The San Francisco call., 1896-09-12
FOOTBALL.
Some Changes In Rules-Olympics
Planning Many Games-Schedule
for This City.

Plannlng Many GameS-Schedule
for This City.
The football rules for 1896, now amic-
ably confined after last seasons split to
one set, indorsed and accepted by all the
big Eastern colleges, are out. No radical
changes have been made in the old
regulations. Momentum plays are prac-
tically prevented; mass plays held more
In check; the chances for fair catch of a
punted ball made much easier; interference
with the center rush and the ball during
an attem pied snap-back discouraged by
the introduction of more stringent pro-
hlDltory rule; and quarterback Kick,
where the ball is sent forward of the line
OF scrlmmage, is interpreted as giving the
opponents fair and equal chance at the
ball.
There are other minor changes, but they
do not affect the play or change in the
least the appearance of the game.
"A talr catch" to quote the new rule
lis catch made direct rom kick by one
OF the opponents, or from punt-out by
one of the same side, provided the man
While making the catch makes mark with
his heel and no other OF his side has
touched the ball. If he be interfered with
by al opponent who is off side, or if he be
thrown after catching the ball, unless he
has advanced beyond the mark, he shall
be given fifteen yards"
This ffteen-yard penalty will, it is
thought effectually prevent interference
with attempted fair catches.
The rule regulating momentum and
mass plays says in part:
Before the bail is put in play. in g scrim-
mage should any player of the side which b as
the ball take more than one step in any di-
rect1on he must come to full stop before the
ball Is put IN play Exeeption--one man of
having hall MAJ ha
toward his own goal without coming to full
stop before the bali is put in play. When the
ball IS put IN play at least five players must be
on the line of scrimmage.
Five yards are given for interfering with
the ball on the center rush during an at
tempted snap-back.
The Olympics will begin their first prac-
tice at $3.50 o'clock tomorrow forenoon on
the Central Park grounds. Punting. run
ming about and catching will Comprise
this preliminary work. Monday and there
after the practice will be at clock in the
afternoon. The football squad is larse
one, made uD OF much excellent veteran
material drawn from several sources, but
principally from the Stanford field. With
HARRISON and Code, Stanford's old rival
quarters, both trying for quarter back on
the Olympic team, the personnel of the
final eleven is sure to be high class, for
there are other cases of good players be-
ticular position. A long series of games
now contemp plated will, however, give all
these men a chance to play.
In addition to the matches already
scheduled with Stanford, Berkeley and Re-
lance Jack Sheehan, the newly elected
Olympic manager, said yesterday that he
will try 10 get games with the Stockton
and Sacramento Athletic Club elevens, st.
Mary's College. Santa Clara College,
Multnomah of Portland, and the Butte
team. A holiday tour of Southern Cali
fornia is also possibility. Practice games
are to be played with the Peerless team
and the Crocker team of this City, and
Sheehan says that he hopes TO arrange
practice games with Stanford for the bene-
fit of both teams.
ID. o. Stickney, now in this City, will, if
he remains here, enter vigorously into the
life on the Olympic gridiron, both as
player and coach. He played at Harvard
along in 'SS and S9 and since then has
played on the teams of the Boston Athletic
ASSOCIATION and the Chicago Athletic As
sociation, and last season coached and put
In fine condition the University of Wis
consin's eleven.
Seasons Oamac Of CaptraI parb.