Football: The Association Game/Chapter 8

by Charles William Alcock

CHAPTER VIII.

THE HALF-BACKS

The defence, according to latter day notions, is constituted of three half-backs, two full backs, and a goal-keeper. A general principle as to the respective duties of each of the six players forming the rear guard has already been laid down. It is, however, the particular application to each individual case that remains to be supplied for the

benefit of those who have not as yet graduated in the game. The addition of the third half-back was, in a great measure, to counteract the readiness of many forwards to take the fullest advantage of the opportunity of "sneaking" allowed them by the off-side rule, so long favoured by the law-breakers of the Association, and, it must in fairness be added, accepted with approval by the great bulk of the players. The provision which keeps a man always on-side as long as there are three between him and the opposite goal, offers undoubtedly a great temptation to forwards to get as far up as they can consistently with safely. To meet this, it was found necessary to strengthen the first line of defence, and the centre half-back was introduced therefore, though his mission is, in a great measure, to feed the forwards, to enable the other halves to pay more attention, in fact to devote themselves mainly, to stopping, or at least frustrating, the tactics of the opposite wing.

To be a really first-class half-back requires the possession of something more than skilful use of the feet To fill the position well, demands, not only quickness of discernment to counteract the tactics of the opposite forwards, but also judgment and decision to be able to take advantage of the best opportunity to assist those of one's own side. The half-backs are, or ought to be, as useful for the purposes of attack as for defence. They need not necessarily be powerful, but it is essential that they should be quick, able to kick well with either foot as well as in any position, and at the same time capable of heading should occasion require. They should obviously retreat or advance according as the side has to attack or defend. If they are engaged in defensive tactics, they should on no account dribble, and, if they are hampered, it will be better rather to pass to one of the other halves or to give assistance to the backs, either by passing to them or by preventing any of the other side from interfering with the back or obstructing his kick. As a general rule, a half-back should not kick very hard. In defence he will often be of infinitely more use in worrying the opposite forwards, and checking them, than in kicking; and in fact the backs are successful or unsuccessful in the majority of instances in proportion as the halves assist them by keeping off the opposite forwards.

If the halves have to take their part in the attack, their tactics will of course be of a different kind. In this case they have to assist the forwards, and the object is in the main to pass the ball to the player in the best position. Here, too, dribbling is unadvisable, though it is often practised to advantage. In passing to the forwards the ball should be sent as low as possible, so as to give the least possible chance to the other side of meeting it. Passing of this kind is done with greater precision with the side of the foot; and indeed it will be found that it is much easier to attain accuracy in this way than with the point of the toe. Gallery kicking should be altogether discountenanced; and indeed the ability of a half-back is not in any way dependent on the extent of the work he does in this particular way. Opportunities occur, and not unfrequently, in a game where he has a good chance of a shot at goal; but, as a rule, his occupation consists chiefly in providing openings for others. He ought to be the mutual friend of the backs as well of the forwards— of equal assistance to the latter in defence as to the former in attack. At the same time, it must be remembered that they have to watch the opposite forwards carefully; and I had better add, in case I have omitted to lay any stress on it, that the centre half-back should always keep the centre forward of the opposite side well in his eye.