DUTIES OF BACK. 57 



As a general rule, he should not meet the ball when it 

 is travelling towards him ; because, if he misses it, he 

 will be going the wrong way, and his opponents will 

 get a fine opening. As an exception to this rule, we 

 may suppose a case in which a smart No. 3 turns when 

 the ball was hit towards his own Back, who will have 

 only to shout to his No. 3, "Look out, Back!" and 

 can then dash in and meet the ball without risk. This 

 is very often the only way to save a goal. The maxim 

 that accuracy of direction and knowledge of tactics are 

 of more importance in every position of the game than 

 powerful hitting, applies particularly to Back, whose 

 great object should always be to place the ball so that 

 his side can get it. A hard, clean back-hander right 

 through the players and up to the opposing Back, is a 

 grand stroke to see ; but if the opposing Back repeats 

 the performance, not much is gained, and there is 

 always the risk of the ball being stopped by its hitting 

 a pony's legs. As a rule, it is best to hit a back-hander 

 slightly sideways. A good Back generally hits the 

 ball slightly under his pony's tail, that is, towards his 

 left rear ; the object being that No. 3 may turn to the 

 left and get to the ball right-handed, unless there 

 is some particular reason for hitting the ball else- 

 where. Back should make a habit of hitting his 

 back-handers in this direction, because his Nos. 3 

 and 2 will then know where to go. Hitting a ball 

 back-handed in this way is easier than hitting it away 

 from one's pony, and has the further advantage that 

 No. 3 gets to it better ; because if he has to turn to 

 the right after the ball, he will very likely have to 

 take it on the near side, in order to prevent having 

 his stick caught. Also, if No. i is in hot pursuit, a 



