Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-11-15
get so used to wearing it that it win both
er you very little.

Begin early and slowly, trying quick,
jumping starts at the words go or at the
swapping of the ball. This will lead to
ability to start quickly, to follow the
movements of this ball, to line up quickly,
to become speedy at sprinting, and to de-
velop the lungs and the muscles of the
legs. Learn to get your start without o
change OF position. Try to keep ON your
toes with both feet on line. The most
desirable thing is to get the quick spring
which gets the jump ON the other fellow.
Watch the best sprinters in the line and
copy their style il you can't equal them
with your own method of starting. The
cat-like spring is what you really ought
to acquire.
FALLING ON THE BALL.
Before youare all out Of breath practicing
the quick starts, stop and rest moment
and then take your turn with the other
boys at falling on the ball. The object to
be achieved is to secure possession of the
ball, quickly and without injury to your
self. So you should learn to dive at that
pigskin as il your life depended upon
getting the ball out of danger. Try to
scoop the ball into yQur arms and clutch
it tightly to your body and under your
chest. Let the weight of your body come
partly on your elbows, your hips or your
knees as well as on the ball. II you throw
yourself fiat on the ball you will find that
the compressed air in the ball will stay
there but that your breath will leave you
And you must take care not to strike the
4 orr wi bs>r fr,f al.c
This is painful, and you will probably not
cover the ball.
| After you are sure of the ball when it
lies still on the ground, try falling on it
when it is rolling across in front OF you,
or straight towards you, or past you from
behind, or away from you. Try to fall on
your elbow padding, not on yonr hands;
and keep your feet down on the ground
when your body is down, so as not to have
some other boy fall on top of you and
bend up your legs or get your feet against
his face. Get perfect form in practice and
in the game you need never think of how
ycn must do thing. You will do it right
and your team will be the greater for all
the hard practice put in on what may have
seemed to you to be drudgery.
PUNTING AND CATCHING.
Don't work too hard on any one day at
falling on the ball; but before you feel
tired out, divide INTO two squads and punt
the ball back and forth. Kicl. the ball
| from the top of the foot, not from the end
of the toe. Some good punters allow the
ball to drop well up on their insteps
/ Throw the whole force of the body into
4 the kick and aim at some point each time
Many of the best punters are naturally
good at sending the ball high and far; but
practice develops their equals. Try to get
| your punt away quickly, without taking
/ unnecessary steps, and try TO send the
bail high into the air as well as to long
distance. This is to allow the ends on the
kicker's side to get down under the ball
before it drops to the ground or is caught
by an opponent.
TAoKLING.
Everybody must practice tackling. The
simplest method is to have another player
run slowly past you and for you to take
few quick steps and down him. Tackle
below his hips and throw yourself off the
ground like cat jumping at a mouse
when you tackle, so that your weight will
put him down in his track. Try to get
your head in front of him. This will help
stop him. But don't let him fall on your
head. Flip him over. Pull his legs to-
| gether and hang on. IL you tackle high
he will be likely to carry you and gain
ground. II you tackle below the knee you
are likely to hurt him or to get hurt your
self. 1t is easy to down a runner from
behind. Never give up chasing the man
with the ball until he has scored his
touchdown. He may be faster runner
than you, but carrying the ball reduces
his speed. He may tumble. ''Follow the
ball".
Practice tGckling one who is running
towards you from distance. Learn to
get in his pathway and wait for him.
Get down on one knee with your arms
stretched out towards him and keep still
until he is near enough for your dive at
him. II you stand on your feet and run
straight at him he can easily dodge you
and get big start past you before you can
turn back. You have him at big disad-
vantage If you keep cool and wait for him
! to come to you.
Never tackle at any time any player who
is catching the ball. Down him as quick
as fash after he has caught the ball.,
unless he makes what the rules call fair
catch.
CATCHING THE BALL.
The football is not easy to catch. Prac-
tice, however, will make you an expert in
handling all kinds of kicks. Get all the
practice you can as a beginner. The
player who can handle punts accurately is
a valuable one for the team. The man
who can catch the ball on the kickofY and
get away with it quickly is also valuable.
They gain ground and they put heart into
the playing of the whole team ON which
we find them.
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