Page:Football, the Rugby game.djvu/22

12 business by watching them turn a doubtful game into a victory, or, still better, by himself leading a team against them, than by reading all that ever has been, or will be, written upon the subject.

Since, however, it is a sine quâ non that he should be as well versed in the theory as in the practice of the game, we must endeavour to point out the necessary qualifications for any one who means to become a first-rate captain. To begin with, he should know all the rules by heart—not only the rules of play, but also the rules governing umpires and referees, because with him lies the duty of making any necessary appeals and of sternly repressing all unwarrantable appeals on the part of his men. If this elementary precaution was taken by all captains we might hope to see less of the bickering and wrangling which are still far too prevalent at the present time.

After thoroughly mastering all the laws, our captain must next make up his mind as to what style of play he means his team to adopt, and by personal instruction, both on the field of play and off it, he must see that his men fully understand that style and carry it out in all its details. Of course his selection of a style may be limited by the traditions of his club, if those traditions are sound, in which case he will be wise not to attempt more than the introduction of any modifications which seem to him necessary; or again by the capacity of the men at his disposal. It is his business to get out of his men absolutely all that they are worth, and a great deal can be done, by skilful education, with what looks like poor material at the start; but it is no use to adopt a style for which his men are physically unsuited.

And here we may remark that it is of the utmost importance that the captain should have the unfettered selection of his team whenever such a course is possible. At schools,