Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-02
new RULES
To Govern Football Officially Given to
Public.
Changes That Win Affect the Play
This Fall.

The new football rules have been Of
ficially given to the pubic.
Here are the changes:
THE captains of the opposing teams
shall toss up coin before the begin
ming of a game. and the winner Of the
toss shall have his choice of goal or
kickoff. The ball shall ne kicked off
at the beginning of each tlSif, the kick
off at the beginning of the second Ialf
being made by the side that did NOT
first kick off at the beginning of the
game. The teams shall chalge goals
after every try at goal. following
touchdown, and after every goal from
the field. and also at The lightning Of
the second half"
A further explanation IS made to the
rule governing the OWNERSHIP of the
ball going out of bonds.
IF. however. it 0he ball strikes any
player who is on side. am! then goes
out Of bounds, it shall belong to the
player who first obtains ossession Of
it,
In swapping the bail back, II the
player 50 doing is off side. the bail
must be snapped again, and If this oc-
ours once more on the Same down, the
opponents shall receive FIVE yards, Tire
number of the down and the point to
be gained remaining unchanged"
Thus. instead of losing the bah as
heretofore. the side Offending loses five
yards. This penalty is considered less
severe, as it gives the side an oppor-
tunity still to make the distance.
Rule % brings uD a play which is
seldom seen, and has NOT peen made
use of to any extent for several years,
that is. bounding the bail III from the
side of the field and theE l.ickinlr it,
The change says:
If the bail goes out of Lounds, wheth-
or it bounds back or not. a playec Of
the side which secures it must bring
it to the spot where tie line wa5
crossed. and either Touch il in with
both hands at right angles to the side
line and then kick it . : least 10 yards
toward the opponents goal. Neither
side need be on side when the ball il
thus put in play" he may put it down
for scrimmage mo coaching" say
the rules committee e.nphaticalN.
only five men shall be allowed to
walk up and down on each side of the
field" Water carriers must be seated,
and they cannot come on ;f.e fiei1 Of
play without the permission of the
umpire. This will put an end, il is
hoped, to message carrying assistants.
Five yards is the new penalty for
holding an opponent who has put the
ball IF the side with the bali be the
offender. that side loses the hall.
A forward pass is punished by = loss
of yards. instead of 10. as last year.
Whenever a foul is committed which
in the opinion of the umpire did not
affect the play, the offended side may
decline the penalty. In case of run
being made from this flay. not more
than % yards from the spot where the
foul was committed shall D. allow ed. -
The rule formerly provided thai il
the offended side declined to accept the
penalty. having made run in spite of
the offence by the opporeilts, they were
entitled to only 10 yards, no matte
how far the ball has been carried The
rule as it stood was considered hard
ship and the committee decided to al
low the ground gamers % yards.
Hereafter the timekeeper win start
his watch. not when the referee Bows
his whistle. but when the ball is put
in play.
1.-The changes in the rites" says the
committee. have not been extensive
AS will be seen from going over the
alterations. the real methods Of play
are not materially affected by item
save that the two sides change goals
after try at goal from Il touchdown
or a successful field kick goal, ard the
effect OF the amendments viii not be
vital