Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-28
USE OF TRICK PLAYS
Fakes Gain Most After the First
Kickoff.
Teams Are Not Alert Then, Says Eek.
ersall-FootbalI 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 off guard. Many believe
the substitution of fast and elusive
players 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 Fl. Eckersoll in the Chicago Trib
une.
In football 1t is we'll known fact
that at the beginning of contests the
players are not thoroughly alert to
the situation, and those who have
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.
ers are not sharpeneG to the situation
and they do not gain that alertness or
aggressiveness which they acquire az
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-
lion it generally fails against a well
coached team.
Coaches Of the big elevens repri-
mand Il player severely If ne is
trickcd on a play Of this kind, al
though the play generally is attempted
some time during an important con-
test There Is such great chance of
its 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 man to one side Of the field or
the other that it now is foolish to take
4 chance with forward pass unless
the offensive player near the side line
is not covered by a member Of the
defensive eleven.
The moment player on the Often
sive team is sent wide on either ex-
tremity of the line the defense is
weakened to the extent that it must
send a man to watch the shifted
player. Under these conditions for
nations can be evolved of deceptive
character which can be sent on the
opposite side from the shifted player,
although the defensive eleven nine
times out of ten will expect the play
or the strong side.
the initial kickoff in a game the play.
ers stand erect and attempt to discern
the weaknesses OF their opponents.
1t is several seconds before the teams
clash in the first scrimmage. The
players are not warmed up to the
conflict and as result they overlook
many things which they spot in an
instant as the contest progresses.
AS result the best and most OPP
perfume time to spring q trick or de-
ceptive play is on the play following
the first kickoff. If formations are
evolved in which the players assume
the necessary positions to make the
play success and il the ball is
snapped before the defensive team has
a chance to size up the situation and
before minds are sharpened to the
point where they will be on the look
out for such plays, such trick plays
are almost certain to be successful.