Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-26
REVISING FOOTBALL RULES.
Coach Yost, of Michigan Team, Rec
ommends Changes for Coming Season.


H. Yost. the coach of the Univers-
ftv OF Michigan football team, makes
the following recommendations regard
ing changes in football rules for the
coming season.
The most important legislation to
be considered by the rules committee Is
in regard to rule IS. which governs the
DISPOSITION Of the men. This rue
should permit the use of either SIX or
seven men on the line OF scriminase
between the 25-yard lines. If this rule
read about as follows, Ii would make
much better game for both spectators
and players:
.Six men. at least must be on the
line of st.rimn,age at all times, but if
seven men are on the line Of scrimmage
between the 25-yard lines. then the
first man receiving the ball from the
centre. or snapper-back, may carry 1t
beyond the line. provided he goes out
side the second man on the line from
the man who put the ball in play
This rule as 1t now is did not pro-
duce the result that many claim 1t
would; 1t did not make a more open
game. yet this feature of permitting the
first man to carry the ball forward
should remain. as it will add that much
to the uncertainty of the style of attack.
Under the rule requiring seven men In
the lire it is impossible to have the
variety and number of plays than can
be had when five men are permitted TO
be behind the line. so many more far
nations can be had from five men than
from four, and II is this uncertainty rs
to what play will come next that adds
much interest 20 the contest. The
more varied the attack the more inter-
csting it is to the spectator, and the
more beneficial to the player.
This Is an important rule, because
il affects almost every play between
The two 25-yard lines. and most all the
game is played in this territory. Per-
uniting the man to cross the line out
side the second man on the line woull
make that play more effective than to
require him to go out ) yards, ana
would take away the uncertainty Of
this play, as it is often hard to tell
whether he went ) yards or not. If the
rule requiring him to so out yards is
to remain, then the width of the field
should be increased ) feet, so there
would be an even number of 5-yard
lines.
The rule requiring seven men in the
line did not result in more end runs
but forced n line attack on account OF
insufficient Interference for end run
ming. II is plain that the fewer men
there are in the back field before the
ball IS put in play. hte less chance there
is to circle good end, men cannot be
brought out of the line ana be made to
interfere for good. fast backs as they
should on end runs: this is impossible
from the positions of the men. If the
end cannot be circled with this extra
man in the interference. how can it be
done without him? There is no team
or coach that would not rather run an
end for 10 yards than buck the line for
, yards, ard there was certainly less
end running last season than there has
been for the past few years. Were it
possible to use either style of game be
tween the 25-yard lines. l believe n
more open game would result. and
much interest would be added for both
player and spectator.
Section d and E of rule Is should
he abolished. Section z often gives rise
to disputes in regard to the arrange
ment Of men.
Rule %. C, reads: The holder of thu
ball. and no other player in any place
kick, may be off side or out of bounds
without vitiating the kick This rule
does not permit n place kick from the
field to be made from a scrimmags
play: it should be changed so that il
would permit a place kick from a
scrimmage play.
1.-THE value Of a field goal should
count four points. It Is not fair that q
side Which has made a touchdown
should. be tied by team making q
field goal. yet team that has made
two field goals should win over one
that has scored but one touchdown
this might not be true II a field goa
was to count three points.NI do not be-
lieve that 1t will lessen the tries nj
goal from field to reduce the value OF
the field goal. A team rarely tries 20:
field goal except on third down. The
rule stating that If team attempts
4 goal from field on first down insid,
the 25-yar1 line. the opponents mus
kick out from behind the 10-yard line
was made to encourage goal kicking
but 1t never did. as team will Away:
try to make it's distance if possible
when approaching its opponents goal
In the United States court in Port
land, petitions in bankruptcy have
been filed by: Albert W. Cannon
Portland; Nicholas McKinnek. For
Fairfield; julie ancier Auburn Dis.