The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-03-16
WRITES ABOUT NEW
FOOTBALL RULES


con offence six men shall always be
on the lire of scrimmage; the five
center men shall always be on the line,
except that one of the center men may
drop back at least five yards. another
man to take his place on the rush
line.
This rule will not change the game
very much and win put a premium on
beef 1t will eliminate the light fast
men at the ends and at half-backs. I'm
der this rule only one man may come
out of the line, but what is to prevent
the coaches putting i'm heavy hacks and
ends and using them in tandems and
mass plays? Why keep the five men
always on the line of scr.mmage; plac-
ing men in line positions with this re-
striction limits their activity and less
ems their interest IN the game. 1t will
discourage big men from participating,
and football is the only game in which
some of these men can compete.
For this rule, just passed by the
committee, there is substitute which
] will endcavor to have take the place
of the one just quoted. The rule reads:
"On offence there must be seven men
on the line of sCrimmage when the BAN
it put in play except that one man may
be brought behind the line of scrim-
mage, provided that three men are at
least five yards behind the line.
This rule will eliminate the mass or
tandem play. The essential of the tan
dem play is to start close to the line.
The tandem is possible four yards back
of the line, but it would not be as eff
cient, since the line by charging would
break up the tandem.
There are many open plays possible
Under this rule. The new forward pass
rule would allow plenty of latitude for
u coach to plan his method of attack,
and fast halfbacks will be at a pre-
MUM. There will also be room Tor
many trick plays which make the game
exciting both to the player and to the
spectator.
Il believe the committee again de-
ceived itself in the rule passed at the
last meeting to weaken the defence.
The rule as it now stands reads:
THAT on defence not more than six
men shall be on the line of scrimmage,
the others to be clearly behind the
back feet of all the linesmen and inside
the men on the ends of the line.
AT first sight this seems to weaken
the defence, but a close analysis will
show that it has practically not alter
ed the defence Pennsylvania used Sc
successfully for the past two or three
years except that the men must be in
side the ends. In the Pennsylvania de-
fence, admittedly as strong as any in
the country they were practically only
six men on the line of scrimmage, as
Captain TORY at center invariably
played one yard back of the line and
dived into the play or ran out and
tackled on the ends as the occasion de-
handed The halfbacks, Greene ant
Sheble. ordinarily played inside the
ends, so under the rule as it now stands
, teams could play Pennsylvanias style
/, of defence and it would be well nigh
impossible for their opponents b. make
the necessary yards for a first down
Il also have this substitute for the
rule which | hope will prove success
full and will be adopted:
"(a) On defence there must be six
men on the line of scrimmage and (b)
there must be three men ten yards
back. (c) The two not provided for in
ca and 90 must be clearly inside the
outside foot of the men on the ends
of the line. (d) If three men are not
ten yards back when the bail is put i'm
play they cannot take part in that play
until they have retreated to their ten
yard mark, Penalty for violation of
this rule, loss Of ten yards.
This rule will weaken the defence,
since three men cannot enter into
scrimmage. one of these three Will
undoubtedly play far back, as the
quarterback has done i'm the past This
will also make more scoring and con-
sequently make the possession of the
ball more valuable. A light fast team
Will also be equally as strong as a
heavier team under this ruling.
As for the possibility of the three
men who are placed at least ten yards
back entering the scrimmage from a
position less than ten yards back, the
penalty of ten yards loss will be too
great to be repeatedly incurred. This
rule win also hasten play by prevent
ing piling up"