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POSITION PLAY
91
cover the field. This half, of course, should
be designated beforehand. The half that
goes back on a kick should be a dead-sure
tackier, an absolutely sure catch, and a
fair kicker. In going back, he should
keep his eyes on the ball as much as pos¬
sible. A practice much in vogue is a
good sharp backward dash. The back
should not allow the ball to be kicked
over his head or bound. He should catch
it on the fly. This requires careful, accu¬
rate judgment as to the location and di¬
rection of kicks. If a back should mis¬
judge the ball, the next thing to do is to
" play it safe "—that is, fall on it.
If the impetus given to the ball by the
other side is sufficient to carry the ball
across the goal line, the backs should let
it go over rather than have a down in
their own five-yard or ten-yard line. If the
ball rolls over the line, of course under
the rule it will be brought out to the
twenty-five-yard line.