Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-31
NP0|NTERS FOR SOCCER
PLAYERS AND FOLLOWERS
increasing Interest in New Game De-
mands That Local Fans BE E'a-
miIiar With Possibilities.
z DEMANDS MADE or PLAYERS
what Is Expected Of Men in Various
Positions and Natural Abilities
Each Should POsscss-ISencfits De-
rived From Game.

The increasing interest tina, is being
, manifested in soccer which win he
Introduced ~ Il regular League game
nor: on SATURDAY. when the Richmond
Soccer League opens it's season with
ionf teams competing. has brought
the game prominently to tho attention,
OF all followers Of local sports TO
many soccer Is something entirely new
ana f"W persons III tlis section of til.
country understand the thrills with
which the sport ahounds or the posi-
bilitics for strenuous, though danger
less. competition which IL makes pos
sible.
For the benefit OF those who arc not
entirely familiar with the varioc;
phases OF this branch OF athletics. The
Times Diapatch has been publishing
the NOR" important points that hav.
10 he considered by players and spec
iators "a we'll. \ general announce
ncnt as 70 tho status Of he game IN
America 81 tho present time and - di-
Hcs, Of tn. rules already has been pre-
scented. To-day Is offered !, condensed
story showing the duties Of tho various
players and several Of the finer POINTS
possible III til" PLAY.
There ar" certain fundamental prin-
ciples III soccer that must H. mas
Jared before tho PLAYER can hop. 10
'
arc mastered. much depends on tho
natural ability Of the player az to
whether h" viii become q toInotchcr
or remain in tho ranks or the incdiocr.
Soccer requires very quick thinking.
and the player who cannot decide what
10 do at tn" psychological moment can
not hope To become expert at the game.
\ moments hesitation may spell dis
aSt.r o his side. and this rs especial
~ true i'll regard 10 the fulibacks and
goalk"epcr. one secs moro chances
II scoring utt.ri; wasted through hest.
iation than from AMY other cause.
soccer player should make M his mind
what 20 do quickly aud carry his de-
cision int" .ff.c, Immediately This
applies 10 every player on IA. team,
} and II there Is on" player who needs
20 hay" his wits abou, him II - the
Ioalkeep.r.
Position o"r az Responsibility.
only those Who have tr!.d the posi-
ton know tn" difficulties aud r.spou-
sibilities that "a goalkr"pcr faces. Tn"
job Is 'hanki'ss one. bur, curiously
enough, there - never any lack .:
candidates for thu position To those
VINO ar. seeking tic role OF u hero
We would say tr% your hand 1t goal
keeping. rho soalkccper Is tn. last
line OF defense. and his chances Of
saving his team from defca, Civ. him
opportunities that DO not ia.: TO any
other player an tho team
TO those who contemplate" Milling
this oncrnus position ~ would say. al
ways keep your eye on III. ball and on
the players. No matter how far .hc
players may he up the held. always
watch th"tn carefully. The ball travels
'Jup and down the ground so quickly
that !, chauc. shot may take effect be-
fore the Soalkeepc * awar" OF Il. \
goaikecpcr should never attcmpt 10
Kick or fist the ball when he can catch
II and either throw OF punt IT away.
He should never throw tho ball out in
front Of goal, but down tho field. and
n, the same time note tho player Ia
the best position 10 receive II. pro
vided h" has time.
fic should stand little in advanc.
OF the goal IN order that ne may
recover tn. bail bc.orc II goes be
tween the posts should We happen 10
tumble II. For long. dropping shot
he should stand as far back as possible
with safety. for a shot Of this kind is
especially difficult TO judge when there
/ is any wind blowing. There are times
when IL is easier for the backs to pass
back 10 the goa!keeper than il is t"
kick down the field
Therefore. the goalkceper should al
ways be prepared to take such pass.
Passing back 10 the goalkc,per is a
perfect confidence in him; bnt this is
lust what the goalk ecper should en-
deavor 10 inspire In the men in trout
OF him.
When a corner kick is taken, a goal
keeper should stand at tho opposite
end OF the goal from which the kick is
taken. for ii is much easier 10 run
forward than II is to run back. He
should acquire the knack Of throwing
himself fun length on the ground. for
only by doing so is II sometimes pos
sble TO stop a fast. Tow shot. even
should 1t be at the expense of a cor
ner. II IS naturally a decided advan-
tage for a goalkeeper to be tall. but
II Is BY no means essential. Some Of
the very hes, Eoalkeepers in the his
tory Of the game have been men OF
only mdium height. These are the few
elemental points for goalkeeper TO
consider, and by practice alone can
he become proficient In the most Diff
fcult and nerveracking position on
the soccer field.
Il Weight Advantage to Full Backs.
AS a general rule. the full backs
are tho heaviest men on the field,
although II is by no means sine qua
non that they should be heavy. Weight
Is decided advantage. because they
have TO stop the opposing forwards
when they are in full career. 1t Is
: not necessary for full back to charge
an oncoming forward with his full
weight.
A shoulder used at the right mo-
ment, without using unnecessary vio-
lence Is quite enough to upset the
equilibrium Of n forward, and. in adj
dtion. II will leave the full back In
a much better position to get at the
ball after charging. OF course. vt
is not necessary for a full back TO
always charge an oncoming forward:
ouite the reverse. 1t is his duty to
secure the ball ara kick It down the
field whenever no can without resort
ing to charging, and if he receives
proper support from the half backs he
will have more opportunities to kick
than to charge.
1t is a great mistake for full backs
to play too close TO each other. for 1t
only leads to confusion. and IL one
is beaten the other is likely to he
beaten also. One full back should in
variably he slightly ahead Of the 9TH
err. according to where the ball is If
the right wing Is coming down the
|. field the right full back should drop
back in order to cover tho rect of the
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