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MATERIALS FOR PLAY.
89

dissipation will counteract a fortnight's training, and the finest pace may be killed by a champagne supper.

Apart from individual training to develop and perfect the individual body, we would impress upon "Twelves" the advisability of practical training together, to perfect each other in individual positions, to combine and equalize their action, and to establish mutual confidence. Our theory is that young player should be taught progressively a systematic squad drill, beginning with picking up and mastering the ball on the Crosse, until they know the principles of throwing, catching, checking, &c.; and that the twelve selected to play on a match should all play on one side at practice as much as possible. Let them take gentle trots together of a quarter of a mile to begin with for a few mornings; then dashes of a hundred and two hundred yards as hard as they can go; then longer runs of two or four miles. Let them practice a little the art of bringing up suddenly while at full speed, turning around suddenly and dashing back, turning to either side-face and dashing sideways.