Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-10
HARVARD'S VIEWS
Will Be Submitted TODAY
To Athletic Committee.
Reforms Suggested in the
\'Plesent Style Of Play.
II Adopted, They will Do Much Toward
BetteIing the Gene.

Cambridge. Mass, Jan. 3.-Harvard's
recommendations regarding changes in
the game Of football were completed
today by the special football committee
appointed by the Athletic Association
Of Harvard graduates and will be sub
rGitted tomorrow to the athletic COM
mittee Of the university. 1t is expect
ed that the committee will authorize
Coach William #. Reid. Jr., to present
tire views az those which Harvard
holds officially regarding football at the
meeting Of the foot ball rules committee
which will be held in New York next
Friday night.
The principal ethical reforms suggest
ed are three officials on the field, lines
man to watch offside play. instant dis
qualification for rough play, and team
to play five minutes without a substi-
tutc player disqualified twice to be
barrel for the season, no blocking ex-
cept by body. no Interference with a
puntcr ami q standing committee to Sc
lect officials.
The noteworthy changes suggest ed
to bring about such reforms are, the
ball to be placed with the points to-
ward the goals and no players 10 stand
ahead of the points; Increasing the dig
lance to be gained In three downs from
I'VE to 10 yards; permitting the ball to
be PASSED in any direction when the
play is between the 25-y2rd lines pro-
videl the player has not advanced be
yond the line OF scrimmage: no punt
out for a try at goal; increasing the
distance between the goal posts to %
feet; 10 Interference with a free kick;
fair catch to be indicated by the
holding uD of hand; no movement by
,lavcrs until the ball is put in play,
except by one man, and finally that
not more than three men besides the
man receiving the ball, shall be less
than five yards behind tho line unless
outside the position occupied by the
OUTSIDE man in the line.
An additional report Is appended by
Lorin f. Dcland, a member Of the COM
mittee. in which he advocates the aho-
ltion of gate receipts. Mr.. Deland be-
leving that commcrcillism "haS found
good soil for propaGatinT serious evils"
Head Coach William r. Reid, Jr.. re-
viewed and explained this evening
many Of the changes suggested by the
committee. Mr.. Reid said:
"Entlrcly aside from the suggestions
smade by the committee for more strict
enforcement Of the rules ana making
brutality too expensive n risk to be
profitable. there are a number Of i'm
portant changes suggested in the tech
nical part of the game.
The formation of n neutral zonc
between the two teams. as wide as the
ball is long. will tend to keep the
teams far enough apart to enable the
officials to distinctly sec every motion
in a line. and the fact that the minute
q player puts any part Of his body in
to this neutral zone he may be penal
lied. will do away with much Of the
rough contact now possible In the line
of scrmmagc. Every football man
will realize that the permitting of the
forward pass iS a radical departure
and will open up possibilities that are
difficult for anyone to forecast until
they have been tried. In actual play.
1t will have II tendency to prevent men
In the line from crouchinG, ~ II will
be necessary for player to get quick
~ to any spot to which the bali may
have been passed.
In tho clause opening tho offence
the coaches and captains arc given
free hand to develop any kind of n
fast running attack. the only limit be-
ing to guard against mass plays by
requiring additional players to be at
loast five yards back and by increas-
Ing the distance to gain from five to
10 yards. Aboishing the punt-out win
place a premium on touchdowns madc
near tho center Of the goal line ana
a premium on skill in kicking goals at
difficult angles Widening the dis
lance between the goal posts will in
crease the tendency TO try for goals
from the field and make goal kicking
at difficult angles little casler'