Another experiment was a rolling kick between the rushers,
but in a diagonal direction so extreme as to give an end or a tackle a
chance of securing it.

In the same manner a diagonal kick, short, over the heads of the first
men of the opponents, was exploited by some of the adventurous captains.
But toward the end of the season the problem narrowed itself down to a
question of the relative value of a kick, short enough, and in a
sufficiently high slanting direction, to enable the rushers to get
fairly well down to its falling-point, and a long kick driving the
opponents back, admitting, it is true, of a run in because the rushers
cannot reach the dropping-point in time to down the man receiving the
ball. Both methods found strong advocates, and were used in about equal
proportions.

And then as to the returning of the kick. Until the rules were changed
"returning a kick" meant catching the punt of an opponent, and, without
stopping for a down, punting it back again before the opponents could
prevent. Naturally this was, among the big teams, much more talk than
practice, for it was a rare exception when such an opportunity offered.
With the new kick-off, however, there is certainly an excellent chance
for a return kick. A man can make the most of his run in, and just
before the opponents meet him he can get in his kick, if that is his
play.

Another interesting matter is the distribution of the men on the line-up
for the kick-off, and it gives ample room for the ingenuity of coaches
and captains. One effective placing of the men is this:

o C

LG o o RG

LT o o RT

o QB

LE o o RE

o o o
HB FB HB

As the ball comes sailing over, the forwards swing into its direction,
and become most effective running interference for whichever back
catches and runs with the ball. This play, if frequently practised, can
be made very effective.

In defensive team-work one of the most important things--next to
watching the ball, of course--is for every man to try to discover what
play the opposing eleven is going to make next. Having found what it
will probably be, their endeavor must be to throw their whole force
against it. It is frequently possible to determine not only what the
enemy's probable move will be, but exactly what it will be. This can
most frequen