Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/180

160 ordinary check, who is a second or so too quick for you. Avoid clumsiness and rash dodging. Never press the ball into the leading-string in any way before you dodge.

Do not attempt dodging when you are not “i' the vein.” Success implies vim and mettle.

Checking.—Nothing in Lacrosse makes one feel more throughly awkward than to be passed point-blank by a dodger, and find a well-aimed check strike mother earth, instead of the opposing crosse. The thing looks so simple at first sight. You have nothing to control, while your antagonist is limited to certain movements to preserve the ball. Yet, when you think about it, you will perceive that the advantage a checker has in not having a ball to manage, is often counteracted by the fact that while he has to act on the spontaneous impulse of the moment, in the majority of cases, the dodger can pre-determine his dodge, and have the advantage of the start. If you, as checker, can check before he begins his dodge, it may be luckier, and it may not; as some of the best players invite a check, the better to facilitate their purpose. he danger of anticipating a dodge is, that if you miss, you