Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-10-29
USE OF TRICK PLAYS
Fakes Gain Most After the First
 Kickoff.
Teams Arc Not Alert Then, Says Eek ersall-FootbaIi Coaches and
 Players Differ on Time to
 Spring Deceivers.

Football players and coaches have different ideas as to the best time in contests to spring trick plays or any other fakes which might catch oppos- ing teams of guard. Many believe the substitution of fast and elusive Nlayers in the latter stages of the games is the best time to spring a deceptive play, while others hold a directly contrary opinion, writes Wal ter H. Eckersoll in the Chicago Trib- une.
 In football it is well known fact I that at the beginning of contests the players are not thoroughly alert to the situation, and those who have l played the game know the men do not enter the game with the proper spirit until they have been tackled few times or hit opponents hard in the interference. The minds of the play CTS are not sharpened to the situation and they do not gain that alertness or aggressiveness which they acquire as the games progress.
 In 1906, the first year of the for ward pass, the old "shoestring" trick invariably was attempted on the play following a kickoff. The defensive team had not yet become accustomed to the play. and as a result it often was good for substantial gains. As the 1906 season progressed, one of the fundamental principles of the ends was to scan the extremities of the field to see that no offensive player had been placed there to receive a forward pass. Although coached on this point, many of the ends, carried away with the excitement of the con test, failed to carry out the coaches instructions. A number of teams. es- pecially high and preparatory elevens, attempt the play this year. but as there Is no deception to the forma- ton it generally fails against well coached team. :. -...y, :s, s.s.--
 Coaches of the big elevens repri, mand player severely If he IS tricked on play of this kind, al though the play generally is attempted some time during an important con- test. There Is such great chance of it's ultimate success that the majority of the mentors are willing to take chances with the play, but so many formations can be evolved from send
 ing a man to one side of the field ol the other that 1t now is foolish to take a chance with a forward pass unless the offensive player near the side line Is not covered by member of the defensive eleven.
 The moment a player on the offen
 sive team is sent wide on either ex tremity of the line the defense is weakened to the extent that it mus send a man to watch the shifted player. Under these conditions for nations can be evolved Of deceptive
 character which can be sent on thu | opposite side from the shifted player l although the defensive eleven nin' :, times out of ten will expect the pla! I on the strong side.
 Invariably on the down followinl
 the initial kickoff in game the play , CTS stand erect and attempt to discerl the weaknesses of their opponents
 It is several seconds before the team clash in the first scrimmage. Th
 players are not warmed up to th
 conflict and as result they overlool
 many things which they spot in al . instant as the contest progresses.
 As result the best and most op :. portune time to spring trick or de 7. ceptiye play is on the play followtnl ,, the first kickoff. If formations arr evolved in which the players assume
 the necessary positions to make th play success and if the ball | a :, snapped before the defensive team ha a chance to size up the situation ant ', before minds are sharpened to thu . point where they will be on the look . out for such plays, such trick play are almost certain to be successful