The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-10-24
SCHEMES OF GRIDIRON
Real Football Player Is Thinking
Every Minute Of Game.
Rule Which Allows Puntlng Anywhere
Behind scrlmmaee Line Permits
ReVIval--offiolaIs Must Watch
the Ball Closely.


'y those who played under the old
rules, are watching with interest the
manner in which the players take ad-
vantage of the rules, some of which
permit foxy players to pull off" the
unexpected II certain plays are used
at the proper time
Although the rules have not been
changed to any great extent, there
are many ways In which heady play
er can keep his team out of danger by
carefully sizing up the situation and
ascertaining the plays which might
work the best when his team is
crowded near his own goal line. A
real football player is thinking and
scheming all the time, and 1t is this
type who generally makes a name for
himself.
The rule which states that when
forward pass is thrown out of bounds
before striking the ground in the field
Of play the ball shall go to the OPP
ponents at the point where 1t crossed
the sideline, Is one which has not been
taken advantage of enough. There
are many players in a squad who can
hurl the oval 40 or so yards with the
accuracy of a baseball. If a coach
is fortunate enough to have such a
player this man should be- carried
along for this speciality.
Under the ruling which allows a re-
substitution of a player at the be-
ginning of the second and third quar-
tiers and at any time during the final
period, player who can throw the
ball out of bounds 80 or 40 yards down
the field is valuable asset. If a
team is close pressed and finally takes
the ball away from its opponents on
the one or two yard line, the natural
thing to do is to punt the ball as far
out of danger as possible.
In striking contrast to this method
of preventing a team from scoring
would be the sure, safe method of
throwing the ball out of bounds 80 or
40 yards down the field Even II the
wind were blowing against the oval
the passer would get more distance to
his throw than kicker, for the sim
pie reason that the ball is thrown in
spiral fashion, thus allowing the
ball to bore through the air and with
a definite direction. The defensive
team has no chance of receiving free
trial at the goal, and there is no
chance of the catcher running the ball
any distance.
This play was used sparingly last
season, especially in the early stages.
Near the close of the year the coaches
used 1t more, and soon discovered the
value of a man who could throw the
oval a long distance with accuracy.
The preliminary practice every season
is devoted to kicking and throwing
the oval, and the coaches now should
have a good line on the men who are
most adept In handling the ball.
The change in the rules which al
lows the ball to be kicked from any
point back of the scrimmage line is
sure to bring back the on-side kick,
considered by many to be one of the
most valuable ground gaining plays.
AS the rule this season permits the
kicker to boot the oval from any
position, the old on-side kick is sure
to come back into its own and, be
used a great deal. The play will be
all the more valuable because the ball
is free property tha moment 1t strikes
the ground, whereas in the old days
the oval had to be touched by an OPP
ponent before one of the kicking side
could recover it. AS a result there
is going to be plenty of scrambling
for the ball, so the officials will have
to be on top Of the play all the time
to award the oval to its logical owner.
Although these plays should come
in for lot of consideration by
coaches and players, there are other
points which are of invaluable assist
ance to a team II the players carry
out instructions. The point regarding
player stepping out of bounds or
lighting to cross the side line when
he is cornered is a most important
one. When a team in possession of
the ball is crowded within two yards
from the side line the offensive
eleven is in hole" and it's chances
of gaining ground nightly slim.
The players always should remem-
Der to fight to get out of bounds when
tackled close to the boundary. It Is
almost impossible to gain ground on
the wing close to the side line and It
is almost as hard to make any head
way on the wide side because the
defense is shifted over to meet an
expected attack. If team is forced
against the boundary 1t is much better
to lose a down by sending a play out
of bounds shan 1t is to try to gain