The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-14
FOOTBALL on 4 CHECKER BOARD.
That Is What New Rules Mean-Two DIFF.
ferent styles OF Play.

No changes In the playing rules OF foot
ball have occasioned as much discussion as
those just made by the rules committee.
What the changes amount to is that there
may now be one style Of play for part of
the field and another style OF play for an
other part Of the field. and there doubtless
will be much adverse criticism OF the
scheme of allowing plays in certain imits
Of the gridiron that cannot be resorted
to in another: this despite the expert foot
ball knowledge OF the learned men who
! compose the COMMITTEES. More simplicity
was asked for In the game and tho COM
mittee has gone about giving this simplicity
by making the game more complicated.
1t is true that the changes made are good
and mean more open play as far as they 60.
but under the new rules it depends on where
the ball Is whether it shall be necessary 70
play under the new rules.
Some members Of the committee, voicing
the wishes of their constituents. were for
retaining mass plays, some for their abolish
ment. Under the new order OF things the
old formations are permissible when the
ball is within twenty-five yards Of either
goal. while the changes made are COM
pulsory when the ball is in midfeld -that
H. anywhere between the two 25-yard lines.
1t looks very much as IL the committee
had effected compromise. II team
has the ball within TWEEN ty-lve yards Of
an opponents goal line II ca n resort to the
hammering. back -of-the-line formations
that have been in vogue and have been
50 much censured. and this at time when
the location Of the ball puts the other side
all the more on the defensive,
In other words. the weaker side-for the
~ lN..t,N1 In, all
more by the fact that a still stronger attack
may he thrown upon it, 1t is true that
the rule works both ways. that the eide
whose goal b threatened may also adopt
the hack-oft heline formations IL it gets
the ball within twenty-five yards of its
own goal: but, unlike the OF her team, it Is
not III position to rush the ball by back
of-the-line formations uninterruptedly
| across the other sides goal line. Instead,
II must cease these tactics the moment 1t
own goal line, and for the next sixty yards
cannot take them up again.
point raised Ia that what Ia good enough
for one part OF the field is good enough for
having rules that are neither fab nor fowl
nor good red herring. No doubt this
occurred to the committee who possibly
were inspired by desire to make haste
slowly. Nevertheless. the burden of proof
as to whether the new idea will work we'll
| fall when the plan il tried.
The best change made by the commit
tee IL not the one on which most stress
| is laid, that the quarter back may run
with the ball but the one requiring the
seven line men to keep their positions In
the line until the ball is put in play. This
reduces massng. since only the backs are
behind the line when the ball is snapped
back. Some Of the committee wanted
the ends to be allowed TO drop back Ave
H., hue ha,r ,ah
Of the prettiest plays in football, not tried
much Of late. was a line man running from
in the line and taking the ball There will
be more of this now
The other radical change. and some
back may take the ball from the snap-bacl
for run. He must not plunge straight
ahead through the line. but must run five
yards to either side. The latter restric-
ton will prevent the other backs from
massing 10 help the quarter through the
| centre Naturally, with the quarter back
likely to dart of the side at any time the de-
| fence and the attack will be opened up for
| the play. makes an excellent rule in that
part Of the field to which 1t pertains. or
course this and the seven line men in line
requirement may be used in any part OF
| the field, II SO desired. but there always
/ IL the probability of recourse TO the tackle
back and similar bruising formations when
! the location of the bail makes them legal.
ana SD tIleTe SUI Is tIle premium on 1901
movements, as Frank Butterworth calls
them. Still, the nature OF the play In mid
| field will necessitate more individual knowt-
edge than called for in late years. and
! that is something experts have been pray
ing for. 1t is certainty, that the new
rules will open w the play materially.
| There ia that much to he thankful for.
| The pity is that the committee did not
make complete job of it,
| With the necessity Of the quarter back
running five yards to the side will come the
necessity Of lines five yards apart running
parallel with the lie lines. With the
crosswise and lengthwise lines, the field
will be divided into blocks five yards
square and will he an oblong checker
board. Otherwise the referee would have
a hard time telling whether the quarter back
we 1T his five sidewise yards The referee
viii have to stand right behind the quarter
back TO tell whether the latter has made
the necessary distance on the oblique.
There is nothing in the rules to prevent
any man from acting az quarter back.
hence the position. 30 far as passing the
ball to a third man Is concerned loses it's
individuality
Another move by the committee was
changing the penalty for holding from
loss Of the ball to being put back twenty
yards. II is thought that rather than
| risk such big loss more kicking will be
resorted to, and In consequence more open
| plav will follow.