The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-10-15

Writing on the art OF punting and
drop-kicking. Walter Eckersall, of Chi.
cago university fame says:
in looking back over football his
tory for the last, five years, approxi-
mately 20 per cent of the college
games have been won through field
goals. This estimate takes into con-
sideration the punts which have
crossed the goal line, resulting in safe
ties. In view of this fact. deem 1t
advisable to publish this article on
punting and drop-kicking.
"Goal.kicking is an art acquired
only by hard practice and the exer-
else of great care. Many men can get
out and in one game boot the ball over
the bar and between the posts without
ever having practiced the trick be-
fore. But at the same time they
might try and try in other games and
be unsuccessful in negotiating the
points. That IL simply because they
happened to catch the ball just right
the first time and didn't the other
times.
cult at first, but with practice 1t be-
comes easier and with line that will
hold and give the kicker the requisite
time to get away his attempts, the
feat is not so difficult. But there are
certain things that the kicker must
figure out; he must know just what
is likely to happen and work on those
lines.
OF course, the first requisite for
successful kicking, whether punting
or drop-kicking, is to get the muscles
Of the leg working freely. Many kick.
ers get out Just before game and
put forth all their strength, thinking
that this is the best way to get lin.
bered up. have found that this
method is wrong. The muscles are
ierked and strained, and when called
upon later they are likely to act in a
ierky manner, which tends to impair
the accuracy of the attempt. Just be.
fore going into game get out and
boot the ball gently, working in the
muscles of the leg gradually.
after this is done. the next care
Is to get in touch with the center-rusb.
The center and the kicker must work
together or the best of kickers will
be unable to work right. The kicker
Is set for his trial and the pass must
come right for his attempt or he will
be compelled to kick out of position
and thereby lose his aim and nullify
inn faS
each day receiving passes from the
center and get his passes exactly
where you want them.
"The ball should be passed by the
center so that it comes end first to
the kicker. This saves valuable Sec
onds adjusting the ball in the hands
to be dropped. The dropping of the
ball Is the main thing. A man may
have ever so much power in his kick
ing leg and yet not be able to kick
goals. Usually this is because the
ball has not been dropped to the
ground correctly. After. the ball is
received 1t should be poised for an in
slant with the seam in 4 parallel line
with tho goal posts, thus giving di-
rection.
Just before dropping the ball Is
given q slight downward twist &C.
cording to the distance TO be kicked.
II the goal posts are close to the kick
er, the ball must be raised higher in
the air than If they are farther away.
The closer the posts the more perpen-
dicular the ball should be when 1t
strikes the ground. This is something
The kicker must guage for himself
"When the ball Is dropped great
care should be exercised. II must be
done gently and there must be no
force which might twist X sideways
and out of line. If there is the kick
Is Likely to go off at an angle. The
lacing should always be on the oppo-
site side from which the ball is
kicked, for the rawhide presents too
uneven q surface for good results.
When the ball is dropped the foot
should be brought back, the kicker
rising on the toes OF his other foot
to better balance himself and get
more force.
"Then comes another important de-
tail The ball must be kicked just as
Its aIex touches the ground. IL the
toe strikes the ball before 1t touches
the ground 1t Is not drop kick and
the iall will shoot along the ground
and not rise. II the kick. on the 9TH
er hsnd, is too slow and the ball has
risen on the bound, the impetus is
likely to send 1t straight up in the
air, and nothing is gained. The toe
should hit the ball Just at the instant
the ball hits the ground. Then, II the
ball be truly dropped. the effect is
the same as kicking goal from
placement.
1T takes much practice and an ac.
curatc judgment of time and distance
to gain this end. but once judged cor
rectly. 1t comes instinctively there
after. ! have explained the kick up
to the time the ball hits the ground
and have explained why 1t should be
struck by the toe at the same time
that it hits the ground, Now some
thing about another essential point
The shoe worn by the kicker should
have stiff toe. 1t should At the foot
IL. - -