Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-09
PHIL KING ON FOOT BALL.
Makes Suggestions Which Appeal to
Friends of the Game.

There have been many suggestions made
In the last SIX weeks as to the best methods
OF reforming the game of foot ball. and
those interested in the sport are now wait
ing with some impotence definite action on
the part of the two rules committees The
views of Phil King, as published in the
current issue of the Illustrated and Outdoor
News, are unusually interesting, however,
the more as there are few men better
qualified to speak on the subject, and the
fact that Washington is his home. Phil
King was not only one of the greatest play
ers ever developed al Princeton, but s.nce
he was graduated he has acted as coach for
Wisconsin. one of the strongest foot ball
universities in the west. His ideas and
sugges tons follow:
Il am heartily in favor of changing the
distance to be gained to ten yards in three
downs. providing some other rule is passed
to prevent the widening of the line of de-
Tense, which would be the case should the
above rule be adopted. Under the present
rule end run is a difficult play to put
through. Make the distance greater and
we would have gradual lengthening of
the defensive line, which would result in a
seesaw kicking game. l am pr marty
against passing any rule that would re-
quire stated positions for the defensive
team This would add to the already oner-
GUS duties of the officials. Permitting the
first man who receives the ball from the
center to advance at any point in the line
would have tendency to keep the oppos; ng
team from spreading its line of defense
thereby making open play, such as end
runs, long passes and double passes easier
of execution. Ten yards to be gained will
certainly be a hard proposition for any
team unless some other rule, such as above
is passed, which win give team an oppor-
tunity of retaining the ball long enough to
make score.
Another means of opening the game
would be to require the side having pos
session of the bali to keep seven men on
the line of scrimmage at all times. This
would prevent a massing of too many men
at a given point. Another interesting
change would be to allow forward passes
behind the line of scrimmage only. This
would aid end running materially. Abolish
the try at goal after a touchdown. This
play is uninteresting is an Individual eff
fort and too often decides the result of a
game. For example. the Pennsylvania
and numerous others. Teams have been
ciassed superior and championships wen in
this manner.
IT would define more closely unnecessary
roughness, and, In addition to disqualified
ton, give penalty distance against the
offending SIDE although, after all. the rules
can be enforced properly by competent Of
fcals Do not add to the number of Of
ficials, for there Is already scarcity of
good ones. Enlarge the duties Of the Ines
man by making him also judge of all Off
side plays in serimmages. This will per-
NIT the umpire to watch more closely for
holding and unnecessary roughness
Whatever changes the rules committee
may make. let 1t by all means simplify the
rules and uniform the penalties. For at
present It requires constant study to mem
orize them. and venture to state that not
more than rs per cent of the players are
perfectly familiar with the requirements
or the penalties.