Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-09-22
HOW FOOTBALL is PLAYED.
A Brief Explanation for Those Who Are
Not Familiar with the Rudlments Of
the Game.

A Brief Explanation for Those VIII Are
Not Familiar with the Rudlments Of
the Came.
Football is played upon a rectangular
field, 800 feet in length and 100 fleet in
width, enclosed by heavy white lines.
The lines at the two ends are called
goal lines, while the lines on each side
are side lines. Two goal posts are
erected at each end of the field, IS feet
and six inches apart with a horizontal
crossbar 10 feet from the ground and
the field is usually marked off at inter-
walls of five yards, with white lines par
allel to the goal lines.
The length of a regular game Is 60
minutes, divided into four periods of 15
minutes each, excl i've of the time
taken out, but thes PERIODS are usually
shortened by mutual agreement of the
captains of the contesting teams. Prep
aratory school teams usually play 10
minute periods and sometimes late in
the season u minute periods. This year
there Is two minutes intermission be-
tween the first and second and third and
fourth periods. The intermission be-
tween the second and third period is Is
minutes unless shortened by agreement.
The game is opened by one team
kicking the ball from the centre of the
field to their opponents, who are spread
out to catch the ball after is has been
kicked. The side which receives the
ball endeavors to carry it across the
goal line which they are facing as they
take the kick, while their opponents
endeavor to carry the ball across the
opposite goal line or the one which they
are facing. The carrying of the ball
across this line is called a touchdown
and counts five points for the successful
team. Then the ball is brought or kick
ed out under certain rules and one mem
Der of the team securing the touchdown
tries to kick the ball between the two
goal posts above the crossbar 10 feet
from the ground. If he succeeds in do
ing this feat he wins another point for
his team thus making the score six in
stead of five, and this feat alone decides
many of the close contests. This is
called a goal from a touchdown. Either
team may, when only 20 or 30 yards
from their goal, try to kick the ball
through between the same goal posts,
either from drop kick or by placing 1t
upon the ground and if they succeed it
is called a field goal and counts three
points for their team. This is a hard
feat to accomplish as the other team is
e~ndeavoring to break through the line
to spoil the kick. Very often a contest
is won by a field goal as neither team
is able to carry the ball across its OPP
p%onent's goal line so they try to score
in this way.
The rules which govern rushing the
ball on the field of play are briefly
stated as follows: The side which has
the ball must advance it 10 yards in
trying three downs and If they fail to
gain 10 yards in trying three times the
ball goes to their opponents, who try to
advance the ball towards their goal line.
The 10 yards which each team has to
gain in trying three times is measured
by the linesmen, who are on one side of
the field with a rope or chain 10 yards in
length. AS soon as the rushing team
makes this distance, the men change
their position so as to mark the dis
lance from the new down or place
where the rushing team is going to try
to advance 10 yards in trying three
times. only one forward pass can be
made in one %scrimmage and that must
be caught this year or it is uncompleted
and the team making 1t loses one of
their three attempts to get their dis
lance. If a team has several yards to
make on their last attempt they usually
Kick the ball so as to keep it from their
W goal line. Members of the team
which has possession of the ball must
not use their hands in warding off op-
ponents except the man with the ball.