The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-10-26
ASK EARLY FOOTBALL
Coaches Impress on Beginners
Importance OF Practice.
Preparatory School Men Have oppor
tunity to Show Grit Under Ad.
verse clrcumstances-First
Year Tells Tale.

Early season work In football II
coming to be regarded rs more anC
more important by middle western
football coaches since the rule of the
conference was established prohibit
Ing mentors from teaching theil
charges before Sept 20
In the years before the stringent
regulations OF the conference. when II
was possible to start training In the
middle Of the summer, It was not until
almost October that practice really
began, but since the time has been sci
for September 20 coaches. captains
and veterans have impressed upon
candidates for gridlron honors the
absolute necessity OF appearing on the
field the first day and staying there
throughout the season II they expect
TO be picked as regulars"
Only half-hearted efforts we're made
to coach the veterans before October
under the old regime. the early work
being principally tryout for inexpe.
rienced material Now there is not
time for try.outs and the greater part
Of the material which reports for prac.
tice at the big western schools Is thor.
oughly seasoned and those men who
lack experience must be content to
work on the scrub" until such time as
they may show they have gained the
required knowledge of the game The
freshman and scrub teams are the
preparatory schools for varsity foot
ball education and a man who has
not gone through a course Of sprouts
on one Of those two elevens has as
little chance Of making" the varsity
as has man getting into college
without a preparatory school training
There are some exceptional men
who may make good with the school
elevens without this preparatory
work. but these are the exceptions
that prove the rule. More than ono
high school or academy star has gone
to college and refrained from playing
on the freshman team. thinking the
grind OF daily scrimmages without the
incentive of a game not worth the
candle These men have relied much
upon the regulations they have estab.
lished as preparatory school players
and find. too late. that college foot
ball and preparatory school football
are as different as professional and
amateur baseball
The system of coching is entirely
different and the man who has had his
name shouted by thousands of ad.
mlrers in Keokuk. Iowa, or Ispheming.
Mich, finds II rather annoying to be
booted around and "bawled out" by
men whom he regards as having only
a 1.-THE Of his own ability
Early season work for the most
part is devoted to learning rudimen.
tary formations Every school that
has had coach for more than a year
or two has some sort of System" OF
plays and formations and this ground.
work is drilled into the men In the
first work. At the end OF this time
hey are expected to have the general
plan Of the coaches well in mind and
ire considered capable of putting into
execution their slightest command
Formerly there was a season Of con
litlonng when the men. returning
rom their summer vacations. often
at, we're trained down TO something
approaching fl physical condition.
iow the man who reports for prac-
ice in anything but condition has liz.
lie chance of receiving attention
rom the tutors. The coaches wisely
eclde that a man who does not care
nough about the game to ft himself
or the early work is persona non
rata on the gridiron and the only
'ay in which he may re-establish him.
ELF in their estimation is by work.
lg alone. getting the fat off and in.
identally keeping pace with his more
oreslghted brothers who have not
his handicap to overcome.