Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/207

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
184
PICKING UP, TIPPING, FRISKING, ETC.

rally believed. Al present this specialty of close play is in its adolescence, but gives token of a development which must eventually oust much of the shillelahing of rough players. Its very first principle is the avoidance of roughness, and the getting out of difficulties, and overcoming opponents without breaking sticks or heads, or swiping, or any manner of play which partakes of rough-and-tumble. It is easier to explain this mode of play than to give it a name, so we will risk it and call it "Frisking the ball." We would define it as the quick feats done, instantaneously, in passing one or more checkers; in hooking the ball out from a crowd of opponents; titilating it on the crosse; capering it upon the ground, within a radius of ten feet. It embraces throwing, catching, carrying, dodging and checking, all in one, and needs a remarkable agility of body, which is only secondary to the quick and clever use of the crosse.

When the ball is on the ground, frisking consists in filching it out from among feet and crosses, hooking it towards you, and from right and left, and vice versa, and between your legs; and the general, quick, varied play designed to frustrate similar