How to play association football, etc

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ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL
HALF-BACKS
The work of a half-back includes both offensive and defensive
play, in about equal proportions. Play of a defensive nature
monopolizes the attention of many half-backs, although the
offensive part of their game is every whit as important. A
brilliant piece of defensive work is simply spoiled or even
entirely neutralized by its ending in an injudicious parting
with the ball to the wrong place or the wrong man. The half-
back line is generally the mainstay of a team, simply because
its members share in almost every division of the game.
Half-backs should diligently study the art of combining
with their forwards by means of intelligent and accurate
placing. Following up in support of forwards gives a half-
back many opportunities of shooting for goal himself, and he
should be always ready to seize the chances offered him.
It is advisable in placing, if there is no opponent in the
way, to keep the ball low, as time is thus gained and the
receiver of the pass has immediate control over the ball.
Passing the ball over the head of an obstructing opponent is
an easy matter when the ball is raised a little from the ground.
A timely pass to a back is sometimes a useful means of
removing a difficulty. A half-back can also co-operate with
the back behind him by leaving the ball to be played by him,
while he himself legally impedes the progress of an advancing
opponent. The important point is to be able to decide when
such play will be advantageous.
Dribbling may be indulged in until opposition is met, pro-
vided that the half-back, in so doing, is making progress—
better progress than any other member of the- team is in
a
position to make at the time. Dribbling can easily be over-
done,
i.e.
continued when not likely to be justified by results.
When- the ball is being thrown in from touch by an oppo-
nent, the right-half-back should mark the opposing outside-
left; or, on the other side of the field, the left-half pays
attention to the opposing outside-right. In the former case,
play is on the right-hand side of the field from the defenders'