Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-03
MODERN FOOT BALL.
a Letter Recommending the Abolition of
Dangerous Eiesuruts

Col. Osborn Marcus Curtis, of this |
city, now in New York, has written
the Times Of that city an interesting
communication relative to modern
foot ball playing. which offers many
interesting suggestions. some of the
most important of which are given:
As one who has played foot ball
ever since there was a game. under
printed rules. in this country, and
who has seen all the most attractive
features, Ia both spectator and play
err, gradually eliminated by the ex-
pansion aud pcrvcrsion of the idea of
interference ahead of the ball.
write To propose a most radical
change in the game. or, more proper
ly. in the method of play.
Slight changes in two rulcs-Nos.
- and 25-wili make the game an
open one. clearer and simpler and
more interesting to spectators and
players. hard enough and rough
enough and still dangerous enough
for any one. and yet abolish. as much
as any hard game can abolish. the
ccrtainiy--not the chance; il is GER
taintv. nowadavs-of severe in iurv
to some one in every match game bv
rendering the mass PLAYS Of no sort
Of advantage and SO eliminating
them. The game will lose nothing
of its snap and force, nothing of its
team play and fine chances for com
binaiions bv ..hcad work" but. on
the contrary. il will give more
open field for the application Of manly
strength. skill and endurance.
Rule - reads: ..(a) a player is
put or side if. during a scrimmarc.
he gets in front of the ball. or if the
ball has been las! touched 10y his own
side behind him. 1t is impossible
for n PLAYER to he off side in his own
goal. No player, when Of side. shall
touch the ball or. interrupt or OBJ
>iruct opponent with his hands or
arms until again on side.
''(b) a player being oil side is put
on side" etc. No change desired IN
THIS scction.)
Rule % reads: mo PLAYER shall
lay hands. upon or interfere by use Of
hands or Arms with an opponent. IN
less he has the ball. The side which
has the ball can only interfere
with the body. The side which has
not the ball can use the hands and
arms as heretofore"
NV suggestions are these, viz:
/. Change section 3. paragraph 4
of rule "a. to read As follows: mo
PLAYER when off side shall touch the
ball or interrupt or obstruct oppo-
nent in any way until again on side. "
II. For rule -. substitute this:
The player who has the bail NAV
: interfere with opponents in all fair
ways: the other players of the side
having the ball may not interfere
. with nor touch opponents in ary
: way.
The opponents may tackle the man
] having the ball. but may not inter
Il fere with nor touch any other player
: in any way"
. The adoption of this style of play
> would I've no experiment. no enthu-
d siast's cream to he proved imprac-
= ,icablc on the field. The game wa,
= thus played and partially volved
into team and combination work. an,
was rafting live work away back il
1873. 1876. 1877 and 1878. Then tn,
, misconccption of the rules Of off side
" (as played in England. and my col
= lection OF rules show that our frs
" editions were taken verbatim fren
the British Rugby books by un
= taught refrces led to gradual adop
! tion of interference .olr side" an,
the present punched PLAYING ant
J dangerous massin- Of players. an,
VI the loss of even common skill in pas
: sing and kicking the ball. The ute
e decline of the drop kick" which i
- now practically Obsolete. has follow
- ed.