The Washington herald., 1907-09-29

! Football is a game Of English origin.
and the history Of fts success dates back
/ to the middle Of the nineteenth century.
when the game was introduced into the
! schools Of Rugby. Harrow. and others.
/ as means OF outdoor recreation. TO re-
| lieve the monotony Of indoor life, and 10
produce ruggedness in the character Of
the youthful student. whose continued IL
door life had caused him to become poor
/ in health and stopped in posture.
! There were two varieties Of football
games adopted-one the Rugby and the
other the Association. Soon the game be
gan TO find favor in America. a great
many CT the principal colleges taking Il
| up. and that the game has extended most
rapidly during the past few years, is
/ evinced by the fact that nearly all the
/ colleges. schools and athletic clubs now
/ possess football teams. While the game
/ IS intended more for the youthful stu
dent, # has been proven that with its
tumbles and scrimmages. incidental to
/ the Rugby code, It is not a sport for
weak or improperly trained boys, but is
endured more by the one whose frame IS
/ full grown and set.
Players Train Hard.
While the game Of football. as played in
| America. is considered by some as brutal.
| Il really Is no more so than many other
sports, as keen investigation has shown.
/ Take, FOR instance, the great college
courage. determination. and an enthusi-
astic spirit TO achieve success. Is but an
/ inkling Of what the trained football
player undergOes. Il is that sort of
/ physical training that enables one 10
withstand the terrific work Of the OppO-
nent on the football field. II is that con
dition that IS invaluable 10 the football
student in after years; it Is that condi-
ton that gives the brain work 10 the
student. causing him 20 use great judg-
ment in overcoming the strength OF his
/ opponent. for while football is game OF
great endurance and strength, Il neces-
sarily must be guided By the mind
As a builder OF execution. the game OF
football ranks supreme. The players en-
Ter the game wl;h a complete knowledge
Z
the power OF attention that comprehends
command, with the acquaintance Of sig
mails, with that he will do his part. with
sufficient courage. coupled with the spirit
OF victory. that his team shall not be
disgraced by defeat.
The game of football Is PLAYED by two
teams, on the field that is level, and COM
monty termed the gridiron. This field, or
gTidiron, Is laid out, l69 feet wide. and $50
feet long. paralleled with lines five yards
apart At each end Of the field a goal
/ is located. which is composed Of two up
right posts exceeding twenty feet in
height, and placed eighteen and one-half
/ feet apart. a cross bar ten feet clear from
! the ground. Each team must have eleven
men. seven linsmen 0eft end. left tackle.
left guard. center. right guard. right
tackle. and right end and four backs
(quarter left half. right half, and fun
back.
Toss Up for Goals.
The choice Of goals are decided by lot,
the side winning the toss" generally
avaiiing themselves Of any favorable
wind or gradients which might prevail.
The game begins by the opposite side TO
that which has choice Of goals. kicking
the ball from center Of field toward the
goal line Of the opponent. by whom # is
generally caught and carried forward un-
I'll further progress IS stopped. The OBJ
ject Of both sides then is 10 drive the
ball over the goal line, or between the
two upright posts. which achievement is
making a goal When the progress Of
the ball is stopped. the two teams line
up opposite each other, with the ball on
the ground IN the hands Of the center. 70
whom it temporarily belongs.
When the center az the call OF signal.
snaps the ball 10 the quarter back who,
as a rule, passes il 10 another player, the
two teams rush together. the one endeav-
oring, by certain formations and passes.
TO advance the ball. while the other
strives 10 break Up the formation and
down the man with the ball This clash
is called a sCrimmage. II the side that
has possession of the ball fail 10 gain
ten yards In three downs, the ball then
goes TO the opposite side. and thus they
so back and forth. trying 10 place the
ball behind the enemy's goal line for
the coveted points.
The official football rules call for sew
y minutes Of play. which are divided
into two equaI halves. with a rest Of ten
minutes between. Time is taken out for
necessary utlbgs- hucl rs lf9 9-a-soai dlteF
touchdown, a kick-Out, a kickoff. or
when play is suspended by the referee.
The victor of the game is the team
scoring the greatest number OF points,
determined according TO the value as
signed to the following plays:
ToacldoEn-ball PLACID behind goal line..........5
Goal kicked after Touchdown is made. T. e. over
crossbar ard between goal.
Goal from field. drop OF place kics.-......-.......
SAFETY
ITO secure a safety, the impetus i'm
pelling the ball behind the goal line
must come from the side defending the
goal and the ball be there possessed by
the same side. Il IS a touch-back II the
impetus come from an opponent and a
touch-back counts nothing.