

AN AMERICAN SPORT FOR AMERICANS 49 
’ men each, who line up as shown in the 
accompanying diagram, between the goals 
—which should be not less than 110 yards 
apart.. The game is started by the two 
center players (one of each team) “‘facing 
off” the ball: that is, it is placed on the 
ground between their sticks, which they 
hold back to back, and at the sound of the 
referee’s whistle each man draws his stick 
toward himself, the ball going toward the 
goal of the center least adroit. The ball 
being now in play, the attack players on the 
side toward which it has passed try to 
“uncover” or escape the opposing defense 
men, get into position to receive the ball and 
then pass or carry it to their own inside or 
outside home men, who do most of the goal 
shooting. This, no doubt, sounds simple: 
it is but fifty-odd yards from the center of 
the field to either goal-net, and a lacrosse 
ball can be thrown more than twice that 
distance. But in that short journey good 
men have come to grief; for the defense 
players, who, as a rule, are heavier than the 
attack, meet the oncoming rush of the latter 
with all their strength and weight, and 
when we have the oft-tried problem of the 
irresistible force meeting the impenetrable 
body something generally breaks—occa- 
sionally it is a.nose, now and then a rib; 
usually, however, only dignity suffers. 
If a player carrying the ball be intention- 

ally struck by an opponent’s stick, it is 
called a foul; but if the opponent should 
- 
strikeatthe player’s stick and hit the player, 
it is called an accident. As the latter has 
been known to occur, one will see that a fine 
degree of discernment is required on the 
part of the referee, whose position is similar 
to that of a baseball umpire, only worse. 
But, since we are writing for the novice, we 
will leave these refinements of the game to. 
be learned by experience. 
In the first place, you will need a stick 
and some patience. The best lacrosse 
sticks are made in Montreal and are strung 
with clock-cord. If possible, secure one 
which has been used for some time by a 
good player; the cord will be soft and you 
will find it much easier to handle the ball. 
The proper position for the ball in the net 
is about a foot from the end, and against the 
frame of the stick; after using a stick for 
some time the ball will roll naturally into 
position. The best way to begin learning 
with the stick is by tossing the ball against 
a wall or building, and do not become dis- 
couraged if at your first attempt you miss 
the building. In throwing the ball do not 
try to push in out of the stick, but allow it 
to roll out at the end, using the stick some- 
thing after the manner of a sling, and mov- 
ing your body in the act, not merely your 
arms. 
J id dd Wi 7 
14a 0 nT 
“FACING OFF’ BEHIND THE GOAL, COLUMBIA-PENNSYLVANIA GAME, MAY 19, ’06— 
GOAL-NET AT LEFT OF PICTURE 
