The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09
new FOOTBALL RULES
WALTER CAMPS EXPLANATION OF
THE REVISED REGULATIONS.
Several Important Changes which In
diana Colleges and High Schools
VIII Note with Interest.
Snaldine,s Official Football Guide.


The changes in the rules for the season
OF 1901 will not prove serious in the way Of
their effect upon the play. They are more
after the order of rendering more explicit
the existing rules and placing sufficient
power in the hands of the officials to insure
the enforcement of those rules.
For the last three years the popular feel
ing has been that the game when properly
conducted is thoroughly satisfactory and
that if the officials enforce the rules the
result is always a fair one and the game
of the most interesting kind when equally
matched teams meet.
The exact alterations which have been
made in the rules this season by the COM
mittee are as follows:
In Rule 4 of the Guide, Section d, there
Is a further definition OF q safety, namely,
that a safety is made when the ball, kicked
by man behind his goal line, crosses the
extension of the side line behind the goal
line. 1t was generally supposed that the
rules did not provide for such a contin-
Sency, put as matter of fact they did.
When man standing behind his own goal
attempted 10 kick the ball out and made
such a poor kick OF it that the ball did
not cross his goal line at all, but crossed
what would be the extension of the side
line, and thus went into touch, by the
listing rules the ball was dead as soon as
III crossed the side line. But also by an
other rule when bail was kicked out of
bounds ii did not go to the man who first
obtained possession Of il, but TO the op-
ponents. Hence kick of this kind would
result in the opponents having possession
Of the ball in touch. But then they must
bring 1t 10 the point where the SIDE line
was crossed by the ball and there put il in
play. The result would be that they would
bring ii down behind the kicker'S goal and
immediately upon putting ii in play there
they would hold it on the ground and thus
secure touchdown. In other words, a bali
Mnleh; kicked by a man behind his own
goal line, did not cross the goal line, but
crossed the side line meant, If the rules
were followed out, a touchdown for the OPP
ponentS. This seemed rather a severe
penalty for the misplay, and il was deter
mined by the rules committee that such a
play should be ruled d safety instead of
touchdown for the opponents. Hence the
new rule.
The second alteration is under Rule 10 of
the Guide, note. This formerly defined
ahead of the BALI as between the oppo-
nentS' goal and a line parallel to the goal
line and passing through the center of the
ball. As matter of fact this was incon-
Slstent with some of the other rules where
the forward point of the ball is taken
the line. The rule was therefore altered so
that instead OF reading it did in the for
mer edition, ii reads, passing through the
| point OF the ball nearest the goal line of the
side not IN possession of the ball
Inc next alteration occurs in Rule u of
| the Guide, Section L. The difficulty that
| caused the alteration in this rule has not
! peen appreciated very much in the big
games in the East, but there have been oc-
! casions even there where the delay of the
| game was prolonged unreasonabiy. AS a
matter OF fact ii was found that although
! the rules committee intended that no delay
should result over two minutes, an obstrep-
erous team would make it more nearly four
| minutes IN TINS way: Acting under Rule II
| (e) that no delay arising from any cause
| whatsoever should continue more than two
minutes, they would delay, supposedly for
! injured player, for the full two minutes.
| Then the referee would tell them time was
! up and they must play. But they would
| manage TO occupy nearly two minutes
| longer by refusing to play, claiming under
| Rule q, Section q, that the referee could
| not give the game forfeit to the other side
until fully two minutes after he had or
| dered them 70 play. Just before the eXpira-
| ton OF the fourth minute they would play.
! With this contention in mind, the rules
! committee added to Rule l., Section Z, the
| following: ANY delay thereafter shall be
| penalized under Rule q (e) IS (c.)" 1t means
! that after the consumption of two minutes
| five yards shall be given for further delay
| or the game, this in no way interfering
! with the referees making them forfeit the
| game at the end of TWO minutes Of such de-
! lay. In other words, they will lose distance
| for delay as well as forfeit the game if they
do not go one at the end of two minutes
| more
Rule 13. Section D. first line, the word
! kick is changed TO read punt, or drop
| kick for further clearness.
Rule Ia, Section b, the words are inserted
after the words fair catch" when kicked
| after touching the ball in at the side line -
This was an omission in the former rules.
| Under Rule II there has been added TO
| Section A ANY such interference shall be-
| regarded as delay Of the game, Rule % (c)
| This was to insure the abandonment OF
| pulling and hauling the opponents in the
| rush line.
Rule q of the Guide, Section B. the fol-
| lowing clause was added Unless this
| should result to the advantage of the Of
| Tending side, when the down and the dis
tance to be gained shall remain the same. -
| 1t is clear that this is what was intended
| in former ruling, but it had not been made
| definite enough.
| Rule % Section A, before the word COR -
| are inserted the words lat least ten yards -
| That is man touching the ball in at right
| angles to the side line and thus putting IL
| in play by kick, must kick it at least ten
| yards.
Rule %, to Section was added the
| clause providing that the referee shall
make signal with his hand when a team
| is trying for goal Immediately upon the
| touching Of the ball to the ground. This
| has been the custom of officials for some
| time, but has never been clearly stated in
| the rules.
| Rule %, Section D, Paragraph . the
| words lis attempting TO" were changed TO
| has an opportunity for in order that the
| official should judge when there a real
| chance of a man making fair catch.
Rule Is, Section K, has been altered so as
/ to make the rule broader and make it apply
| to any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct not
| elsewhere provided for.
| This completes the list of alterations and,
| as will be seen, there is very little that af-
| fectS the play directly.