Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-11
TEN YARDS ON THREE DOWNS
Foot Ball Rules lommittee Tentatively
Agrees 10 Make This hange.
EXPECTED TO RESULT IN OPEN PLAY
One Forward Pass May he Allowed
when He'll Does Not Touch
Ground Before Touched
by Player.

NEW YORK. FEB. 1c-Ten yards to be
gained in three downs was the principal
foot ball reform tentatively agreed upon
at meeting Of the national intercollegiate
foot ball rules committee in this city today.
This rule, IL finally adopted. the foot ball
experts believe, will do more than anything
else toward opening the game After to-
days meeting the secretary of the COM
mittee, W. T. Reid, jr., OF Harvard, ex-
either today or at the conference two
weeks ago had been finally adopted.
planned that none OF the rules suggested
covering different points OF the game and
rules then will be voted upon. The COM
mittee adjourned to meet again in March
in this city.
other Changes Agreed Upon.
In addition 90 agreeing upon the ten
yard rule, which exactly doubles the dis
lance to be gained in three downs under
the playing of the last several years. the
committee agreed on the following:
That every player on the kicking side
shall be on side when the kicked ball
touches the ground.
That the question of laffording proper
protection for the man Catching THE ball
next meeting.
That one forward pass shall be allow ed
on a play, provided the ball does not touch
the ground before being touched by a
player OF either side; such a pass TO be
made by any man who was behind the line
Of scrimmage when the ball was put in
play. II the ball Touched the ground be-
fore being touched by a player Of either
side IL shall go to the opponents on the
spot from which the pass was made. The
pass shall not be received by a man who
was on the line Of scrimmage when the ball
put in play, except for the two men
bali was put in play. A direct lob over the
line within the space of FIVE yards on each
side of the center shall be unlawful.
suggestions for Test Grounds.
Nothing was done with regard 10 a field
lavatory, but Paul Dashed, in behalf of
Annapolis, offered the naval academy field
and its facilities for use OF the committee
in the matter.
The report of the subcommittee appointed
to formulate suggestions relative to the
formation of a permanent board of Off
Gals was received and il was agreed to
make it public with a view to receiving
suggestions from persons interested in the
game. every member OF the committee
being asked TO invite criticisms Of the plan.
The subcommittee recommendations are
that central governing committee Of three
or 1--WE be appointed a subcommittee of
the intercollegiate rules body, to constitute
a national committee on officials. In addi-
ton to this committee II is proposed that
sectional committees of three each be APP
pointed TO represent the different geo
graphical sections of the country or sepa-
rate league groups. A salaried secretary
is proposed to attend TO the executive
and clerical details of the committees.
All universities and colleges accepting the
provisions Of the rules committee prior to
the fall of 1906 are TO submit lists of 81
college men whom they consider desirable
and competent game officials. This list il
to be carefully investigated by the national
and sectional committees and general
official announcement will be issued con-
tanning first complete list of officials
judged competent by the central committee
with appropriate addresses
Four Classes of Games.
The various games scheduled during the
season are to be subdivided in order O:
college importance to determine the re-
Enumeration of officials. There are 10 be
four classes, the remuneration grading as
follows: 800, $50. IS and SO
Colleges and universities will be required
TO select officials from the list agreed upon
Reports will be received as TO the class OF
work by the different officials and complete
records kept.
Some changes I'm the rules agreed uaon
at the last conference We're made. To
prevent piling up it was agreed that t!.e
ball shall be considered dead when any
portion of the person of the runner with
the ball, except his hands or feet, taueh
the ground within the grasp Of an OPP
ponent.
Either captain may ask that time be
taken of three times during each half
without a penalty. If thereafter either
captain requests that time be called his