Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-11
IS NOR OPEN
New Football Rules According
to Official Guide just
Out.
CHANGES FEW BUT IMPORTANT
Will be Accepted by Western
Schools But With Some Dis
satisfaction.

The official football guide contain
ing the changes in rules in force the
coming season are being distributed.
There are not many changes, but they
are of considerable Importance. The
most prominent change is made in
rule Is, in which provision is made
for more open play, thus aiming to
do away with the mass formations
i'll which the majority of the serious
accidents connected with the game
take place. This rule is as follows:
when the ball is put IN play in a
scrimmage at any point of the cen
trial section of the field, that is, the
portion bounded by the two 25-yard
lines and the two side lines, at least
seven players of the side having the
ball must be on the line of the scrim-
mage. The player who first receives
the ball when the scrimmage is with
in the above mentioned territory may
carry it forward beyond the line of
scrimmage, provided, in $50 doing, he
| crosses such line at least five yards
from the point where the snapper
back put the ball in play.
when the ball is put in play by a
scrimmage at any point ON or be
tween one of these 25-yard lines and
the nearest goal line, at least five
players Of the side having the ball
must be on the line of scrimmage."
Headgear Changed.
Another change is found in rule ~,
which provides for a different class
of head-gear, in which no sole leather.
papier machc or other hard or UNI
yielding substance shall be used. All
pads and other projections are sub
iect to inspection by the umpire. who
has the right to decide whether they
are made of such substance as to be
dangerous in Il scrimmage. In an
other section of this rule il is pro
vided that all attendants must be
seated throughout the game.
The lincsman under the new rules
becomes practically as powerful al
official as there is i'm the game, as hC
has the right tn penaliZe for otfSidG
plays, tripping or unnecessary rough
ness. Under rule 10 there is an i'm
lportant change. Fault has been tounC
with the way opposing forwards
jumped into or roughed a fullbacl
after he had kicked the ball wher
to get the ball himself. Brutality has
been often charged in connection Will
| this play. For. this reason the ruiz
has been so altered that the man who
kicks the ball. if the ball goes beyonC
the line of scrimmage, may neither
put men on side by running ahead o.
them nor may he himself secure the
ball. Another change gives the sid'
scored upon the option of kicking of
or having their opponents kick off.
Difficult for Referee.
One prominent football man STATED
that he approves of all the change!
i'm the rules with the exception of tn,
change in rule Is. which provides fol
the player crossing the scrimmag'
line at five yards from the poin
where the snapper-back put the bal
in play. This rule will place the ref
cree in bad position to judge. TIL
rule. it is explained, will necessitat,
the marking off of the center of thu
field into 5-yard squares with mucl
the same appearance as checker
board.
Western schools will undoubtedl.
accept the changes in the rules. Their
will be some dissatisfaction and Their
is a general feeling that the time i
now come when the conference
schools should have a say-so in tn
making up of the rules. 1t is time f
admit. 50 say western football author
tiles, that the western schools have
right to the same footing in the foot
ball world as the eastern schools.