Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-10-05
LOCAL FOOT BALL
TWO TEAMS ORGANIZING AND
SEVERAL INTERESTING
CAVES PROMISED.
Changes in Rules for this Season far
More Radical than Those OF Any
Prior Season.

son, and 1t is probable that two strong
teams will be organized in this city
and games arranged with teams from
other places. Messrs. Chester Taylor
and Meenette Vietz have organized
team and Will begin practice at once
The Jefferson Fencibles will also or
game q team and it's managers are
already IN correspondence with man
ayers from ether places. Both teams
will begin Practice at once and it is
probable that a game will be played
in Pine Bluff this month
TIE change: in the football rules for
this eason have been greater and far
more radical than those of any season
since the momentum plays were abol-
ished. A kind of crusade haG been
carried on against what is called the
mass play whether justly or unjust
ly, the adherents of neither side can
positively prove.
The first alteration is brought about
by rule ,ater in the list which adj
mits of the quarterback running with
the ball, provided he goes five yards
out from the point where the snapper
back put the ball in the play. in order
that the umpire may measure this rap
idly with his eye, while the play is in
progress, it is suggested in this note
that the middle section of the field,
that is, the part between the two
twenty y-five-yard lines, where alone
this quarterback running is admis
sible, SHAH be marked out, not only
with the regular ive-yard transverse
lines, but also with longitudinal lines.
thus making that section of the field
a eheckerboard.
Much fault has been found With the
way in which opposing forwards
jumped into or roughed fuli-bacI
after he had kicked the ball and when
about to put men on side or running
up to get the ball himself. In fact, so
severe was the criticism of the brutal
ity of this play that it seemed. in the
judgment OF the rule makers, an op-
portunity to help the standing of the
game very materially by making an
alteration which should clear up this
matter. For US reason the rule has
been SO altered that the man who
kicks the ball if the ball goes beyond
the line of scrimmage may neither pat
men on side by running up ahead OF
them, nor may he himself secure the
ball This, it is expected by the com
mittee, will so take away from any
possible object that there may be in
running into the full-back under these
circumstances as to eliminate this
evil entirely.
One other alteration has been made
in order to give some relief to team
that is being scored upon, owing en-
tirely perhaps to the superiority Of
their opponents in the running game
Formerly a side which had been scored |
upon, kicked off. Now, by the altera-
ton. a side which has been scored |
upon is to have the option of kicking |
off or of having their opponents kick |
off
Another important alteration is
made in the rules for the season The |
rule now provides that when the ball /
point of that middle portion of the
field extending from one twenty five
yard line to the other twenty-fve-yard
line-First. at least seven players of
the side having the bah must be ON
the line of scrimmage when the ball
is put in play; and Second. that the
player who first receives the ball may
carry it forward beyond the line OF
scrimmage. provided in so 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 between the twenty-five yard
line and the goal the old rule of scrim-
mage will obtain, and within these
two sections of the field. that is. with
in twenty-five yards of either goal the
quarterback cannot run with the ball
Another important change has been
made 1t has been believed that many
Of the injuries received in football are
due to the use of heavy protecting
armor, particularly the head guards
which had grown so hard and unyield-