University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-01-14

: game for the training of track men
The introduction of the old Eng
lish game into American colleges be-
gan in the earlier part of the last
century, but for some reason it has
never been used to any great extent
in the University of Missouri. The
game furnishes valuable training for
track men, according to one of the
physical instructors in the University
1t helps to develop heart and lung
power, furnishing virtually the same
physical training that the American
game does, without the accompanying
danger of the latter
Soccer is a desirable game for high
school pupils, athletes say; bet
/ ter even than basketball which is too
strenuous. Ii is easily officiated, for
there are no complex rules as in
the American game. II is very popu-
lar in the Eastern colleges. especially
in New England, where regular
schedule is played each season. A
form of the old English game is also
used by the Pacific coast teams. II
is the opinion of men here within
the next five years a regular schedule
will be played in the Missouri Valley.
although they do not expect it to sup
plant the more spirited American
game.
No ArmOr Needed.
Soccer is played without the use of
armor. The players use only shin
guards and often play in regular
track suits and shoes. The game is |
played by eleven men on each side, |
consisting of the goal keeper. the |
only man on the team who is allowed |
to pick up the ball and punt or bat
ii, two full-backs. three half-backs
called left. right and center half
backs, and five men constituting the
rush line, called center forward,
right and left forward and right and
left wing
Running interference is allowed.
but no tackling. The goal posts are
six feet farther apart than in intercol-
legiate football and score is made
when the ball passes under the bar
and between the posts. The game is
played principally with the feet,
though any part of the body may be
used in handling the ball with the
exception of the arms.
The game is 30 minutes long and
no time is taken out when a goal
is made. An interval of five minutes
Is allowed between the two halves.
The game is started by a place kick
from the center of the field and when
the ball goes over the side line is be-
longs to the opposing team.
The game of soccer football origi-
mated in England. 1t is closely akin
to the Rugby game, practically the
only difference being that in Rugby
all the players are allowed to use
their hands in handling the ball while
in soccer this right is granted to but
one player on each side, the goal
keeper. One of the other of these
two forms of football is already in
general use all over the world except
ing only in America. the vigorous
youth prefering the more
strenuous intercollegiate game of this
The Englishmen are ever
more enthusiastic over football than
he Americans and the great Rugby
games are often witnessed by one
hundred thousand people or more
A Game for Cold Days.
Soccer is distinctively winter
game and is often played on FROST
bound ground where it is diff
,ult to maintain a foothold; yet one
seldom hears of an accident. One
reason for this is that the rules of
he game allow no player to be tack
ed or interfered with in any way un-
less he is in actual possession of the
ball. Mass plays, piling up and
'bucking the line" are unknown.
Football is one of the Oldest if not
he Oldest, of our sports. The an
,ients inflated a bladder and kicked
t about. In Greece there was a game
played in much the same way as with
rs. only by larger number of per-
sons. Then the Romans played a
game called 'harpastum" with both
hands and feet. These were the foun-
iations of soccer and Rugby. There
ian be little doubt that it was passed
IN to Great Britain by the Romans
rom "harpastum," where they
'trove by conquering cast to throw
he ball into each others goal. Gen.
uries before cricket was born in the
'outh Of England. football was COM