Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-06
CENTER HALFBACKK KEY
TO SOCCER SUCCESS
Player in This Position Is Srategist of
Dribbling to Be Observation-Disclosures Should Be
Powerful and Accurate Kickers
BY DOUGLAS STEWART
Coach OF tho University OF

uAVING described certain phases of
play 1t is necessary that some
understanding of tho positions and
methods of playing them be had.
Taking the two fullbacks. 1t is neces-
sary that these two players, who occupy
the entire width of the field between
them from the goal line up to the half
back line, should understand that they
are practically the last line Of defense.
In order to fill these positions properly,
they should be powerful kickers with
sufficient control of the ball in booting
not only to clear but place the ball
within easy reach Of their own for
wards. They also should be good
tacklcrs, able to advance toward an op-
ponent and charge him il necessary in
order to gain possession of the ball.
The right fullback necessarily takes care
primarily of any of the opposing left
wing, which gets through the halfback
line. In doing so 1t is his purpose to
get the ball from the opposing forward
before he passes it.
If unable to get the ball this way
then he should put himself In position
either to spoil the pass Of the forward
or intercept It, and, having done so, to
pass the ball to one of his own side
further down the field, preferably to u
forward, and, if unable TO reach a for
ward, then to an unmarked half, who
can pass the ball forward. In case,
however, the right fullback should miss
the player and the ball, Il is the duty
OF the left fullback to see TO it that
the ball is put out Of danger and il
possible fed to an unmarked forward.
To carry out this maneuver success
fully the left fullback when he has
seen his mate pulled out Of position and
beaten In his efforts to gain possession
of the ball, should work himself over
toward his mates position, so as to be
In position to forcstall any effort on the
part Of the opposing forwards to beat
the backs and have clear shot at goal.
In the case Of one fullback getting into
his mates position it is the duty Of the
beaten mate TO recover either his own
position as rapidly as possible or fill
his mates position SO AS to be In posi-
tiOn to intercept any passes made il the
effort to beat the other fullbaCk
Must Watch Trick Plays
TT IS not uncommon for forwards in
i in possession Of tho bail, having
beaten the halves, to endeavor to trick
the fullbacks by the center forward
passing the ball either to one of his
inside men or to wing just before the
fullback reaches him, and ha to rush
past the fullback and receive the ball
back from the forward to whom he
passed it, and so have a clear shot
This it is the duty Of the other full
back to prevent. His skill in auticiput-
ing the moves of his opponents and
putting himself in position 10 intercept
the pass Is shown by the measure Of
success he has in doing 50. In order
that the fullbacks may be able to per
form the duties required of them. they
must. as said before, be good and sure
kickers. they must be able to kick with
either foot, they must be able to use
their heads inside and out-inSidc in
divining the possible moves of the op.
poncnts and outside by being able to
head the ball when it cannot be reached
by the feet.
They must also have sense enough TO
give the goalkecper chance to g"t the
ball by keeping away from in front of
him when they are beaten. Sometimes
It is good play for the fullback, when Il
forward Is running toward the fullhack s
goal. to tackle or block the forward
and give the goalkeeper a chance to
get the ball.
The wisdom Of this depends TO a large
extent on the ncarneSs and speed Of the
forwards mates and their ability to
receive pass while running. In" full
backs should always follow the halfbacks
m the field to certain extent, but
never get 50 far away from their posi-
tions that they cannot recover them
before an opponent gets into them,
There should also be IN understand .
inc with the halves us to the opposing
70, wards which they will particularly
cover. That IL, if the halves cover the
center and to inside men, the backs
should cover the outside men, Or il
the wing halves cover the outside men
the backs should cover the inside men
always leaving the center half 10 take
care of the center forward.
Halfbacks Important
As to the halfbacks. In thls casc
there are three payers to the width OF
the fed aud operating in that width VI
and close to the forwards; their widtl
Of the field is constantly varying il
depth according to the position Of thu
forwards.
The halfback line is the first line o.
defense and calls for a higher degrc,
Of skill in footwork, heading, antici
patton. intrrCcption and feeding Gbil
ity than in the fullbucks, and alst
greater activity. The halfback line vii
make or mar the best team which eve
took the field aud this Is particularly
true of the center half.
The halves should be adept in tacklin,
their opponents, good at anticipating
the moves OF the opponents and conse-