| More than any other sport, football seems most truly | | | | are over the right point of the ball, while the opposite |
| American. Some 350 years ago, the early settlers of | | | | point is forced into the pocket formed by the elbow |
| our land had teams, goals, and a ball that they kicked | | | | and body. |
| around an open field. | | | | 1. Carry the ball with the fingers of your right hand |
| True, the game they played can hardly be compared | | | | over one point (or end) of the ball. Your right arm |
| to the modern game we watch in our huge stadiums | | | | should be bent so that you can tuck the other point |
| and on nationwide television, but then, what has | | | | of the ball into the pocket formed by your elbow. |
| remained the same throughout the last three and | | | | Force the ball securely into this pocket with a hard |
| one-half centuries? | | | | pressure from the fingers of your right hand. Snug |
| Football has grown right along with our nation and our | | | | the ball against your right ribs. |
| way of life. | | | | You have probably noticed on television that great |
| Running | | | | college and professional players often carry the ball |
| In earlier days, football was just a game that the | | | | away from their bodies. When you start appearing on |
| name suggests. The players moved the ball by | | | | television, you can carry the ball that way, too! Until |
| kicking it with their feet. Gradually, as high schools | | | | that time, "pack the pigskin" as described above. |
| and colleges took up the game during the 1800's, it | | | | 2. Actually, in carrying the football, you should be |
| became popular to pick up the ball and run with it. | | | | equally good with either hand. If an opponent comes |
| Later, throwing the ball through the air from one | | | | at you from your right side with the intention of |
| player to another won its place in the strategy of | | | | tackling you, make a quick shift of the ball from your |
| the game. | | | | right side to your left side. This frees your right arm |
| However, of these three basic forms of moving the | | | | for a "straight-arm" on the would-be tackier. The shift |
| ball - kicking, running, and passing - running with the | | | | of the ball is made as follows: |
| ball must be regarded as the most important. Running | | | | (a) Bring your left hand over on top of the ball and |
| plays are used most frequently and there are a | | | | move your right hand, with the ball, over along the |
| greater variety of them. | | | | lower part of your stomach toward your left side. |
| Just a word about your equipment. Do not try any | | | | (b) The left hand grasps the point of the ball which is |
| blocking or tackling without proper and complete | | | | in the pocket of the right elbow. |
| uniforms, including well-padded helmets. The sandlot, | | | | (c) Your arms appear to be folded in front of your |
| or the corner playground, or your back yard, are all | | | | stomach. Each hand grasps a point of the ball. |
| good spots to practice your football maneuvers and | | | | (d) The right hand guides the point of the ball it has |
| to have your neighborhood games, but always | | | | been covering into the pocket formed by the left |
| remember - no blocking and no tackling without full | | | | elbow. The right hand is pulled away to begin the |
| uniforms! | | | | straight-arm maneuver. |
| Packing the Pigskin | | | | (e) The left hand brings the other point of the ball |
| (NOTE: As most boys are right-handed, we will give | | | | around, the fingers pressuring the ball firmly back into |
| our instructions for a right-hander. Now, of course, | | | | the pocket of the left elbow and snug against the |
| we have nothing against left-handers! There are | | | | left ribs. |
| great ones in all sports. If you are a natural | | | | These five actions must be combined into one quick, |
| southpaw, just switch the word "right" for "left" and | | | | smooth, continuous movement in order for it to be |
| "left" for "right" wherever these words appear in the | | | | successful. |
| instructions.) | | | | Master this maneuver and you will have started to |
| THE PROPER CARRY of the ball is when the fingers | | | | know the game of football. |