Page:Football, the Rugby game.djvu/40

30 other of a runner, and it is in a line with that course that the backer-up should keep; whilst another player must do the same for him as soon as he gets possession of the ball. We have already warned him not to get too far forward; it is equally important that he should not keep far behind, as a long pass back is so much ground lost, which has to be made up again before anything is gained. In ideal passing you may zigzag as much as you please, provided that the general direction is towards the opponent's goal.

If the backing-up is systematically worked, the passing game is quite irresistible in fine weather, but it suffers from the serious disadvantage that it is liable to break down in wet weather or on a greasy ground. Under such circumstances it is very difficult to catch the ball when passed, and it is to meet this case that every team which plays the passing game should also be able to dribble—a good dribbler, such as Jeffrey or Evershed is worth a place in any team; but it is not enough to have one or two good dribblers in the team; for dribbling to be effective there must be combination. By all means let the best dribbler start the ball, if possible, but he must be backed up by all the rest of the forwards in fairly close order, ready to take command of the ball if perchance the leader oversteps it, or if he has to pass it to one side in order to circumvent an opposing back. In this way the ball can be rushed right up to the goal line, but it should be picked up a few yards before the line, so as to make sure of scoring a try.

This is dribbling as it is at present understood; but we can see no reason why a team should not take a lesson from the Association game in this matter, and advance in open line, passing right across the ground when necessary. We admit at once that it is far more difficult to dribble with our oval ball than with their round one; but then we