Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/124

104 There are modifications of every face, and others entirely different from those described. So far, there has been little development in this part of the game, and Centres scarcely ever calculate doing more than forcing the ball from their opponent to an indefinite point, away from their own defence, where it is as likely to be caught by an antagonist as an ally. It may seem unimportant as to which side gets the ball at the start, but if it is dangerous at all during the game, how much more so when the men are fresh? Games won in one or two minutes are nearly always taken this way.

The simplest methods of facing need practice. The more complicated may seem easier to describe than to perform, but we have personally seen methods of facing, and general points of play among the Indians, in their village games, which they never attempt or risk on pale-face grounds. There is more scope for experiment in facing than at first sight seems possible, and the variations here suggested are a few such, which may by practice be made useful when Centres meet antagonists as well posted in old methods as themselves. There is a spontaniety [sic] required in all methods which cannot be made into