Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-10-29
SCHEMES OF GRIDIRON
Real Football Player Is Thinking
Every Minute of Game.
Rule Which Allows Puntine Anywhere
Behind Scrimmage Line Permits
Revival-OfficiaIs Must Watch
the Ball Closely.


games of the 1913 football. season,
close followers of the game, especial
ly 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 if certain plays are used
at the proper time.
Although the lruIes 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 it is this
type who generally makes name for
himself.
The rule which states that when q
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 it crossed
the sideline, is one which has not been
taken advantage of enough. There
are many players in 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 player at the be-
ginning of the second and third quar-
tiers and at any time during the final
period, a 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 it's 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 team from scoring
would be the sure, safe method Of
throwing the ball out of bounds 80 or
40 yards down the field. Even if 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
a spiral fashion, thus allowing the
ball to bore through the air and with
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 it 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 it's own and DO
| used great deal. The play will DO
| all the more valuable because the ball
| is free property the moment it 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 scramDnng
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 a lot of consideration Dy
| coaches and players, there are other
| points which sals of invaluable ASSIST
ance to a team if the players carry
| out instructions. The point regarding
! a player stepping out of bounds OF
| fighting to cross the side line Wheh
| he is cornered is most important
| one. When team in possession Vi
the ball is crowded within two yaruS
from the side line the offensive
eleven is in a "hole" and it's chances
of gaining ground nightly slim.
| The players always should remeh-
Der to fight to get out of bounds When
tackled close to the boundary II y
almost impossible to gain ground Oh
the wing close to the side line ana II
| is almost as hard to make any heau-
way on the wide side because inc
defense is shifted over to meet an
expected attack. If team is forceu
against the boundary it is much DetteI
to lose down by sending a play ou'
of bounds than it is to try to gam
| through the line or on the wide slue'