Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-16

[AnA~e
which they proposed will go on trial
this fall. When one stops TO consider
thatusually the entire annual alteration
in our football code has been
but a word or clause in only two or
three rules, while the alterations Tor
next season have taken in haii tho rules
OF the book, one gains some faint Idea
of the confusion that Is likely TO arise
In the first few weeks and the howl or
protest that must follow, for a time at
any rate, among those thoroughly post
ed on the former rulings. l an oy no
mea sure that we shall lind a large
proportion of the changes work In
readily enough and without great ire
ton, but there must De som thar Will
try the patience of all before proving
seryicable. But no matter what the
changes were this result would newt
ably follow and be exactly proportloned
10 the amount Of alteration effected In
the actual play.
To the football student nothing is
more interesting in the new rules b a
the fact that a distinct advantage has
been given TO the attacking party by
certain alterations in the penalties. As
in base ball, it has always been a deli
cate matter to so adjust the balance be-
tween the batter and pitcher as 10 MAKE
the hitting strong enough 10 keep up
the interest, so in football laws must
be such that a side in possession OF the
ball may be able, by skilful play, to make
some progress, and yet not be so pro-
tected as to be sure OF carrying the ball
to a scoring point in spite of the defense
OF the opponents. The two points
! which materially favor the attacking
party are the increased penalty for or
side play by the side not In possession
OF the bail, aud the curtailing, under
certain conditions, of the advantages OF
kick-out. The rules formerly
provided that the penalty for
of.sids play should be either
five wards or the loss of the ball. That
is, il the side offending had the ball,
they must give il up to their opponents;
II they did not have the ball, they must
give no five yards OF territory. The
rules now provide the same penalty for
the attacking side, but, upon the de-
Tending side, impose double the former
penalty, namely, the surrender OF ten
wards of territory. This is certain to
tell In a long, hard game.
The second point is that OF the rule
intended to advance drop kicking. II
a side try for goal bv e drop-kicS upon
any first down inside the opponents
twenty-fve-yard line and miss the goal,
the defenders can bring the ball out
only to the ten-yard line Instead Of to
the twenty-fve-yard line as before.
To the mind Of the practical player
the principal feature in the new ruling
ia that he is debarred from converting
kick-ofa. kick-outs and all free kicks
into wedge runs. The time when the
hall used TO be punted or kicked from
its resting place on tho ground well
down the field and every game was
started in this way. But that has been
well-nigh forgotten and the modern
captain has Invariably started of with
a wedge Of some kind and re-
tanned possession OF the ball as long as
possiele. 10 spite of the fact that the
new method will open the play and
Dirk III hlAhlhS 60 ChS5s
will miss that exciting moment when
both sides crouched and eyed each
other, and then with q sudden spring
met in the first shock OF the contest.
But those who think that there will be
nothing but an ordinary KICK, ana
nance no excitement about the new
openiug are likely to be pleasantly dis
appoiuted for there are many already
studying out eccentric kicks and de-
vices OF play that will make the first
moment one Of interest. The sport Is
one that under almost any rules which
bear a resemblance 10 the original must
ALWAYS be one Of great possibilities TO
those who care TO study it. No better
example OF this could be adduced than
thai OF Mr.. Del9nd's play. For
two years wedges Of various
kinds have been exhibited In
opening plays, but all we're OF prsc
ticalIy the same character. Then Mr..
DeIand, not himself a player, but a stu
OF the sport, introduced an entirely
new idea and one which has since been
followed out along many lines, by dlvid-
ina mis- wedge and taking more distance
in which TO acquire the momentum.
80
This season will be full Of novelties.
and the first will be q formation best
adapted for a defense on the kickoff.
The captain has ten men beside himself
| to distribute over the field for protection
! against long aud short kicks as well as
trick kicks-if one may call them so.
| Something must. OF course. depend upon
the way in which the eide about the
kickoff lines up, but The purpose will
naturally be more or less disguised,
while the defenders are In Ignorance as
10 the intended 10Y
While many OF the other alterations
in the rules Of i'm portance, none are so
radical as the insistence upon 9 kick
and the alteration in penalties In favor
| OF the attacking party.
The rule, outside OF these, which will
be most commented uRon ana which
will probably make the most trouble for
players and umpires is that one forbid
ding momentum mass plays There is
an idea prevalent among maRY inter-
ested in the game that this he rule
| ,ha. wfu do auav With UAd pic-n