The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-20
new FOOTBALL MAY
REPLACE OlDsGAME
Columbia Park Boys Master
victorian Style" During
Australian Visit
By WILLIAM UNMACK

The famous Columbia, park boys, who
have added still further to their fame
as well as bringing credit TO the young
their six months tour of Australasia.
are due 10 arrive here March l. The
boys have covered themselves with
glory in everything they undertook
and IN the matter OF Australian foot
BAH they have in so snort a time actu-
ally outstripped their masters. the
Australian boys. and won practically
so per cent Of all the games played.
Considering that when the Columbia
boys left here for Australia they
knew only the rudiments Of the game
this performance, is nothing short of
marvellous.
Seeing that the, Australian football
league IS sending a ynoung boy over
here TO place this style of football be-
fore the schools here, description OF
the methods Of playing the game will
be OF interest and will show in a very
marked degree the great difference in
the game between either RNgbY, inter
collegiate. soccer or Gaelic foot ball, all
OF which are known here. The new
game Is not what can be called rough.
one thing that viii be detrimental to
the game here is the lack OF suitable
grounds. as the laws OF the game call
for q ground about 220 yards long by
2 bout $50 Yards wide and oblong in
shape That is the first great differ
ence in the games as al present played
here. The Rugby field was considered
p big field mere when II was stated
that the size was 10 yards long by 40
yards wide so that il can easily be
seen that the Australian game field is
immense. just quadruple the size Of the
Rugby field.
The names Of the forward positions
are as follows: Half forward right
and left wing; half center forward;
then the forward left wing and the
forward right wing and the one for
ward himself. This accounts for 10
players. but the three men on whom
al the hard work depends and who
have to be At all times in the very
pink OF condition are known as the
three followers. These men are
running ali the time and wherever
the bali IS the followers are also TO
BE- found. These three men more |
nearly come up to the ideas Of the |
Rugby forward than any other man |
on the field. |
Wherever the play is there viii al !
ways be eight men. For example, /
should the play be right under one of |
the goals the men taking part at that /
particular point win be the defending (
fullback. the opposing forward Zone 4
player only and the six followers. A
bail very similar TO the bali used in I
Rugby football as played by Stanford |
and California is used TO play this I
game. and the bail can not be run I
with for more than 10 yards without (
very great skill. particularly when run
ming at fun speed.
The game is played in four quarters
OF 3 minutes each quarter, making a
total Of one hour and 30 minutes actual
playing. irrespective of intervals be-
tween quarters. How would this ap
peal 10 the local Rugby players who
never even play the proper halves &C
cording TO the rules Of Rugby of 40
minutes each? Even playing two halves
Of so minutes the local Rugbyites are
down and out long before the fun time
whistle blows. No substitutes are al
lowed ia the Victorian game after the
first quarter, and then only for serious
injury.
The players are allowed to change
their positions on the field at any time
II the captain so desires, and in this
respect the three followers are more
often changed than any other position.
The game is started at the center of
the field by the field umpire. II seems
natural To suppose that the ball would
be kicked of as in most other forms
Of football. but in the Victorian game
it is bounced off by the field umpire.
When the BAH is bounced of there are
eight men Al the spot where it is
bounced, namely the three followers of
each side and the two opposing center
men.
There are four goal posts. The two
actual goal posts have no crossbar $
in other forms Of football. and the ball
can 20 through them at any height for
\ goal. 4 goal in this game counts
q points. on The outer side OF the
goa IS and al equal distances are two
shorter posts known IS behind posts
II the ball goes between this behind
post and the goal post it is known as
behind and counts as / point All these
kicks, whether for goals or behinds,
must 60 through clear, that is 10 say
tic bail must not touch any player in
transit. The space on the outside OF
the circumference of the field and be-
tween the two opposite behind posts
Is known IS the out Of bounds line
snd when the BAH goes out Of bounds
il is brought into play by the field
umpire who usually punches il into
the field Of play from the spot where
it went out
Game PrpScrvp TTrood