Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-09
HOW THE FOOT BALL
RULES HAVE WORKED
Experience of the Season With
the Reformed Reg
uIations.
Changes Wrought in the Sport
Have Been Generally
Helpful.

the foot ball season Is at an end, experts
are beginning to get line on the new
rules. 1t Is well understood that during the
present fall the sport has been on trial. On
the Issue of the seasons play depended its
continuance. 1t Is especially gratifying to
those who regard the game as the most
virife and beneficial Of the hardy outdoor
pastimes that it has come through the Sc
we're test with the most creditable record.
The changes wrought in the sport have
been generally helpful and there has been
scarcely a quarter whence encomiums have
not been showered upon 1t. In. a few minor
technical details there has been a DISPOSE
ton to criticise the play. but with the tenor
of the sport, the spirit Of the play and the
general atmosphere of healthful rivalry
manifested there has been no cause for
complaint.
1t is not too much to say that the ex-
Fermentation with the rules was regarded
was fet by those who had been taught to
develop mass formations that no other style
of game could be produced that would be
successful. Yet without them this year
there have been a succession of contests
played that have been extremely spectacu-
lar and pleasing. To be sure. when evenly
matched teams have met, 1t has been diff
ficult, if not impossible. to advance the ball
inmate kicking duei that was monOtonouS
and disappointing to the technical man. but
to the spectator the game lost nothing on
this score.
about the change swept over the college
world last year there were few that thought
the sport could survive. The evils COM
planned of were legion and seemingly in
eradicable. If they had been approached
with a spirit of intolerance they would
have meant the games discontinuance, but
the sport had influential friends who ex-
erted every influence to secure fair trial
for it, and the wisdom of their temperance
has been amply justified. The evils were
divided, and those Of its moral side distin-
guished from its technical abuses. and by
different treatment each has been largely
corrected The moral difficulties are the
concern of the faculties the technical OF the
rules committee.
The strict definition of foul play and the
stringent regulations against 1t were
been disoualificati ons for rough play and
frequent penalties for fouls In all the games
but the severity of the punishment mas
tended to discourage this sort Of play more
thansany other means could, and 1t Is PROB
able that another year viii see the almost
complete eradication OF the evil.
The Ten-Yard Rule.
Nom, 90 IN the changes in the rules that
affected the game itself. 1T is natural that
change should be the first subject of COM
ment. The ten-yard rule, carrying with 1t
the necessity of advancing the ball In three
tries double the distance of the previous
wears brought about the frequent inter-
changes of kicks While these are desir-
able beyond a doubt. it is possible that TOO
severe limitations have been put upon IN
eenuity in attack and that kicks have been
too frequent The effect has been to give
team possessing one player of exceptional
ability in kicking preponderanss, , aaV an
of the most important and desirable factors
in the old game. 1t Is felt by all those VINO
have a wide practical experience In the
game that something should be done TO
reounteract this tendency. to reduce kicking
TO its legitimate place, its proper relation to
the other details of the game. Outside OF
this, there is no complaint with the game.
The On-Side Kick.
1t was felt that the two new factors-the
so-called on-side kick and the forward pass
would afford the relief that the situation
demanded. 1t was also felt that end rum
ming. that extremely spectacular and inter-
esting phase of play that was characteristic
of the game fifteen years ago. would be
stimulated and revived. Experience has
shown however that between teams of
equal strength end running a ways has been
and always will be impossible until some
means of KNITTING the end defense is found,
so that only the neW-fangled devices proved
practicable.
Both of these were attended by too much
uncertainty and hedged about by too many
restrictions to prove of sufficient force in
relieving the situation. The on-side kick
lost the ball as often as 1t gained. and
served to emphasize and put premium on
the chances of misplays Poor playing
rather than good determined the outcome
of too many games. though taken all In all
there is no one who would wish to with
draw the on-side kick rule.
. The Forward Pass.
AS to forward passes, the fact that there
were so many ways in which fouls could be
committed to vitiate their good effects pre-
vented them from being tried to the extent
that was necessary to enable one team to
avoid kicking constantly. II the bali touched
the ground without being touched by Q
player ON either side on the spot where the
pass was made. This prevented forward