The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-09-20
NEW FOOTBALL
RULES FOR 1902

The new football rules for the season
of 1902 are out, and for the first time it is
possible to get record of the changes
made by the rules committee at it's sum-
mer session. The most important altera-
ton is section providing for a change
of goals after each touchdown. This
change is for the purpose of equalizing
the chances of the teams far as wind
and sun are concerned. The change also
provides for shit of goals after a goal
from the field. A number of minor
changes are made for the sake of clear
ness, and rule which relates to the
length of the game says the referee shall,
when he thinks darkness is liable to cut
short the game, arbitrarily shorten the
time of the two halves, and that refusal
to abide by such a decision shall mean
forfeiture the game.
Rule It, section B, says: I'm swapping
the ball back, if the player doing so is off
side, the ball must be snapped again. If
this occurs more than once on the same
down the opponents shall receive five
yards, the number of the down and the
point to be gained remaining unchanged ~
The penalty thus becomes loss of five
yards instead of loss of the ball and is
less severe.
| Rule 49, section c, deals with the
groupings of players and elucidates a
point concerning which there has always
been much misunderstanding. 1t says:
IF five players, not including the quar-
ter-back are behind the line of Scrim-
mage they must occupy one of the three
following positions: First, all five of such
players may be inside the positions
occupied at the ends of the line of scrim-
in, I4yIi oh of nj
must be at least five yards back of the
line; or, seconu, if one of the said five
players be outside of the line occupied by
the players at the end of said line, then
only one other of the players need be
five yards back of the line; but, third, all
five of these players may be nearer than
five yards to the line of scrimmage if two
of them are outside the positions occu-
pied by the end of said line" In this
rule outside means outside the extreme
foot of the players of the opposing side
at the end of the line.
In rule q. section F, are additional
points to still further prevent coaching
from the side lines. ''Only five men shall
be allowed to walk up and down eacI
side of the field Violation of this rule
is punishable by a loss of five yards
Changes have been made in rule Is
which has to do with penalties. For hold
ing, the setback penalty becomes f1v,
yards instead of ten. Also for the unlaw
full use of hands or arms, violation a
to off-side play tripping and tackling be
low the knees, the penalty is fixed as
Vineyards assessment, unless the offend
ing side has the ball. in which case tn
penalty is instant surrender of the ball
If the ball is in the air when the foul
committed, the ball goes to the non-of
Tending side. The rule concludes wit
the following note: Whenever a foul i
committed which. in the opinion of tn
umpire, does not affect the play, tn
offended side may decline the penalty. 1
case of a run being made from this play
not more than twenty-five yards fror
the spot where the foul was committe
shall be allowed