The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-05
SPORTING NEWS,
Rules Committee Votes to
Shorten Football Halves.
sa1Ezfe issc5
VIII Play But 80 Instead of 80
Minutes.
WORK Is NOT DONE.
To Meet Again on March 80 and
Complete Details.
Holding and Hurdling to Meet
Severe Penalties.
WORK Is NOT DONE.

New York, March 5.-The national in
tercollegiate football rules committee
held q protracted meeting in this city
Saturday but failed to complete the new
rules. When the committee adjourned
It was to meet here again March 80
The committee made a number of
changes in the game, but nothing was
done about final codfhcadon of the rules,
either as to those adopted or at the pre-
vious meetings. One of the changes
decided on is the reduction of the length
Of the games. The new rule provides
for Commute halves instead of 35-min-
ute halves, with an intermission of ten
minutes.
The report of the subcommittee on
central board of officials was received
and discussed. It finally was voted to
recommend the adoption Of a plan look
ing TO the instruction and supervision
of officials and suggesting that the DIFF
ferent sections Of the country appoint
central committees that shall be charg-
ed with the Introduction of such sys-'
TEN.
To Confer With officials.
It also was voted that the subcom-
niittee on the organization of the central
board Of officials communicate at once
with games officials of note throughout
the country with a view of obtaining an
expression Of opinion as to the most
feasible measures for carrying out the
! plan proposed. The subcommittee was
| directed to present plans to the general
+ committee at their next meeting for the
/ adoption of a plan of procedure.
The following were some or the
changes decided on tentatively during
the session of the committee
HoIding-The players of the side
that has possession Of the ball shall not
hold, block or otherwise obstTuet the
! opponent except with the body. me
only allowable use of the arms in
blocking or obstructing an opponent
is with the arms close to the body. A
PLAYER running with the ball may ward
off an opponent with the hands; The
/ penalty for holding will be a loss OF
/ fifteen yards.
Hurdling- HurdIing in the open field
is prohibited, such to consist Of jump
ing over an opponent who is still on his
feet HurdIing through the line is pro
/ htbited Hurdling the line is jumping
rattempting to jump over player
on the line of scrimmage with the feet
+ or knees foremost, within the distance
| Of i've yards on either side of the point
where the ball was snapped
To Test the Changes.
The practical demonstration of the
rules probahly. will be held at Annapo=
lis. on the navy. gridiron- The plan is
to have two teams line up and run
1 through the new formations in order
to test their practica bility. and to give
/ some idea of what the changes nave
] accomp llS1ed IN opeliLs up ~ P4oS
which has been one Of the chief re
! forms aimed at.
/ Those present were Pof- L. NJ Den
mis- of Cornell chairman; Walter
| Camp. Yale; F. Homer Curtis, repre-
senting Texas and southern colleges;
Prof. J. B. Fine, Princeton; John C.
! Bell. Pennsylvania: o. W. Savage,
/ Oberlfn; Prof J. T. Lees. Nebraska;
Lieutenant Charles D. DAILY, West
! Point: Or. J. A Babbitt, I1averford,
Pa; w. T. Reid, jr., Harvard, and Paul
! Dashiell. Annapolis.