The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-20
FOOTBALL RULES.
Abolish tho Rule Against the Forward
Pau 70 Promote the Open Game.

Abolish tho Rule Against the Forward
Pass 20 Promote the open Gamo.
To THH EDIToR or TIE sUN Sir; There
has been some discussion as 10 the manner IN
which the game Of football can be made more
Of an open game without diminishing its
sport value as q test Of strength and skill
discussion OF this subject must necessarily
proceed along different lines according 70 the
point Of view Of the speaker or writer. for the
players point OF view differs from that Of the
spectator. The open game with its constantly
shifting scenes. the rapid movement OF the
ball. the frequent changes Of position Of the
ball. Is certainly far more interesting 70 q
spectator than the mass play game with It's
gruelling attack. exciting though IL may be
10 the expert on the side lines,
The writer is not such an expert, but he
believes that the character Of the game could
be materially changed and improved II tho
rule against the forward pass were abolished
either altogether or at least so a. 10 permit
the man having the ball II tackled to pass II
In any direction. To permit forward pass
from any position In the Geld except that Of
tho centre rush putting the ball in play
would open up the gan, more than any other
change In the rules. Instead OF the massed
Interference which locallses the movements
OF the ball II would be vastly more eIoitn
II man running down one side Of the field
could pass the ball across. either forward or
side OF the field. and IL would certainly re-
qure as good playing and put as gTeata pre-
MUM upon activity and skill II the man tack
led we're allowed TO pass the ball 70 another
who might be further down the field than
himself when tackled
There would be no Inconsistency in this,
because a man Is not deemed successfully
tackled unless the ball itself be held, and the
man running with the ball, when tackled,
under the present rule. has the right TO pass
the ball back 10 one OF his own team. More
over, 20 permit the pass forward would open
up the game upon any kick "out Of bounds .
and avoid the waste OF time now incident TO
lining up and pacing into the field and put
ing the ball In play through the centre rush,
II IL were provided that no pass forward
could be made when the ball had been kicked
over either goal line, or A. the means Of put
ting the ball In play except when Il had been
kicked over the side lines, the writer believes
that the game would gain greatly in this open
ness a premium be put on speed and skill FUN
blinf penalized and the hard and disa Rreeable
features Of the persistent mass play pre-
vented.
The rules already suggested for limiting
the mass play are wise, but in and of them
selves they will not produce an open game In
the absence Of some provision which will put
a premium on q quick ass and a long pass
by the man running vita the ball
In the early sos some OF the most exciting
games in the interoolle giate series were those
where an active end on a kick out Of bounds
was able TO make A QUICK mining pass to-
ward the center Of the field 70 one Of the
backs coming UP on run. II. ". j.
NEW YORK. March II.