The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-14
FOOTBALL
MAKE RULES
MORE DEFINITE
COACH YOST SUGGESTS CHANGES
IN THE FOOTBALL LAWS.
Regulations Of the Game Now Are
Very Ambiguous Alterations
Which Would Make the Work of the
Officials in Games Much Easier.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service
Chicago, Dec. 14.--In communica-
ton to local paper, F. Fl. Yost of
Michigan, the great football leader,
suggests several changes in the rules,
which, in his opinion. would make the
code more explicit and easier to inter-
pref.
The hurry up coach has often
been asked to decide disputed points
in games and he has found the rules
ambiguous in several instances, He
says: g.. .E-'
During the past year much discussion
has arisen regarding the Interpretation of
some rules. When the play is made near
4 side line may any of the players line
up out OF the bounds? This should be
stated positively, yes or no. as this is
very often a ground for excuse. .s..
Rule S'says: "A goal is made by kick
ing the ball, in any way except by a
punt from the field Of play over the cross
bar OF the opponents goal" Now this
should read: "A goal is made by drop
kick or place kick, from the field of play"
During the past season the results Of
two games We're left to me for decision
based upon the following conditions: In
one game the center had passed the ball
10 the quarterback, who, standing, held
the ball in his hand and the fullback
Kicked it over the cross bar of the OPP
ponents' goal. Another time the ball had
been fumbled by one side on their own rs
yard line. when one Of the opponents came
thru and kicked it as it lay on the ground
and it accidentally. went across the cross
bar. Under the rule it now is you
could not do otherwise than allow a goal
Yet under rule no such methods of kick
ing are described.
Under rule 10, section S, much discus
sion has arisen as to how a player must
be punished for running into or interfering
with the kicker after he has kicked. The
rules committee require that the officials
punish this offense severely, but do not
state how. Why not state that the Of
Tending side shall receive SO many yards,
or if in the opinion Of the officials the Of
Tense is very severe; disqualification?
However a player could be disqualified
under the rule of unnecessary roughness.
Rule u, section A, as regards the loss
of twenty yards, has been the subject of
much dispute, most teams claiming that
if they were Pit ba ok twenty yards for
holding on first down. and II they then
put the ball in play by swapping the ball
to the quarterback and he touched it
down. they would have a first down. as
they had lost twenty yards. In this way
they avoided the rule, which said when
they were put back under the penalty the
point to be gained remained unchanged.
The rule should read, 1.-The loss of twenty
yards, exclusive of penalties.' This would
be none 100 severe LOT nOluluS.
Rule %, section A, in regard to touch
| ing the bal in from out of bounds
and then kicking, it is indefinite. Must
the man touching it be inside of the side
/ line when he kicks, and, if SO, how far
| may he come in before kicking?
! Rule 25, section A, says the opponents
must remain behind the goal line until the
bali is placed on the ground. Now in case
of a violation of this rule it should state
| they must be put five yards in their own
goal, otherwise there can be no penalty
| for the VIC alton. ~,
Under the rule for charging before the
| ball touches the ground on free kick
| think this is true anyhow, but many Of
ficials say you cannot put them back II
! their own goal.
Rule H. section B, should limit in some
| way the number of times the side having
d free kick can have short kick, which
| does not go ten yards before being touched
| by an opponent.
Under rule %, section 3, the penalt,
for throwing, passing or batting ball to
| ward the opponents goal as it is at pres
ent is a shifting penalty and at time:
| seems very unfair. If. the rule read 'ths
point to be gained remains unchanged,
the penalty would always be q just one
| Instead of rule IS, sections B, G, D anC
f, why not substitute a general rule which
Will say that at least six players must bt
on the line of scrimmage at all times
! but if seven players are on the line O.
! scrimmage between the twenty yar(
lines, then the first player receiving thu
ball from the center or snapperback ma!
carry it beyond the line of scrimmage
provided in so doing he crosses such linz
outside the second man from the cente
on said line?
This rule would make it easy for Off
Gals to know positively when any viola
ton occurred. The way it is now it i
almost impossible to do SO. If this rul
were adopted it would make it optiona
, to use either style of play between tn
. twenty fiveyard lines.
, The past year, ! believe has clearl
demonstrated that the game had no
shown any more open work between tn
twenty five-y yard lines than under the oil
rule; in fact, 1 think the opposite ha
, been true. 1t has forced line attack
because there are not enough men in tn
, interference to circle a good end success
fully. The suggestions would leave tn
style of game to be played optional.
Northwestern university and tn
University of Michigan will meet i,
football next year if the efforts tina
Coach Mccormack has been maxim!
are successful. ......
Since the close of the season tn
purple coach has been at work an,
has succeeded in interesting nunlbe
of the Michigan alumni, who ar
: working with him, in securing tn
date. 1t is the desire to arrange for
game in Chicago, for Michigan has n
: other game in this city next season
: Arthur B. Fleager, who is WORKING
with Mccormack on Northwestern
1904 schedule, is looking after tn
other dates for the purple, while til
m coach is looking entirely after the de
sired Michigan game.
Michigan has given UP her hope Q
arranging a satisfactory eastern foot
ball game for next year. Professor :.
Fl. Pattengill, head of the board Q
control, sums up the matter, saying:
Our alumni are prone to say: w
can lick anything, SO let's go and lie
the east Now I wish to state that
is not Michigans business to lick pee
pie: that this is an institution of learn
ing"
The real bone of contention is tha
the eastern colleges will give Michig:l
n which 10 iera,,