Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-13
USELESS RULES.
A Few Suggestions to Improve the Game OF
Foot Ball.

Foot Ball.
Herbert G. Leeds in Harper's Weekly
Onr American game of foot ball as 1t exists
today Is In many respects an excellent one re-
curing brains, agility and pluck.
L have watched it from its infancy when
Harvard first imported the old English Rugby
game from Canada in 1874. il am not mis-
taken, to its present improved state.
1t is the interest and fondness which 1 have
for the game that prompt me to raise my voice
against several evils which, in my opinion,
shout be eliminated.
In rule 80 (a) of the intercollegiate rules will
be found: The snapper back is entitled to but
half the ball" Which half? asked three diff
ferent center rusbers what they understood by
TINS rule. One thought vertical line divided
the ball; another preferred a horizontal di-
vision, and the third said: II always take the
whole ball. 1t is only custom which has
entitled to the whole ball Under the present
rules what do We see when two teams line up?
Inc TWO center rushers begin at once to strug-
gle and push. think most people will agree
that have put it mildly. One is endeavoring
10 Set !ne Dali back to his quarter back and to
hold his ground; the other is trying to upset
MN before the actual play begins. In tact
TINS senseless struggle spreads more or
less throughout the whole rush line. This
ID not ohiy vekatlous both to the teams and the
spectators put 1t causes endless delays. The
ball Is sometimes actually put in play by the
wrong side. The players then pile up on each
other, and. after order is restored. the verdict
is: Nothing done. Ball not put in play prop
erly; provided, Of course. that the referee has
been fortunate enough to see the play. This is
not good honest sport; il is beating the rules
Interference should begin only after the ball
has been put in play such result is next to
lmposslDie each side owns half of the ball.
theoretically. even under the present rules,
pay snouid pegin after the ball is started; but
and are in contact with each other
Asa consequence OF the two rush lines touching
one announcer, II Is extremely difficult to obviate
these wrestling and sparring matches. If rule
cannot be made to prevent this. why not draw
up the rush lines three or four feet apart and
not allow either side to advance or touch the
other side until the ball has been put in mo-
ton? This rule could easily BIO enforced since
the officials could see better than at present.
inns would do away with much Of the useless
rough play and would increase the value of
agility and headwork. while it would not do
away with the necessity of beef 1t would
be radical departure, no doubt; but, on the
whole, / think it would be for the best interests
premium on brute strength in the center plav-
This change would also tend to open the game,
which l believe to be a step in the right
direction.
Many Improvements have been made in the
past six years. Why not go still further?
Should this proposed alteration make the side
with the ball more effective Il am not ouite
sure about this. however), it might be neces-
sary to reduce by one the nnmber of a,tamnss
allowed to gain five Yards. II SO. this redpc-
ton would in turn probably produce more
kicking-most certainly another step in the
right direction. After all. it is foot ball not
hand ball. that we are after or PERTAINS a mid
die course between the .wo.
Rule % reads: NO PLAYER shall Law his hands
upon or interfere by use of hands or arms with
an opponent unless he has the hill
The side which has the bail cam
only interfere with the body The side
which has not the ball can use the hands ami
arms as heretofore" The frs. nart Of ,b;s 80 -