THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 31, 1940. SUCCESSFUL CENTRE-FORWARD PLAY
ON HOW TO PLAY SOCCER
By "Referee"
IN FOOTBALL THE best defence is to attack. The successful centre-forward is one who knows how and when to attack throughout the game, and never knows when he is beaten. His persistency leads to ultimate victory, which comes only to those who move goalwards, shoot hard and with every chance. The thing is to attack and shoot. Make a point of shooting for goal from all angles when seeing a favourable opportunity. You will not score always; but, maybe, your shot at an awkward angle will hit the upright or the crossbar and from the rebound one of the inside-forwards will score a goal.
A centre-forward has to lead, the attack: to en-ordinate the at- tucking
efforts of others, either is looked upon by his team, and inside-forwards or half-backs. He the crowd watching the game, as the pivot on which goal-scoring depends. This responsibility can- of any player wishing to become not rest light upon the shoulders a successful leader. Not only is it necessary to be quick-witted, but one must show Intelligent anti- cipation of all the movements of the team. In the centre of the game, usually positioning in mid- field. most of the planned man- ceuvres in attack end up with the ball being passed to him for re- distribution or scoring. This makes him the brains of attack, and also the target for the concentrated energies, physical and in playing
raft. of the opposing defence. Forward Must Have Weight And Speed
To retain his place in first-class Football a centre-forward must have weight and speed. Being the spearhead of altack calls for strength and weight above the average to counter the buffeting received in the game. He must not be easily charged off the ball, and, above all, be sur-footed. Mis- placement of the ball faulty footwork might mean the through los: of a goal.
Wing players mitiate raids on to the goal, int the centre-for- ward has to finish their work and turn it into goals. He has also to work with all three half-bucks, especially the centre-half, who is the heavy artillery making it pos sible with long, ground passes, to keep up a constant attack.
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The successful rentre-forward, besides being the brains of attacks, most certainly must be the heart. To be effective, his work should always carry the hall- mark of inspiration, and win con- fidence from his fellows through- out the game. There is even an- other point often overlooked in the work of a centre-forward-he should possess an almost uncanny anticipation of the ultimate aim of .manoeuvre played by the rest of ine team. In short, he has intui- tively to know and pre-judge the cooperative mind of the rest of the team. Lacking this gift he will never be a great centre-forward. Must Understand Contemporaries' Play › Especially should he know the mind of his inside-forwards and centre half-back. With this trio he creates movements which con- solidate the attack. Anticipating the movements of the individual players is no easy task, and if a player lacks this intuitive gift, then let him study hard the vari ious traits of his comrades so that eyery time they have the ball he knows by their foot-craft exactly what they intend doing - with it, and position to receive it. A crack centre-forward watches the feet of his inside men and tells by the angle they pass the ball where to position almost to a yard. This is more than intelligent anticipation; it is knowledge gained through the judgment of intuitive experience..
Not the least important part of the equipment of a centre-forward its self-control. This seems to have little to do with the scierice of football, yet it has a great deal to do with the winning of matches. Self-control in a centre-forward is imperative, especially as he is the leader of the game. I...don't mean self-control of one's temper, that should be understood and practised by every player, but selt-control in the face of the miny temptations to leave his
position for what appears to be a better one, and purposely made for hlin by the opposing defence.
Prey Of The Off-Side Rule
This is a trap alther to him offside, or to hard him from a..
initiate a dangerous Many times a good chance has
PARNABY CAUTIONED
Parnaby, of Royal Scots, who was ordered off the field' of play during the First Divi- alon Football game against
St. Joseph's was cautioned at the meating of the Emer. gency Committee held fast night.
The referee E. not appear.
Ford did
pending upon this one chance of scoring a goal,
curate ball-control.
theit
uncontrolled