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in than others. A man's sight, too, varies quite sufficiently to make a perceptible difference from day to day; one might almost say, from hour to hour. Point cannot make a greater mistake than by standing in nearer than he can see to catch with certainty. The catches he might by possibility lose by standing farther out will be more than compensated for by the increased number of runs he will be enabled to save.

Point and all the near-fieldsmen must watch the ball all the way to the bat, and hold themselves in readiness to spring to either side, or up in the air fron either foot, without an instant's thought or hesitation, or to dive down and stop the ball, as it comes spinning and curling off the bat, with both or either hand indifferently.

Great alertness, activity, and concentrated attention are indispensable qualifications of a near-field.

LONG-STOP is rarely seen nowadays in a first-class match, but in boy elevens he is still a necessity owing to the weakness of the wicket-keeper. He has a great burden laid upon his shoulders; for he has to stop and return every ball that the wicket-keeper misses.

His vigilance, therefore, must never for one moment tire or slacken: though all the rest of the field take it easy, he alone and the bowler can know no relaxation or remission.

With good ground, true bowling, and fair wicket-keeping, the long-stop's post need not be a very hard one; but should there be failure in any one of these items, especially the two

former, his place at once becomes the hardest and most responsible in the field.

In any case he must study to field every ball "clean," that is, to take it at once into the hands, without any fumbling or clumsiness. A ball fumbled is a safe run, if the striker be only on the alert.

To be really good at long-stop, a Iman should be able to pick up a ground ball as it passes, with either hand, right or left, with the same ease and certainty as he would with both.

Instant return to the wicketkeeper should be invariably practised. Dallying with the ball not only wastes time-of which, in most matches now-a-days, there is not too much-but it very often gives a chance of a run, and it certainly en

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THE WICKET-KEEPER.

courages the striker by a show of slowness in the field.

WICKET-KEEPER stands close behind the wicket, in a stooping posture, the right foot advanced and close upon the wicket, the hands held in readiness for the ball just in rear of the bails, the head brought down till the eyes are within a foot at most of the top of the wickets.

The ball, as it is taken, should be invariably, and as part of the same action,

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brought to the bails, so that a mere turn of the wrist may take them off should the striker offer the least chance of a

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stump out."

Every ball that can be taken should be taken, if only for the sake of saving the long-stop; but the wicket-keeper will do well to exercise a little discretion with balls that are almost out of reach, since, if he fail to handle them satisfactorily, he may, instead of stopping them, only succeed in deflecting them from their course, and thus, perhaps, send them out of the reach of the longstop too.

If the long-stop knows beforehand that balls passing outside a certain point will be left to him, he will find no difficulty in meeting them.

Great care must be exercised that too great eagerness in taking the ball do not lead the wicket-keeper into violating the 35th rule.

When the ball has been hit, or in any other way a run is being attempted, the wicket-keeper must at once place himself so that the wickets are between him and the ball. This enables the fieldsman to detect at once the whereabouts of the wickets-a very important point-and also gives the ball, if well thrown, a chance of hitting the wickets before it reaches his hands.

This rule of getting behind the wickets, though of the first importance, is one that is more commonly neglected, to the loss of many a good “run-out,” than it is observed; it requires, therefore, to be the more strongly impressed upon the young learner.

A few words of parting advice. Whatever place is taken, whether batting, bowling, or fielding, the player should give his whole mind to the duties and responsibilities thereof.

The companion of the striker should remember that the score depends almost as much upon his promptitude in backing up, as on the hitting powers of his vis-à-vis.

In running, the first run should be made with rapidity and decision, the bat grounded just over the crease, and the body turned and held in readiness for the next, should the chance occur. The runner should never overrun his crease, unless in the last extremity; the bat in is quite sufficient.

The yard or so thus gained in turning may make all the difference between a run made or a wicket lost.

At practice the young player is earnestly exhorted to eschew all loose knocking about of the ball wherever and whenever practicable, sides should be chosen and a game made.

The really useful practice for batting, and for bowling too, though in a less degree, is in actual playing for runs.

If sides be not to be had, the bat and ball had better be resigned to those who are less patient of advice, and a good spell taken at long-stopping or other fielding.

Loose practice forms loose habits, and it is easier to form a dozen new good habits than to break through one bad one already formed.

The game should be always played with strict rigour-umpires, creases, &c.; in this way, observance of rules becomes second nature.

The decision of the umpire, however it may go against the grain, should always be obeyed at once, and without comment; remonstrance, if any be needed, is the part of the captain of the side.

Last, though perhaps not least, whatever be the player's fate-run out, caught, bowled, stumped, even if it be first ball-he should, above all things, keep his temper and try to look as if he liked it.

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FOOTBALL has of late years grown into such general popularity that it may be termed the national winter game. Unquestionably one of the most ancient of our English pastimes, it fell into disrepute owing to the rough character of the sport during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and less than twenty years ago was strictly confined to Rugby and our chief public schools. At the present day it has extended from its original source to the metropolis and every part of the country, and may be said to occupy the same position in winter as cricket in summer. Its many merits recommend it strongly to public favour. To be a good football player requires a rare combination of skill and activity, no less than the possession of courage and self-control, and at the same time inculcates the benefits of good discipline in an explicit manner. The season usually lasts from October until March, and with the exceptions of snow and frost (which render it dangerous), changes of the weather have little effect on the pursuit of the game.

