First, consider the matter of generalship without reference to the opposing team. There are two ways of advancing the ball--one by kicking, the other by rushing. The rushing game is divided into straight football and strategic. There are practically three schools of football: the simple straight football, the strategic, and the kicking. The right use of these different methods of advancing the ball, the proper proportion of each kind of plays, is the great problem of good generalship. Simple straight football should form the basis of the offensive game. This is more easily executed, and is less exhausting upon body and mind. A trick requires the doing of so many things by each individual at a given time that there is produced a great mental strain. Men begin to worry and wonder whether the trick will succeed. And if a fine trick fails they despair of the success of anything else, and so lose spirit. At any rate, they have lost that force and energy necessary to play good, hard, straight football. The trick should be merely an incident of the game. Its proper function is simply to add a little uncertainty, and to keep the other side guessing. It is a mistake to think that the only scientific game is the strategic one. The science of the straight game does not lie in the formation, but solely in the execution. The bulk of rushing games should be straight football. Three or four tricks, or half a dozen at most, are a sufficient number. The whole repertoire of plays should be not less than twenty nor more than thirty. A few plays well executed are better than a load of stuff indifferently learned. It may not be best in all cases to have the kicking game the dominating feature of the offence. That will depend largely upon whether the team is best at rushing or kicking. A judicious admixture of both is the desideratum. If a team has the wind in its favor, it should take advantage of it and kick often. If it has the wind against it, it will be forced to rush more or less. When a team is down in its own territory, if it is going to rush, the play should be one that is likely to make considerable ground if it succeeds, and an open play of some kind should be the one used. In bringing the ball in from touch it is not wise to always use the "long field." The "short field" often yields good ground. The plays should be varied enough to keep the opposing line in its normal position. If one point be continuously attacked, that point will be strengthened. If the middle of the line be attacked, the middle will close up. If the flank or end be attacked, this line will be opened because of a movement towards the end in order to better protect it. The line should be continually opened and shut so as not to allow the opponents to concentrate at any given point.