The Washington times., 1906-01-11
HARVARD SUGGESTS
CHANGES IN RULES
Graduate Committee Would
Have Three Field Officials.
10-YARD RULE DISCUSSED
Disqualification for Rough Playable
Book Should Be Observation-Disclosures
in Team Formations.

BOSTON. Jan. 1.-THE special foot
ball committee appointed by the ath-
Ie;ic association of Harvard graduates
20 consider the game of football and TO
recommend such changes as are deemed
necessary for preserving the game sub
mitted its report.
This report has been placed before
he Harvard athletic committee at Cam
bridge, and the athletic committee au-
taorized Coach Reid to present the views
as those which Harvard holds officially
regarding football. at the meeting of the
football rules committee. which Will be
held in New York Friday night
The adoption of the changes in the
rules would revolutionize football much
more than casual glance at them
would suggest. The committees report
substantially is as follows:
The game possesses too many excel
lent features 10 be abandoned. and it
should be radically modified.
The present rules are neither explicit
nor strictly and courageously enforced,
and the present game offers abundant
opportunity for brutality and cheating
and makes them profitable risks 10 take
The suggestions orsered by Harvard
10 the rules committee include;
Second Umpire.
In addition 10 the present officials
there shall be a second umpire TO watch
the conduct Of the players.
The head linesman shall keep such a
position on the field as will best enable
him to watch offside play.
Any player shall be instantly disouau-
fed by either umpire, by referee or by
head linesman for any act. Of brutality.
roughness or insulting talk 10 oppon-
ents or officials. and that player so dis
qualified shall not play again in that
game, and that no substitute SHAH DC
permitted for five minutes OF actual
play
A player twice disqualified in any one
season shall not be permitted 10 play
again for one year from the date of his
second disqualification.
The penalty for holding or unlawful
obstruction by the side in possession OF
the bali shall be the loss of the ban.
Ihat a competent body OF officials
should be- selected in advance OF the
playing season.
In scTimmage the holder OF the ball
shal place 10 nat upon the ground and
put IL in play With its long axis al right
angles 10 the line OF scrimmage and
that until toe ball Is put In play no part
or any player, except OF the man who
puts the ball In play. shall he ahead of
The point Of the ball nearest his own
goal
Would Increase Distance.
The distance to be gained in three
downs shall be increased from . to 10
yards. provided the defense he weakened
or the offerse materially strenst bened.
Between the 25-yard lines any PLAYER
who has not advanced beyond the line
of scrimmage may pass the ball in any
direction.
The punt out for a try at goal after
touchdown shall be abolished.
The distance between the goal posts
shall be . feet,
After every free kick, except the kick
off, no player of the kicker's side shall
touch the ball until It has been touched
by an opponent.
Before the ball is put in play in
scTimmage no player of the side which
has the ball shall take ..uv sten in anv
direction, except that one man ryay be
in motion toward his own goal.
The question whether a fair catch has
been attempted or made and whether
there has been any Interference shall ba
ofhcial shall be designated BY the cen
tral committee
The rules shall be recodifed and illus
Irated by means of pictures to show
more clearly what is meant by holding
and other ufenses against the rules
OF the side having possession of the
ball not more than three men besides
the man receiving the bali from the
snapper-back shall be less than five
yards behind the line OF scrimmage
unless outside the position occupied BY
the outside man in the line