The back has made the forward pass successfully so far as he is concerned. He is indicated at the left of the picture by the cross (X). The ball, caught by the camera in the course of its flight, appears in the white square against the background of the crowded stand. The receiver of the pass, an end who has gone well down the field, has just turned to make the catch. He is indicated by the arrow (↓).

If, however, we find ourselves starting from the lower quadrangle we shall have to run the ball on the first down in order to get into the upper or windward quadrangle whence we may kick with less fear of having the ball blown out of bounds. This run will have to be wide and of the simplest description. Obviously the simplest is that in which the quarterback carries the ball, the leather thus passing through only two hands, and reducing the chance of fumbling to a minimum. So we run into the upper quadrangle, taking no thought of gaining ground, and then follow the kicking instructions given for that quadrangle. I may be asked why we should not make a forward pass and so make a good gain without losing the ball. The answer is that the chances against us are very great. The pass might be spoiled, which would cost us one down, but above all it might be intercepted, which is not to be thought of, since that would mean practically handing the game to the enemy.

Now should the reception of the kickoff find our team in the second of the upper quadrangles, or should we get there through an exchange of kicks, we may feel reasonably safe against fumbling, for the team has been in action and the nervousness is worn oft. It may be, too, that the enemy, knowing we are playing the wind for all it is worth, will expect us to kick on first down. Let us then make our kick formation and shoot a man through a quick opening in the line and along the side line just to see if there is not a chance of a good-sized gain. Should a fumble ensue we have a man well back to retrieve it, and we are fairly safe. Again, we have wasted only one down and are still in the commanding windward position for kicking. So this time we kick on second down, not forgetting distance and height.

If the reception of the kickoff finds us in the second lower quadrangle we shall be wise to get to windward at once, and to do so we shall use a simple end run, this time allowing the ball to pass through three hands, and not seeking to gain. We shall then kick on the second down as was the case when we found ourselves in the upper quadrangle.

Now we come to the narrow little zone between our forty-yard line and the centre of the field. Let us presume that either through our run in the upper second quadrangle or through a further exchange of kicks, we find ourselves on our forty-yard line. We can now afford to do a little running, for we are getting near the zone of real attack, and a big advance at this stage will keep the ball for us and give us the chance to score that much sooner. From this upper third quadrangle, then, we can try what is known as the "long gainer," a fairly wide run, cleverly devised, that if it gains at all will take us along ten yards or so. If we fail we can punch the line, say off or just inside the left tackle, and thus to windward, and make our kick on the third down. Of course, as I have said, if our attack is not much to brag of, we shall hold off our running game a little longer.

If our "long gainer" is to be used in the lower third quadrangle we ought to get to windward with it. Then, if it is successful, it will give us a first down in a commanding position, and if unsuccessful will still put us in such a position that we can try the line on the second attempt in the hope of making a first down. On the third down we shall waste no more time, but get in another of our long kicks.

Once over the center of the field we shall introduce a little more variety. Further, in exchanging punts we shall take care to make fair catches of our enemy's kicks unless the chance to run be most alluring. In the upper fourth quadrangle we might start with the kick threat and from it try a run. It is some time since we did that. If that fails our quarterback may try a line play if he finds that the formation of the opposing defense invites it, or the long gainer again if in his judgment it has the better chance and will not carry us down into the lower quadrangle. The same general directions will govern our play from the lower fourth quadrant save that we ought to be sure to get to windward.

Across the enemy's forty-yard line at last, we shall be able to add more variety to the running attack, and the game will pass still further from the direction of the coaches into the hands of the actual general on the field, the quarterback who is running the team. By this time he will have learned whatever weaknesses may exist in the enemy's defense and should be allowed to play to them according to his best judgment, save that his forward pass should not be made on fourth down. He may mix it up with the other plays, taking care to keep in the upper half of the field, with the exception that the forward pass may go into the lower half, for if successful the gain will offset that disadvantage, and if a failure he will be where he was before with no more than the loss of a down. The fourth down, however, should find him in position to try a field goal from placement. If playing in the lower fifth quadrangle the same procedure should be followed save that by the fourth down we should be far enough to windward to try a field goal from placement.

When we gain the sixth quadrangle we should put forth our utmost efforts to score a touchdown, and to that end the quarterback will work, using his own best judgment in the choice of plays, holding practically nothing back, for it may be that we shall never again have the chance. If the running game takes us within the five-yard line with only one down left it is time to use the "brainstorm" or "scoring play," the play in devising which the coaches have put forth their best inventive efforts. If, however, we find ourselves with more than five yards to go for a touchdown the quarterback will have to make the choice perhaps of his football career. He may stake all on the best devised forward pass in our list of plays over the goal line, or make sure of the points to be gained by the drop-kick process. He will be praised or blamed according as the game turns out and no outside agency can possibly help him here.

Such is a general plan of generalship that in the main I consider to be sound, for I have seen it successfully used, with only slight variations, again and again. It is offered here not by any means as a final plan, but merely as one that is sound enough on which to build and specialize. The actual plays I have suggested in the various quadrangles may be greatly varied, but it was impossible to make clear the general purpose of the plan without such suggestions. A hundred or more of these charts might be made, all different, without violating the basic principle. And this basic principle of the generalship of to-day is no mere theory, but the result of years of progress on the gridiron.

No matter what the plan of generalship used, here are three things that every team should remember: (1) With the wind play fast: against it play slowly. (2) Never use an original or high-class running play until in opponent's territory. The only exception is when beaten and there is only a minute or so left to play. (3) When tackled close to the sideline get some part of the body out of bounds so that the ball may be carried in.