TECHNIQUE OF THE FORWARD PASS.
The execution of a good spiral forward pass is a thing of real beauty
and art. It holds the eye of spectators and players alike. It is to
football what the home run is to baseball. The soaring flight of a
sixty-yard spiral is like the rushing swoop of the daring aviator in its
charm and interest. To produce it the player must have a good arm,
master the knack of it and give long and earnest practice.
Practically all passes of more than five yards are executed as spirals.
These are of three types, the underhand, the overhand with closed grip
and the overhand with open grip.
THE UNDERHAND SPIRAL.
This is valuable for short distances where a quick pass is desired. Its
execution is so easy and common that no further comment is needed beyond
what has already been said in connection with the first part of teaching
the spiral pass from center, (page 6).
THE OVERHAND CLOSED GRIP SPIRAL.
This pass is theoretically the correct and logical manner of executing a
distance (over ten yards) pass. The ball is laid over into the palm of
the right hand (for a right-hander) with the fingers along and somewhat
behind the lacing of the ball, the thumb on the opposite side. The
position of the hand depends largely on its size. The smaller the hand
the nearer the end of the ball it must go and the more difficult it is
to retain the ball in the grasp. This type of pass is therefore
difficult for men with small hands and with a wet and muddy ball. In
making the throw the arm should be drawn backward _over_ the shoulder,
not down around as in a baseball throw. The nose, _i.e._, the forward
point of the ball, should be well elevated and the ball is then shot
forward past the ear at its objective. The motion is somewhat like that
of a pitcher, when pitching from the shoulder without the "wind-up,"
with a runner on first. As the ball leaves the hand the rotation is
given by a sharp pull _downward_ and _inward_. The most common fault and
cause of failure with this pass is that the nose of the ball is not kept
up during the forward motion of the arm. To do this the elbow must be
kept fairly close to the body and the little finger side of the hand
kept _up_. This gives a rather constricted position for throwing and
most men at first feel unable to get the desired distance. This comes,
however, as one acquires the knack of the snap and the follow through
with the body. When developed and mastered this pass gives wonderful
accuracy, great speed and can be shot directly to the receiver without
much elevation. It is therefore less likely to be intercepted and is an
ideal pass particularly for shorter distances up to thirty yards and for
dry days.
THE OVERHAND OPEN SPIRAL.
This pass is made in general in the same way as the closed grip spiral,
but the thumb lies alongside or near the fingers and the hand is open,
the ball lying in the palm of the hand. It is held in position as the
throw is made by the centrifugal force of the swing. In making this pass
a bigger swing may be used, more comparable to a "wind-up" delivery, and
consequently greater distance and greater height may be secured. The
ball can be literally "heaved" out and passes of fifty to sixty yards
are easily possible. The greatest difficulty in the execution of this as
in the closed grip pass is to keep the nose of the ball up. This can be
accomplished, however, without bringing the hand in so closely as in the
other, thus allowing opportunity for more individual peculiarities.
Players therefore usually learn this pass easier than the other, and
because of its greater usefulness with a wet and slippery ball is the
pass now most commonly used. Its chief disadvantage is the greater
height which it usually requires. This tends to increase the danger of
interception.
RECEIVING THE FORWARD PASS.
Although a great deal of practice is usually given to receiving forward
passes, often very little actual coaching is given on the correct form.
Every receiver should be notified by some method just _before_ a pass is
made to him. At this signal the receiver should turn toward the point to
which the pass is supposed to be made. This should be known on all
forward pass plays. The receiver and ball should then meet at this
point, the receiver on the dead run and somewhat sideward to the ball.
It will occasionally happen, but should rarely be necessary, for the
receiver to take a pass from directly behind or even very much over one
shoulder. He should, however, be able to do it when necessary.
The actual catching of the pass is not essentially different from
catching a punt or any ordinary pass. One hand should be used to guide
the ball into the body, one hand should be kept well under the ball, the
elbows should be kept close and the ball always be brought in _against
the body_ and held securely against any possible attack.