The methods of playing football were formerly varied and numerous, but since the formation of the two bodies called the Football Association and Rugby Union, for the purpose of simplifying and amalgamating the different codes in force, the game has finally settled into two distinct styles, commonly known as Rugby Union rules and Football Association rules,

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

The following laws, which bear the impress of the Football Association, are not only very extensively employed in London, but almost universally in the Northern Counties. The object of this code is to encourage "dribbling," or working the ball with the feet to the exclusion of all usage of the hands; and simplicity has also been carefully studied by the abolition of all clauses and technicalities calculated to prevent the easy comprehension of the rules.

LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

1. The limits of the ground shall be, maximum length, 200 yards; minimum length, 100 yards; maximum breadth, 100 yards; minimum breadth, 50 yards. The length and breadth shall be marked off with flags and touch line; and the goals shall be upright posts, 8 yards apart, with a bar across them 8 feet from the ground. The average circumference of the Association ball shall not be less than 27 inches, and not more than 28 inches.

2. The winners of the toss shall have the option of kick-off or choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place-kick from the centre of the ground in the direction of the opposite goal-line. The other side shall not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked off, nor shall any player on either side pass the centre of the ground in the direction of his opponents' goal until the ball is kicked off. 3. Ends shall only be changed at half-time. After a goal is won the losing side shall kick-off; but after the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked-off by the opposite side from that which originally did so, and always as provided in Law 2.

4. A goal shall be won when the ball has passed between the goal-posts under the bar, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried by anyone of the attacking side. The ball hitting the goal or boundary-posts, or goal-bar, and rebounding into play is considered in play.

5. When the ball is in touch a player of the opposite side to that which kicked it out shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground. The thrower, facing the field of play, shall hold the ball above his head and throw it with both hands in any direction, and it shall be in play when thrown in. The player throwing it shall not play it until it has been played by another player.

6. When a player kicks the ball, or throws it in from touch, any one of the same side who, at such moment of kicking or throwing, is nearer to the opponents' goal-line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, or in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so until the ball has been played, unless there are at such moment of kicking or throwing at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal-line; but no player is out of play in the case of a corner kick or when the ball is kicked from the goal-line, or when it has been last played by an opponent.

7. When the ball is kicked behind the goal-line by one of the opposite side it shall be kicked off by any one of the players behind whose goal-line it went, within six yards of the nearest goal-post; but if kicked behind by any one of the side whose goal-line it is, a player of the opposite side shall kick it from within one yard of the nearest corner flag-post.

In either case no other player shall be allowed within six yards of the ball until it is kicked-off.

8. No player shall carry, knock on, or handle the ball under any pretence whatever, except in the case of the goal-keeper, who shall be allowed to use his hands in defence of his goal, either by knocking on or throwing, but not carrying the ball. The goal-keeper may be changed during the game, but not more than one player shall act as goal-keeper at the same time; and no second player shall step in and act during any period in which the regular goal-keeper may have vacated his position.

9. In no case shall a goal be scored from any free kick, nor shall the ball be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. The kick-off and corner-flag kick shall be free kicks within the meaning of this rule.

10. Neither tripping, hacking, nor jumping at a player, shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary, or charge him from behind. A player with his back towards his opponents' goal cannot claim the protection of this rule when charged from behind, provided in the opinion on the umpires or referee he, in that position, is wilfully impeding his opponent.

11. No player shall wear any nails, excepting such as have their heads driven in flush with the leather, or iron plates, or gutta-percha on the soles or heels of his boots, or on his shin-guards. Any player discovered infringing this rule shall be prohibited from taking any further part in the game.

12. In the event of any infringement of rules 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite side, from the spot where the infringement took place.

13. In the event of an appeal for any supposed infringement of the rules, the ball shall be in play until a decision has been given.

14. Each of the competing clubs shall be entitled to appoint an umpire, whose duties shall be to decide all disputed points when appealed to; and by mutual arrangement a referee may be chosen to decide in all cases of difference between the umpires.

15. The referee shall have power to stop the game in the event of the spectators interfering with the game.

DEFINITION OF TERMS,

A Place Kick is a kick at the ball while it is on the ground, in any position in which the kicker may choose to place it.

A Free Kick is a kick at the ball in any way the kicker pleases, when it is lying on the ground, none of the kicker's opponents being allowed within six yards of the ball; but in no case can a player be forced to stand behind his own goal-line.

Hacking is kicking an adversary intentionally.

Tripping is throwing an adversary by the use of the leg, or by stooping in front of him.

Knocking on is when a player strikes or propels the ball with his hands or arms. Holding includes the obstruction of a player by the hand or any part of the arm extended from the body.

Handling is understood to be playing the ball with the hand er arm.

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