The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
FOOTBALL PENALTIES.
Are often Perplexing to the Enthusi-
asts of the Game.

Are often Perplexing to the Enthusi-
asts of the Game.
Brooklyn Eagle.
No changes made in football rules during
the past two seasons have been more diff
cult to follow in actual play than the award
ing of penalties. Those who have followed
the game for years and in many cases were
gridiron stars In their college days are now
often perplexed to an irritating degree by
the loss of the ball or distance by this or
that team with the rush of play leaving no
time to arrive at the reason for the inflicted
penalty.
The loss of distance is often more puzzling
than that of the ball. In general, distance
penalties are Of either five, ten, fifteen or
twenty yards. The loss of twenty yards has
been an important feature this year. 1t
is big penalty when the entire length of
the gridiron Q10 YARDS is taken into con-
sheraton.
A team may lose twenty yards for trip
ping, when in possession of the pigskiu,
for holding, or the unlawful use of hands
and arms. In this case the number Of the
down and the point to be gained remains I'M
changed.
In the rules Of this year a man is allowed
to run with the ball on direct pass from
the snapper back within the center section
of the field bounded by the twenty-five-yard
lines and known the checker board"
providing he carry 1t forward beyond the
line Of scrimmage at least five yards from
the point where the snapper back put the
ball in play. An infringement of this rule
means a loss of twenty yards. the number
OF down and the point TO be gained remain
ing unchanged.
The ffteen-yard penalty is not often used
and many times is mistaken for one Of
twenty yards. A team loses fifteen yards
when one or more of its players has been
a
ball has been declared dead by the referee,
that is. the side with the bali is advanced
fifteen yards.
Interference with a fair catch is penalIzed
by loss of fifteen yards by the offending
side. the team with the ball getting an adj
vance of fifteen yards and the choice of a
fairly heeling the ball the catcher is
thrown, the offending side loses fifteen
yards. The, team with the pigslkin,. after
the sphere in play by a free kick.
The ten-yard penalty is inflicted when a
player Of team with the ball is off side.
the number of the down and the point to
which the ball must be advanced for first
down remaining unchanged. In case the
game is interfered with by some act palpa-
bly, unsportsmanlilke not provided for in
the list of regular penalties. the umpire is
given the power to award the offended side
ten yards the number OF the down and
naming unchanged. In case the offended
side is in possession of the ball, the dis
lance" instead of point" to be gained for
first down remains unchanged.
The five-yard penalty is one often in
ficted for various infractions of the rules.
If a side without the ball is guilty of hold
ing, unlawful use of hands and arms or off
side play. the penalty is loss Of five
yards. In case the snapper back, after be-
ing once warned, is off side. his team loses
five yards, the number of the down and
the point to be gained remaining un-
changed. A team throwing. passing or
batting the ball toward the opponents goal
loses five yards, and the ball is put in play
five yards back of the point where the foul
occurred.
III the side without the ball interferes
with its being put in play, the offended side
receives five yards. This penalty can also
be inflicted for any unnecessary delay of
the game. In a free kick. IL the kicker
goes beyond the mark. his team loses five
yards, and the opposing team is allowed to
line up the same distance nearer the op-
posing goal IN case a player OF the side
without the ball is Off side on free kick
his side loses five yards and the kickers
line is advanced that much distance.
Not all the penalties are mentioned. and
very few exceptions are given. Those de-
scribed, however, are some most often en-
countered in watching the average game.