in force on the famou
field of Rugby, England, win be of ser
vice:
A Rugby football game Is mattel
between two teams of eleven men each
Both teams are restricted TO specific,
territory during play.
The object of each team Is to advanc,
a ball by rulable means across states
boundary line or to project IL over |
goal, or both.
The bali may be either kicked Of car
ried (but not thrown or passedl in tn,
direction Of teams objective goal, and
men engaged in advancing the ball ma,
while in actual possession of 1t, be tack
led and thrown to the ground. or forced
backward, by their opponents.
The skill used in advancing men car
rying the ball Is evident to even tho
casual spectators. Feints and flank
movements, dashes and crisscrosses fol
low each other with bewildering rapid
ity. Now and then a startling trick pla,
or sudden skyscraping kick adds still
more variety.
The field is l30 feet long and 100 feet
wide and inclosed by heavy lime lines. At
tlsa end unhari,js are the goals
placed in the middle of the line. A
goal consists of two upright posts eight.
cen feet six inches apart connected by
erossbar ten feet from the ground.
In scoring. the ball must he either car.
ried beyond the goal line by a team
or else kicked, under -rulable circlim-
stances, between the goal posts and
over the cross bar A touchdown oc.
ours when the ball is downed be-
hind the goal line by member OF an
opposing team, and IL counts 5 points
for the side so scoring A try xt godI
is allowed after touch down, which,
II successfully kicked adds point TO
the already obtained. Goals from
the field count points.
When teams line up for the kickoff,
which puts the ball into play, the men
of the side kicking arrange themselves
along the lines crossing the middle Of
the field, and from which the ball Il
kicked. When the ball IL eent whirling
down among their opponents this side
kicking rushes forward TO tackle and
down the man catching the ball before
he has an opportunity to advance
it.
The side receiving the kickoff scat.
ters over the playing field, to cover
every possible point where the BAH may
chance TO fall
A scrimmag occurs when two teams
line up directly opposite each other, the
side holding the ball intending tD ad.
vance it by Dans of rushing around
or through the opposing eleven.
When lined up for scrimmage the
team in, possession of the ball is ar
ranged. The seven men in straight
line are the forwards. The middle one
Is the center rush, who snaps back the
ball to, the quarterback lat his rear), |
.hus putting the ball into play
The two halfbacks and the iullback |
'tand from two TO four yards 10 the
ear of tile quarter. They are the men
who must frequently advance, the BALL,
lhe forwards, consisting Of she right
md left ends, right and laft tackles,
light and left guards and center, are
men Of defense.
The backs and forwsris Tor rush |
ine) must be trained to work together
10 avoid confusion and %, develop that
most important of all factors, heady
lnsel6sh team wora.. The interests.
and aspirations of the individual must
be secondary TO TIE welfare of thse