Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/195

172 There are many chances of using the cover check, or either part of it. It has become a peculiarity of Indian play, and is very successful on any field. The Indians credit us with its invention in 1859, when we showed it to the interpreter at Caughnawaga. None of the crack Indian players then knew it.

A perfect dodger will feign to throw, to spoil your position for checking and give himself a better chance to accomplish some premeditated dodge. The mistake of tyros is checking too soon and too far from the dodger, and letting out too much force, beyond recovery. Old players know this when they coax your stroke at a certain point. If you can hit an invited check, do it in preference to the after dodge; but beware of putting so much force into it, that if you miss, you cannot recover in time to make a succeeding stroke. In feigned throws, spring at the dodger’s crosse, and never fear them. Fielders, as a rule, are too frightened of closing in to any attempt to throw. The Indians have a way of avoiding a hard throw by leaping up as they check.