Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-15
NEW FOOTBALL RULES.
Some Changes Made to Help Toward
Open Playing.

There is much interest in the work
of the rules committee which has been
struggling with possible changes i'll the
regulations to govern next falls games
on the gridiron. Now that the college
and school baseball season is over, the
boys are beginning to look ahead to the
football season and some of the
schedules have already been an
nounced.
Two important changes in the foot
ball playing rules have been announced
by Walter Camp, Yale's athletic adj
wiser and secretary of the football rules
committee, which has been meeting
throughout the winter and which
closed it's sessions in Philadelphia, last
Saturday. The two new rules will
operate to a large extent in making
the game more interesting to specta-
tors, as it will henceforth be more
open" in character. The new rules
affect the rush line and quarterback
position and in general are aimed at
a restriction of the mass formations"
which have been 80 severely criticised
recently.
The first of the new rules to be
adopted makes it impossible for the
guards back, back or end back plays
to be worked in the centre of the field,
though no restraint is made on that
play in the territory from the 25-yard
lines to the goal lines at either end of
the field, between the 25-yard lines,
hereafter.
The entire rush line, consisting of
seven men, must remain in their pO-
sitions, thus preventing mass plays or
any kind of heavy formations except
the usual tandem back field plunges
through holes made by the line.
This change was called for, 1t was
said, by majority of those interested
in college and school football, as it is
believed that it will make the game
much less dangerous, and will lead to
running with the ball, and end plays
rather than mass or close formations.
AS compromise to the mass play adj
herents this rule is suspended at the
5-yard lines, SO that in case of a team
getting within striking distance of the
opponents goal line heavy plunges by
lineman playing back to their positions
are allowed.
The new quarterback rule Is intend
ed to partly make up for the heavy for
nations in midfeld. BY the new rule
between the 25-yard lines the quarter
back can run with the ball, but must
take it outside of five yards from the
place where it is put in play. That is
the quarterback is not to be allowed to
plunge through the line but must make
end runs.
The quarterback is not given this
privilege from the 25-yard to the goal
line. The new rules are at variance
with the football played by Yale and
most of the colleges-of heavy mass
formations the length Of the field.
On the other hand, they are aimed
at more spectacular game and are ex-
pected to meet the objections raised
throughout the country that football
has become too rough and severe a
game.
The question Of headgear was dis
posed of at previous meeting as was
the question of the fullback being able
to nut his team mates con side" after
a punt by running ahead of the ball.
Under the new rules he will not be
able to do that. This change was
made to afford some protection to the
men in the BACK neld. BeforS tHey
had>to handle the ball quickly or the
opposing forwards would be put ION
side" by their fullback and be allowed
to fall on the ball. The backs were
then often roughly handled by the for
wards.
To further protect the men III the
back field against unnecessary rough
ness on the part of the forwards 1t is
made the umpire's business to see to 1t
that the forwards DO not jump on him.
The referee can now give all his at
tention to following the ball, and the
umpire to the action of the men.
"Holding" will be dealt with by IN
ficting a penalty of 20 yards loss to
the team offending. 1t will not lose
the BAH as last year, but will lose
ground.