Momentum plays may be easily stopped by allowing the flying men to pass you and not strike you. If a man stands with his body well forward and his arms outstretched in front of him, he can bear off to one side or swing to one side the man who tries to hit and get him out of the way. The ancient criss-cross trick, which very often succeeds, may be stopped by simply having the forwards go through every time, and not run behind their own line. Finally, there is but one way to stop all trick plays, and that is to keep your eyes on the ball. It does not matter which way the men run—watch the ball and follow that.
Defence to different parts of the field, and defensive generalship.—In general, the defence to all parts of the field should be equally strong, but there are parts where the offensive eleven redoubles its efforts, and to successfully oppose it the defensive team must do the same. When a team is within its own 20-yard line on the defensive, the full-back, instead of standing back near the goal, should come up to within four or five yards of the line, as he can be of infinitely more service then in re-enforcing the line. The object should be more than ever to prevent the opposing runners from passing the line. If the other side kicks, the ball will be more than likely to go over the line, so that the full-back need not worry about that.
The centre and guard may make a hole to allow the quarter-back to go through and play havoc with the play. Everybody should play for the ball. Sharp, desperate, active breaking through, added to the nervousness of the other side, will often get the defensive eleven out of a hole. When inside the opponent's 35-yard line, the ends, instead of dropping back and out when the opposing side is going to kick, should play up in the line, and go through to try to block the kick. The ends, to be sure, are at the longest distance from the kicker, but they may distract the blockers sufficiently to help some other man to stop the kick. In plays within the side-lines the short field should be carefully guarded, and a concerted effort made to force the play outside and into touch, thus making the offensive team lose its first trial to advance.
A team should never play slowly simply because the other side is ahead. It is an unfair practice, and unquestionably poor generalship. The other side, seeing that it has an easy thing, will simply play all the more boldly; whereas a constant, stubborn resistance, a "die-in-the-last-ditch" defence, will keep the other side guessing all the time. But often a team may find itself being pushed steadily back towards its own goal, and with no apparent good reason. The cause may be simply a little nervousness on the part of the men, and if the captain will simply call time a moment, the result often is that the men get right together and steady down to their work. A team that is forced to be on the defensive most of the time will do well to kick constantly and frequently whenever it gets the ball.
Defensive generalship.—Defensive generalship consists in keeping the other side on the defence. The best way to defend one's territory is to advance into the other fellow's.
The same rule applies when a team is pushed back into either corner of its territory. In both cases the end on the long side of the field should keep a sharp lookout for a dash around the end. When a team gets possession of the ball in close proximity to its own goal-line, it is really on the defensive, as has been said before. The ball, more than likely, must be kicked from behind its own goal-line. Then it is that the full-back should exercise great judgment, and if the opposing forwards are through the line and on him before he can get his kick, he should allow a safety, and not give the other side a touch-down. Better give up two points than four or six.
The championship season of the Connecticut League will probably open on October 24, although the schedule has not yet been made up. But before that time a number of games will be played by the school teams in the League, and we shall be able to get a line on the style of the several teams.
The Hartford High-School will not have so heavy a football team this year as last. The average weight of the eleven will be about 150 pounds, whereas the 1895 team averaged 156 pounds. Thus far Allen seems to be the strongest candidate for centre; Weeks, Griffin, and Costello are the best men trying for guards. Griffin is new at the game, but he will improve; he weighs 200 pounds, and stands 6 ft. 2 in. Weeks is considerably lighter, but he can play good football; he is a lazy worker, however, and needs hard coaching. Costello ranks third in excellence, but should make the team if Weeks does not go in more seriously.
Strong, who played end last year, has been moved into tackle. On the other side of the line Bush and Marsh have about equal chances for the same position. Three men are trying for the ends—Calder, Breed, and A. E. Smith—the best work being done by the two former. Captain Sturtevant will keep his old place at quarter, where he did such good work last fall. One half-back and full-back were both on last year's team, E. W. Smith having been dropped back from centre, and Twitchell from end. Rowley seems to be the most promising candidate for the third position.