Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/244

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GOAL-KEEPING.
221

short distances is to become the rule, we intend to wear leg-guards, as in Cricket, for why should we needlessly expose our shins to fracture. Our principal reason, however, for wearing leg-guards will be hereafter seen. Both hands may be gloved, but a glove on the left, padded on top, is sufficient. Our crosse, for goal-keeping, is of light, limber ash, and the cat-gut netted with twisted clock-gut strings, doubled. The lower angle needs double strings to the end. Every goal-keeper should have a foot- measure marked on his crosse, from the butt upwards, with which to regulate the height of the flag-poles. The flag-pole is a measure for the width of the flags apart, and the distance of the crease, but the crosse measure is more convenient. First, make these measurements, and correct them by permission of the umpires. Then study the ground around your goal; observe any ridge or depression within twelve feet, at which the ball might hop. The flags have no orthodox position like wickets. If better ground can be had to post the flags, ask permission of your captain. Tramp down lumps and make the ground as level and smooth as possible. If the wind is blowing strong,