The Washington times., 1906-04-30
CAMP EXPLAINS
FOOTBALL RULES
Yale Coach Points [
Changes in Game.
TIME HAS BEEN SHORTENED
One Forward Pass on Play Will Be
Permitted-Free Ball On a
Punt.
By WALTER CAMP.

OJ " nj LIN N<1AuL
The completion of the new football
rules marks distinct period in the his
tory OF the game The old order has
changed and the last. and in many re-
spects one OF the most interesting. chap
ters now becomes something more than
merely of contemporaneous interest.
The points in which there has been
alteration are enumerated below togeth-
er with the effect Of the change:
First regarding foul play and any
thing partaking Of unnecessary rough
ness An extra umpire has been added
and the penalties made more severe
disqualification and half the distance
10 the goal line is the penalty for strik-
ing with the fist, elbow. heel Of the
hand, locked hands in breaking through.
Kicking, or roughing the fullback after
a kick Disqualification. but without the
penalty Of half the distance to the goal
line. Will be inflicted upon a player
guilty Of ur 5portsmanlike conduct.
abusive or insulting language to op-
ponents or officials HurdIing either in
the open or in the line has been forbid
den and also tackling below the knee
10 all players except the five middle men
on the line of scrimmage. The penalty
Tor hUrdling is a loss Of fifteen Yards
and for tackling below the knee a loss
of five yards.
coming to the actual play. the halves
nave been shortened five minutes each
so that the time of play is now a total
or sixty minutes instead of seventy.
moreover. the captain is privileged TO
ask for time only three times in a half
without penalty. Any call of time there
aIter VIII cost his side two yards on
each occasion unless a player is remov-
ed from the game
Neutral Zone in Scrimmage.
The appearance Of the scrimmage will
also be somewhat altered owing 10 the
introduction of a rule providing for what
has been called neutral zone between
'he TWO teams. The snapper-back is
Obliged 10 place the ball fiat on the
ground with its long axis at right angles
10 The line of scrlmmage. The line of
scrimmage for each side is then an i'm
aginary line parallel to the goal line
and passing through that point of the
pail nearest the sides own goal line. II
viii appear from this that there are two
lines of scrimmase, one for each side.
and that they are separated the length
ol the baII- The snapper-back viii have
a better chance TO put the ball in play.
as the rule is made very clear that he
must not be interfered with in auv way
and neither he nor the ball must be
touched by an opponent until the ball
Is actually in play.
Any player intending to make a fair
catch must give a signal by raising his
hand above his head. and having given
that signal he may not after catching
the ball run with it
The referees whistle is to be blown
Immediately when a man running with
the bail is so tackled that any part of
his person except his hands or feet
touches the ground while he is in the
grasp Of an opponent.
One Forward Pass on a PLAY.
Forward passing is to be permitted to
this extent: one forward pass is al
lowed on a play provided the ball does
not touch the ground before being
touched by a player of either side. and
this forward pass may be made by any
man who was behind the line Of scrinn
mage when the ball was put in play.
But il may not be made TO any man who
was on the line of scrimmage except
the two men playing on the end. nor
may the ball be passed over the line
WlJhln a space OF five yards on each
side the point where il was put in play
II the ball touches the ground before
touching player il shall 20 to the on
pOnentS on the spot where the mass was
made. 1t viii be noticed that this makes
q forward pass rather delicate thing
20 take chances with, but ii may be
worked out after a time with more ac-
CCrate passing.
Holding in the line by the side having
possession of the ball has been rather
more clearly defined by the instruction
lhat the arms must be close TO the body
in blocking. '
The men in the line Of scrimmage will
not be permitted to take advantage of
IL
from the line with one foot extended and
racing either out or in in order to more
rapidly get into the interference.
No man Of the five middle men of tba
4ne-that IS center, guard or tackle-can
pe dropped back to run with the hall II
any one OF these men drops back he
must go back at least five yards. This
provision has been made in order that II
the guard or other line man is the punt
er or the team he shall be allowed to
80 back to make his kick
Inc ten-yard rule has been adopted
ailu II a team iallS to gain ten Yards in
Ihree downs the ball goes to the on
ponents on the spot of the fourth
me rule Tor oit-s!de has been altered
Just enough 10 make it allowable for a
man VINO Is ahead OF the bail to receive
forward pass as provided for i'm the
rule mentioned above.
Free Ball on a Punt.
Another very important provision is
that when kicked bail strikes the
ground it puts all the men of the kick-
ers side on side In order to prevent
INJURY occurring from men kicking al
such ball when it is on the cro,,,d
or bounding, a rule has been made thai
when such a kicked bah strikes the
ground 1t may not be kicked further o.
kicked at while on the ground or while
bounding 4
An old rule which has not been taken
advantage OF to any great extent
namely, the one providing thar afte7
q drop kick at goal is tried on the first
down within the 25-yard line tha on
pOnentS can only bring the ball ONT r.
the l0yard line has been Abandoned ~
Hurdling has been defined as fuunin o
over an opponent who is still on bie
feet. Hurdling in the line is iumnine
over an opponent with knees OF. feeI
foremost. This act is penalized fifteen
yards.
Tackling below the knees Is forbidden
but a player who distinctly strikes in
his tackle above the knees and ther
slips down is not To be regarded as i'm
fTinging the rule. Furthermore the five
middle men OF the line when in scrim-
mage are permitted 20 tackle below ths
knee. but neither the ends nor the backs
may tackle save above the knee-YaI,