Goal line

“ If it passes over the goal-line at any time without touching one of the defending side, it has to be kicked out by the goalkeeper or one of the backs from a line marked in front of goal, the spot selected being in front of the post nearest the point where the ball left the field of play. ”

“ The teams are now playing on the 25-yard line of the visitors. To score against us, the ball must be carried to the opposite end of the field, across the goal line of the home eleven, or else cleverly kicked by drop or placement, between our goal posts. It is a long distance to be gained but there is plenty of time to accomplish the feat if the enemy's eleven has the grit and power to do it. ”

“ A Maul in Goal is when the holder of the ball is tackled inside goal line, or being tackled immediately outside, is carried or pushed across it, and he or the opposite side, or both, endeavour to touch the ball down. ”

“ A goal is won when the ball has passed between the goal posts—ergo, the whole must go over the line to produce a score. In the same way the ball must go completely over the touch-line to be out of play, and it must not necessarily reach the ground before it is out of play. ”

“ If the ball is kicked so that it goes out of bounds before crossing the opponents' goal line, it shall belong to the opponents at the point where it crossed the side line. If, however, it strikes any player who is on side and then goes out of bounds, it shall belong to the player who first obtains possession of it. ”

“ N.B.—After a goal has been kicked the side which has lost the goal shall kick off. The sides change over in the middle of every game, and not after a goal has been kicked. 2. When a player touches down a ball behind his own goals, the ball shall be dropped out by a player on that side from any place 25 yards in front of the goal line. ”

“ Play is started by one side kicking the ball off from the centre of the field in the direction of the opponents’ goal. The ball is then caught by one of the other side, who either kicks it or runs with it. In running he goes on until he is “tackled,” or caught, by one of his opponents, unless he should choose to “pass” or throw it to another of his own side, who, provided he be not offside, may either kick, or run, or pass as he chooses. The ball in this way is kept moving until it crosses the touch-line, or goal-line, or is tackled. ”

“ If a player shall kick, pass, or carry the ball back across his goal-line and it there be made dead, the opposite side may claim that the ball shall be brought back and a scrummage formed at the spot whence it was kicked, passed, or carried back. Under any other circumstances a player may touch the ball down in his own goal. ”

“ If the ball crosses the goal-line either a try is gained, as explained above, or if the defending side touch it down first, the other side retire to the line 25 yds. from the goal-line, and the defending side kick it up the field. If the ball is tackled the player carrying the ball gets up from the ground as soon as possible, and the forwards at once form the scrummage by putting down their heads and getting ready to shove against one another. They shove as soon as the ball is put down between the two front rows. ”

“ It is like a flattened ball with a tail to it. With a club or stick you strike the tail so that the ball springs up in the air and [Pg 146] then before it falls you strike it with your club toward your enemy's goal line. The players are divided into sides who try to defend their goal lines and to send back the ball to the other side. Make your own rules as experience teaches you is fair. ”

“ In order to pass around the privilege of throwing goal, the goal thrower in one game passes down to the other end of the line, the line moves up one place, and the next player in order throws for the goal in the next game. When every one in one line has thrown for goal, the privilege passes to the other line. ”

“ If they fail to gain the necessary distance, the ball goes to their opponents. It is customary on the last attempt, or down, to kick the ball so that when the opposing team obtains possession of it will be as far as possible from the goal line toward which they are rushing. ”

“ The aim of all the forwards should of course be to have the line of the advance as complete as is possible. By this I mean that when one player has the ball, the others should be able to anticipate with some degree of certainty to whom he will pass, and the time at which such pass will be made. The latter will depend in a great measure on the positions of his own forwards, on the one hand, and on the other the amount of the opposition he is likely to meet on his way to the enemy's goal. ”

“ We want to play a square game; but don't mean to stand for any trickery. Understand, fellows, keep your eyes open constantly; and make sure that you avoid off-side play, as that is what opens up opportunities for foul work. Here they come now, so nothing more can be said. Watch out!" and Frank skated off to see how the workers were getting on placing the two goal nets on the goal lines. ”

“ For brilliancy of individual effort as well as of combined team play, for incessant movement and thrilling situations, for cheer-inspiring displays of undaunted pluck or untiring fleetness, there is no game that can compare with it. The ball flies all over the field, now soaring like a bird through the air, now skimming along the ground like a frightened field-mouse. First one goal is in danger, and the players crowd so thickly about it that you cannot see the goal-keeper. ”

“ You will see, in the first place, that the sixth-form boy, who has the charge of goal, has spread his force (the goalkeepers) so as to occupy the whole space behind the goal-posts, at distances of about five yards apart. A safe and well-kept goal is the foundation of all good play. Old Brooke is talking to the captain of quarters, and now he moves away. See how that youngster spreads his men (the light brigade) carefully over the ground, half-way between their own goal and the body of their own players-up (the heavy brigade) . ”

“ The land you used to plough.
"Is football playing
Along the river shore,
With lads to chase the leather,
Now I stand up no more?"
Ay, the ball is flying,
The lads play heart and soul;
The goal stands up, the keeper
Stands up to keep the goal. ”

“ From this it will be gathered that a forward should really understand something of the art of goalkeeping, so that he may know how best to defeat the goalkeeper. The object of every forward movement should be to get to the goal by the nearest way possible, eluding the goalie by placing the ball out of his reach. ”

“ Reckless of the defence of their own goal, on they come across the level big-side ground, the ball well down amongst them, straight for our goal, like the column of the Old Guard up the slope at Waterloo. ”

“ After making sure that Fred is still alive, I listen to the explanation that a touch-down counts a certain number of points, and gives the right to the side which wins it to try to kick a goal. This attempt is presently made. A player lies on the ground and holds the ball between his hands for another to kick. Presto! the ball sails through the air; for an instant there is agonized suspense, and then a shout from Yale. It has failed to go between the goal-posts, and consequently has missed. ”

“ The qualifications for a good forward have already been enumerated. Though in the main the same qualities are required in the case of each of the five forwards, there are, none the less, attributes which are more valuable in a centre than in a wing player, and vice versâ. A centre, in particular, should be possessed of all the football virtues. He should have a certain amount of pace; but, more than all, he should be a strong as well as a safe kick, and with either foot, as well as a dead shot when near the opposite goal. ”

“ If the touch down be too far from the goal posts to try a goal, one of the side who touched it down takes it up and makes a mark with his heel, and retires a little, and then punts it out slantwise towards his own side, who spread out to catch it. ”

“ A word to goal-keeper. You must make up your mind, to endure reproaches patiently, and defeat bravely. Study to succeed; and, believe us, goal-keeping is a post worthy of practice, and infinitely more responsible in a hard-pressed match than all others. When the ball is sent whizzing outside of the goal, and your opponents shout “game,” when it is not game, we hope you will not feel as vexed as we do. It jars on our nerves like a false check to an old chess-player. ”

“ Like a shot, through the rush of men one of our ends tears in, dives for the ball, rolling over and over. He grasps it in both arms and tries to regain his feet for a run to the opponents' goal, but there is a man who throws himself at him and flattens him to earth again. It is our ball, however, but 15 yards from the goal, and a touchdown almost within our grasp. Can the team make it? ”

“ As you approach goal, throw the ball up a foot in front, and strike it into the flags as it descends, and if you follow the general rule, you will not have the least compunction about striking it into the keeper's face. ”