Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/247

224 use your feet in goalkeeping, but, if not, keep your heels together. If the ball is thrown from any distance past the goal-crease, or, if you are attacked by one man dodging, or Home tipping in the ball, keep an easy almost erect position; but in close, crowded play, when the ball is being fought at a few feet in front, and you see it careering under feet and between legs, stoop down, or half sit on one knee, and watch it with eagle eye, taking a short grasp of your crosse. The former erect position is the usual “Ready” for any shot, and is the safest position for young beginners; but it may be laid down, as a rule, that when your goal is not crowded, it is better to stand up; when crowded, better to stoop.

Never sit or lie down at your goal when the game is going on. Let us relate a thorn in our reputation. At a match in Ottawa between our club and the “Ottawa,” we heard the cry of “lost ball” during one of the games. The players of both sides stood and squatted in repose for some minutes, and our Point said, “the ball is to be faced when found!” As we had been very ill on the way up to Ottawa, and felt uncomfortable in our principle