The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-13
new RULES NOW.
Many Suggestions offered for
Changing Football.
GridirOn Men Give Out a Variety
Of Opinions.
WAR TACTICS
Camps 'eTen Yard" Idea
PIeases Most College Men.
lie General Demand for More
Strict Empires.


Chicago. Dec. 3.-nnumerable
suggestions for changes in football
rules were offered at the meeting Of
che rules committee in Philadelphia,
but no definite action was taken. Every
member of the committee has reached
the conclusion that some changes must
be made and before the work is finish
ed it is expected that the game Of 1906
viii differ considerably from the style
played in recent years.
Each member Of the COMMITTEES had
some suggestions to make and the
committee decided to adjourn Tor a
week before getting down to business
ln altering the rules to give time Tor
naturer thought and consideration. It
will meet next Friday December 10
for its second session. and from time
90 time thereafter until the rules are
remodeled to meet the public demands.
Greater penalties against roughness
than are at present given met Win
the approval Of all the members OF the
committee. John G. Bell Of Rennsyl-
wania and Paul J. Dashieu or An
napolis advocated the punishment Tor
brutality and unnecessary rougl1lle7ss
decentralization from the game OF me
player without the privilege OF send
ing in a substitute for ten minutes
DR.. Dashiel1 also favored the douDle
umpire system, the extra oHlclai nav
ing as special duties the Watcnlng oA
the position side play, as well as beng
authorized to disqualify players the
same as the other two officials.
Liked Camp Idea.
Walter Camps suggestion Of the ten
ward ruIe-ten yards in three or TOUR
downs-met with almost unanimous
approval. This change has been advo-
Gated so long and has proved so satls-
factory in the experiments that tne
whole committee favored 1t and that
change is practically sure OF adopllon'
Another suggestion made py MN
tackling above the knees only--WSs
not SO popular. This is an old rule,
dropped by the committee several
wears ago. 1t is argued that ofnclals
ind difficulty in making decisions on
It. A tackler springs at the man car
7-vinE the ball who steps away from
him. Had he continued the same me .,-
the tackle would have been above the
knees. but as he steps away the tackler
falls short and his hands slip down
from the knees to the ankles. Wrdils-
ling always followed until finally the
officials refused to make decisions ana
con tl7is reason the rule was ultimately
droDDed Hard, low tackling, 1t IS pc
lfeved seldom INJURIES either parry
the tackler or the man tackled.
Penn Is For Open Play.
10 bring about more open play
PENNSYLVANIA suggested the Following
changes:
Forward passing permissible back OF
the line scrimmage; team on deIellse
shall not have more than SIX men on
the line Of scrimmage; Of players PACK
of the line three must be at least nNe
YARDS back of the line and the remain
ing players back of the line II WlIhIh
1--WE Yards must be inside of two play
ers on the ends of the line OF scrln-
~ n n
ball must gain ten yards on three
downs or forfeit the same to the otheF
side. There should be an official board
of umpires and referees chosen IN ad-
vance of the football season ana as
signed to respective games py some
duly constituted authority.
Pennsylvania idea in permitting only
six men on the line of scrImmage Ior the
team on defense is to weaken the ends
and strengthen the center Oh the teaIll
on defense and then PRINT forward
passing in the back neId, which II IS
thought, would allow many intricate ana
The rule permitting only six men on
the sCrfrnmage line on defense dld not
meet with general approval, it is said,
though something along that line may
9naIi25 he adopted with certain modifca-
fions In weakening the line the second
ary defense would be strengthened Civ
ing four available men instead of three
for that line. 1t is in the secondary line,
it is believed, that more OF the INJURIES
take place than against the first line The
attack comes pounding through the urSt
line of defense to be met at the other
side by the secondary line, Which stops
the play, brings up the knee or WTlsts
and pushes to throw back the attack.
Walter Camp asked a more definite
definition of brutality and unnecessary
rOughness,' and it is believed that the
committee will include the use of the
straight arm and elbow on defense, piling
up and similar acts. The penalty Tor
these odenses may be, according to the
discussion, disqualification of the player
until the end of the half 1t is even asked
that no substitute be permitted to take
his place for ten minutes. Two such dis
as a bar to such players further par
ficipation in intercollegiate games dur
ing that season For Unnecessary
roughness'' loss of twenty yards is rec
commended.
Two Sets of Rules.
Coach Stage suggested that there be
two sets of rules drawn up. one for use
in colleges and the other for preparatory
and high schools. In this way he hopes
has fallen on them for the accidents to
school boys endeavoring to play a game
made for n1atured men. He also favored
two umptres, believing the umpire of to-
day needs a little moral support on the
field.
resented the Cambridge school at the
conference instead of Robert D. Wrenn.
the regular member OF the committee.
a g Reid has been i'm close touch with the
football situation all season and has held
several conferences with President
Roosevelt.
JeRries Stops a Runaway.
Los Angeles. Cal. Dec. 13.-The team