Football

Matamata Record, Volume XVII, Issue 1546, 26 July 1934, Page 8

Football

THE GAME OF RUGBY How it Should be Flayed The following is the second instalment of the New Zealand Rugby Union’s 1934 book on Rugby football, written by Mr. T. A. Fletcher, assisted by Messrs. D. McKenzie (Wellington), E. Cockroft (Timaru), W. J. (“Billy”) Wallace (Wellington), 1905 All Black, and Mark Nicholls (Wellington), 1924 All Black.

The articles are published in the Matamata Record by arrangement with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

The Art of Taking the Ball

There are two ways of taking the ball—(a) with the hands and arms when the ball is falling from a high kick, and (b) with the hands when it is rolling along the ground or bouncing low, but in neither case should the ball be grabbed. Taking with one hand should never be attempted when both hands can be used without loss of position, pace or ground. In taking the ball from a high kick the arms should not be widespread but should be fairly close together, elbows not too far apart, thus forming a kind of receptacle into which the ball falls easily but yet cannot pass through and drop to the ground. In a high, kick the hands must be above the level of the eyes and the player must watch the ball fall into his hands. The eyes must not be taken off the bal£ to watch the opposing players. When caught, the ball should be brought into the chest by a quick, nursing movement. Do not let the ball hit the body (first. If the ball is taken below the level of the eyes it drops out of vision, and only good luck enables it to be taken.

How to Pass

One of the most essential features to be learned in the Rugby game is that of passing the ball correctly. At the moment just before giving the pass the player in possession of the ball should twist his body and head slightly in the direction of the player who is to receive it, so that he can see him- and therefore ascertain the proper flight of the ball. A pass should not be given blindly. Watch the receiver, not your tackier. The pass should be given with no spin at all on the ball, but should be straight across with a slight upward movement from about the level of the hips, and so aimed that it may be taken in front of and about the level of the lower part of the chest of the next player. The pass is thrown just in front of the player so that he may take it while in his full stride. If the ball is thrown at the player himself he must halt' in his stride to gather it in, and there is a much greater chance of him fumbling. Then, .too, if the receiver takes the ball right in front of his own

chest, he can at once look up to see exactly the position of his opponents; if the ball swings away to th,e side so that he- has to turn round to take it the most valuable time is lost before he can look round and sum up the position. The pass should always be given with both hands; there should be a swing of both arms and body, but it should not be thrown or jerked. The ball should reach the receiver in a vertical position. When holding the ball for a pass place the hands on the sides, not the ends, fingers widespread. If the ball is being passed to the left the right hand is the one that gives the impetus to the ball, and the left hand merely steadies it and prevents it from turning over and over. Conversely, when the ball is being passed to the right, the impetus is given by the left hand, the right hand being used to steady it. A pass should be given in one long swing without any flourishes. In addition to being able to give the pass correctly, the player should also know the correct time to pass. This is usually just before the moment of actual contact with the opponent who is tackling. It is a good rule always to run almost up to your man before giving the pass, so as to draw him to you and away from your comrades, but you should always give your team-mate room to manoeuvre. It is of no use giving him the ball when his opponent is almost on him and he has no chance of making an opening. In such a case it is better for you to pass the ball to him a little sooner so that he is in a position to do something with it. Then, after passing, if possible, dodge round and chip into the play again, or back up to retrieve mistakes. Do not he actually caught in possession if this is avoidable.

Never pass to one of your own side who is in a worse position than you are. If an opponent should happen to be between you and that player, * you may get over the difficulty by lobbing it just over his head so that it falls into the hands of your own man, but it would probably be safer to go on with the ball yourself and so prevent an intercept tion. It may, perhaps, even be a good policy in such a case to do what is called “ giving the dummy.” that is to say, you go through all the actions of passing the ball but, retaining it yourself, rush off in another direction. If this position arises, however, it is almost certain proof that the player in possession has gone too far before passing.

A pass should never be given wildly. You should know exactly where the man is to whom you are passing the ball. A wild pass is always the sign of an inferior player. Never mind the opponent who is coming to tackle you; watch the man to whom you are passing the ball.

If you happen to break through on your own, it is the duty of your comrades to rush up to your support as quickly as posiible. " They should indicate to you their position so that with a rapid turn of the head and without decreasing your speed at all, you are in a position to know exactly where to throw the ball should you be in danger Of being stopped. You will find that it is easier to pass to the left when your right foot is forward, and easier to pass to the right when your left foot is forward, as in this position-you are able to turn the body slightly in the direction the pass is intended to go. Receiving Hhte Ball Almost as important as giving a pass is the proper receiving of a pass, and the receiver should work himself into a correct position as quickly as possible and as often as possible; that is to say, if you have participated in & passing rush and have been tackled, you should, if you can, get up at once and try to get into position to take part in it once more. Both forwards and backs should always endeavour to back up. If the man in. possession of the ball is going to pass to you, but does not see you, you should always indicate exactly where you are. Once you have made your position known to him. never change it without informing the passer by word or sign, or by' showing yourself in the new position. In receiving the ball both hands and arms should be used by the receiver, the ball being allowed to fall into the cup formed by them. Keep the fingers wide apart, watch the ball coming into your hands with your eyes and then draw it into the body.

The left arm is extended if the pass is coming from the right, and the right arm is extended if the pass is coming from the left. The receiver should be almost in a line with the passer, just a shade behind. If he is too far back he has so much extra distance to make up, and this gives the opponents time to come up. Thus, if five men take part in a passing rush and each is three yards behind his predecessor, 16 yards of ground are needlessly wasted. Sometimes passing rushes are. indulged in by the forwards, and this play is very effective, as forwards generally work close together. The ball in this case is never thrown, but rather handed from one player to the other, and by bunching together the impetus given by the crowd will often forge a way through the defence. A pass should never be given with a quick flick movement. Giving the Dummy In “giving the dummy” the player with the ball must use his brains. He must know when to give it and when hot. The feint is made when your opponent is between two minds. If you see that he is preparing to go with the pass, go through all the actions of passing, but retain the ball. The feint is made when about one stride from him. The ball is held firmly in the inside hand, that is to say, ,if the pass is to be passed to the left the ball is held in the fingers of the left hand, with the right hand lightly touching it. The action of passing is then made, the left hand going out to full length and still retaining the ball. The right hand is drawn across and away from the ball, so that your opponent is led to believe it has left your hands. Then when your opponent is deceived. the ball is ouickly drawn to the body and you go on. Do not overdo the “ dummy.” Save it for special occasions, such as when the goal-line is close at band, or where a feint will open up a big gap in the defence.