The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-02
CHANGES IN THE GAME.
Complete Statement of this Sea-
sons Changes in the Foot
ball Rules.

With the football season at hand, and a
contest on the gridiron field here in the near
future, the readers of the GAZETTE may be
interested in brief description of wherein
the rules of 1894 differ from those of last
year.
At the end Of last season there was gen.
eral outcry from the football public for
more of an open game. There was also
vigorous protest made against the SO many
casualties of last season. To eliminate the
more dangerous plays, and to make the
game more of a spectators game, five of the
most prominent football men in the United
States were appointed by the University
Athletic Club to make the necessary altcra.
tions.
The first change noted is the fact that
distinct advantage has been given the at
tackipg side by certain alterations in the
penalties. The rules formerly provided that
the penalty for off side play Il. e.) if per
son is in front of the ball when it is put in
to play, if the side offending have the
ball they must give it up to their opponents;
if they do not have the ball, they must give
up five yards of their territory. The rules
now provide the same penalty for the at
tacking side. but if the defending side offend
they must surrender ten yards of territory.
The second point is the rule intended to
advance drop kicking. Formerly, if drop
kick for goal was tried, and it failed, the
defenders could bring the ball twenty five
yards from their goal, and then put it into
play with wedge, or any opening play.
Now, the ball must be kicked when sput in
to play; and, if the try for goal is made on
the first down, and within the twenty five
yard limit, the defenders only bring the
ball out to the ten-yard line, and must kick
it from there.
The point which is to the player the prin.
cipal feature of the new ruling, is that he is
debarred from converting kick.offs ii e)
opening plays; kick.outs Ii e) when ball has
been touched down, by player, behind his
own goal; and all free kicks ii e) any kick
when opponents are restrained from passing
beyond certain point, into wedge plays.
In last seasons games, the play was opened
always with wedge of some sort, thus leav.
ing the ball in the hands of the attacking
side from the atsrt. This year the ball must
be kicked at least ten yards to open the
game.
Another rule which will alter the game
considerably is the one that does away with
the momentum mass plays, or plays where
more than three men start before the ball is
in motion. This almost entirely does away
with the wedge plays which last season were
such fruitful source of injury to both sides.
The rule which affects the principal wedge
plays the most, though, is that which de-
crees an actual kick wherever the rules say
''kick"
The time of ths game has also been abort
ened from one and one-half hours actual
playing to.one hour and ten minutes. This
will also end the game before dark, and
ti,us allow Tire spectators to- ses tho~gaAasy-
and yet get home in time for supper.
For delays of the game in case of accident
to players, etc, three minutes Only are al
lowed, instead of the five minutes of last
year; thus making the succession of plays
more brisk ....
The rule limiting one medical attendant to
the side does away with the running out on
the field of the substitutes, general hangers
on, etc, of the teams in case of any one get.
ting hurt; and thus save the time spent last
year in clearing the field after each invasion.