Omaha daily bee., 1906-10-07

posed game shall have been played for a
considerable time.
The Rugby game is being played all over
the globe. Its rules are well understood
the game is known to work; hundreds of
thousands see the game played every week.
and enjoy 1t. That 1t Is more interesting
to the spectator than the intercollegiate
is. think unquestionable. To the player
1t is immeasurably more interesting, has
much as It involves more variety and gives
every player participation in the various
features of the sport. The old game had
made pushing and downing the prin-
cipal feature, and had concentrated
upon this nine-tenths OF the force and ac-
tlvity OF the players. Our men enjoy
Rugby; it is freer and healthier.
prophesy that this game will be played out
Of season for the fun of 1t. No one could
play the old game except when in train
ing and in company with men with whom
he trained, because definite evolutions de-
pendent on signals were necessary.
II know OF no better service the uni
versities could render the schools Of this
stete than to provide them with a game of
foot ball to take the place of the thoroughly
discredited Intercollegiate, which as being
system Of evolutions rather than a game
and a prolonged mechanical strain rather
than free sport had proved itself Pc
culiarly unfit"
Omaha followers of foot ball had a good
chance to see some of the possibilities
under the changed rules last Saturday in
the game between the high school and
Creighton's second team. One thing was
demonstrated for certain, and that was
that team will have to kick much oftener
this wear than ever before. for with the
additional five yards to gain on each third
down a team is forced to kick. This kick
ing game is also different than before, from
the little rule which says any man can get
the ball after IL once touches the ground
and he does not have to be on side, as was
the case last year. This will make 1t hard
on the little man who has been laying
back, generally the quarterback. Under
the old rules he was protected, but under
the new rules 1t will be a scramble for the
ball.
Some OF the wiser heads at foot ball have
! figured out the situation to be that the now
rules have placed an awful handicap on
| the offensive side OF the game by hedging
1t around with all sorts OF rules, while the
defensive side has been so little changed
that coach can place his men anywhere
on the field in defensive. just so he has
them on side. This brings the conclusion
that there will be little scoring between
evenly matched teams. This hardening of
the offensive game will make drop kicking
and placement kicking more necessary than
before. and will force the teams to practice
harder at that branch of the game. Tho
man who can score field goals will be the
valuable man of the year this season. The
rules restricting the offensive MAY arc
definite and must be followed, as no shift
ing Of players TO avoid the rules Will be
, permitted. The rules restricting the placing
/ Of men on the attacking side are:
When the ball is put In play at least six
| players OF the side holding the ball must
/ 90 on the line OF scrlmmage. If only Sax
Pi iayers are On Tue e, nns 81 sSrimmage ono
/ mage must stand with both feet outside
/ the outside foot of the player on the enc
Of the line.
/ No payer of those ordinarily occupying
| the position OF center, guard or tackle
that is, the i've middle players of the line
may drop from the line of scrimmage on
| the offense. unless he is at least hve yards
/ back of the line of scrimmage when the ball
/ Is put In play, and another player of those
/ takes his place on the line of scrinimage
The line OF scrimmage for each side is en-
imaginary line parallel to the goal line and
/ pressing through that point OF the ball
/ nearest the sides own goal line.
| A player shall be considered 10 be on the
/ line OF serimmage II he has both hands or
\ both feet up TO or within one foot OF this
! line. or II he has one foot and the opposite
hand, up to or within one foot OF Il. He
must also stand with both feet outside the
/ outside foot OF the player next TO him,
| unless he be one of the two men standing
/ on either side OF and next to the snapper
back. In which case he may lock legs with
The Omaha High school foot ball team