FOOTBALL AT HOME.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue VII, 18 August 1894, Page 167

FOOTBALL AT HOME.

Among the newest indoor games invented by young people for the entertainment of their friends is * Football at Home.' It is a simple game and highly exciting, although it does not introduce any of the bone-breaking, rougb-an dtumble contests so common, and perhaps so necessary, on the ‘gridiron.’ The ball is an empty eggshell, and the field a covered table.

After the sides have been chosen—any number of persons taking part —the players kneel at both sides of the table, a captain at the head on one side, and another captain at the foot on the other side. In front of each captain are placed two upright bodies—candlesticks, tumblers, or what not. These are the goals, across which a ribbon is stretched. The egg shell is placed in the centre of the table, and put in play by both captains blowing at it. All the other players then line up and assist in the blowing, which keeps the ball moving about the table at such a rapid successiou of tangents as to cause a great deal of fun. A touchdown, which scores four points, is made by blowing the ball through the opponents’ goal. The captain of the victorious side then takes the ball back to the opposite goal and blows it across the table, the object being to pass it through the same goal agaiu. This, if successful, scores two more points. The time limit of the game is thirty minutes, divided into two parts of fifteen minutes each. After the first half the two teams exchange positions as in football.