Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-09
S OF THE SPORTING WORLD

lime positions the preference over
their lighter competitors. The heavy
team always had the advantage. for
it took players of heavy poundage 10
stop the plays of opposing eleVens'
especially in games where concentra-
ted attacks through the line or on the
tackles were employed.
With the revision of the rules which
prohibit the man carrying the ball to
be pushed or pulled or helped in any
way except by the interference pre-
ceding him, the days of the heavy,
slow football players have passed.
The coaches now are looking for can
didates who are fast and who possess
the faculty of sizing up an opponent s
play quickly and of moving to the
point of attack with speed and agility.
Demand Speed in Linemen.
Linemen who can get down the field
under punts with the speed of the
ends are in demand. Tackles who can
get out in the open to receive forward
passes with as much success as the
backs or ends are needed. Guards
who can be relied upon to get out of
their positions and help in the inter
ference on sweeping end runs or at
tempts to gain ground from fake punt
formations will be given the call over
heavier and bulkier rivals.
Because of these important facts
the teams of today are not as heavy
as those of the old regime. The coach
es have become reconciled to the sit
uation, and in several games played
this season men have played in the
line who weighed as low as 15S
pounds. Although light for the posi-
tions, they more than made up on
the offense for what they lacked on
the defense.
Assist in Line PIunging.
AS it is mighty hard to penetrate a
line continuously by the bucks and
split interference plays, it is not es
sential to have heavy men in the for
ward wall. AS practically all the
coaches are employing the secondary
line of defense, the chances are the
runner will be checked after a short
gain, even if he gets by the first de |
fensive line. Any coach who has heavy |
men who possess speed and agility !
must consider himself a fortunate |
mentor. and it is only the teacher who !
has large squad of material at his |
who will uncover such play |
ers.
In order to get as much speed out of |
the players as possible, the coaches F.!
are getting away from the old idea OF
making the players wear all sorts of
,-k,
puts into a hard-fcught struggle are
enough to tire him without making
him carry arcnnd pounds of pads to
protect different parts of his anat-
omy.
Shin Guards Now Discarded.
Shin guards now nave become al
most extinct. The heavy solid leather
head guard has been supplanted by
one of soft material, and not so pom
ierous or cumbersome. Light pads to
protect the collar bones now are used
instead of the big, heavy projections
which were sewed on the jerseys. The
trousers are maze of lighter material,
and the shoes also are made of diff
serent material to make the players
burden more easy to carry.
Any player who is in good physical
condition does not need to be padded
n such manner. as he is deprived of
lis freedom of action. Any man who
Knows how to tackle and who has
earned the art of falling when tack
ed and to straighten himself out in
| scrimmage seldom will be injured.
f the runner allows himself to be
ackled from the side instead of head
N, neither he nor the tackle will be
lurt
Average followers of the football, ;
Who saw the struggles under the old
Jules, and who are admirers of the
resent game are quick to notice
hese points. Ordinarily the players
iho gain the most ground and get i
way for long runs are those whose ,
forts are not hampered by wearing I
DO much protection.