02559cam a22003493u 4500 65237 UtSlPG 20260610134515.0 m cr n 260607r2021||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PZ Barbour, Ralph Henry, 1870-1944 The Secret Play Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2021 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier The Purple Pennant Series Release date is 2021-05-02 Donald Cummings and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net "The Secret Play" by Ralph Henry Barbour is a sports novel written in the early 20th century. It revolves around a high school football team from Clearfield battling their way through the challenges of the season, as they face the loss of their coach and the pressure to perform. The main character, Dick Lovering, who has a physical disability but a deep passion for the game, ultimately takes on the role of coach despite his inexperience, showcasing themes of determination, leadership, and camaraderie. The opening of the story introduces the setting in Clearfield, where we meet Dick Lovering, a 17-year-old who has just received a car as a gift for his efforts managing the local baseball team. He is depicted as a thoughtful and determined young man who, along with his friend Fudge Shaw, is concerned about the football team's lack of a coach after their previous one departs under unfortunate circumstances. The narrative quickly sets up the tension around finding a new coach and introduces several characters who are key to the football team, including Lanny White, the new captain, and a cast of hopeful athletes. Dick's journey is framed by the buildup toward his unexpected acceptance of the coaching position, despite reservations about his ability to lead a team. This establishes a foundation for exploring how he manages the challenges of coaching a high school team while navigating his physical limitations. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Football -- Juvenile fiction Football stories Rockwell, Norman, 1894-1978 The Purple Pennant Series https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65237 106060 106060