Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-05
Anticipate Injuries

|
Anticipate Injuries
1t is a settled conviction at Yale that
| injuries among players will be as num-
| erous as under the old rules, because
of the running that must necessarily
result in an open field.
Probably the regulation expected to
do most good as regards line crushing
proclivities is that which provide for
the position of the players in connec-
| ton with the scrimmage line.
| THE latter is to be an imaginary line
passing parallel to the goal line and
passing through that point of the ball
nearest the sides own goal line. 1t
will be noted that there are thus two
lines of scrimmage, one for both teams,
and that the two teams are separated
by the length of the BALL"
| The important portion comes in the
| following clause:
1T has been provided that player
to be on the line of scrimmage must
have both hands or both feet up to
within one foot of this line. Or he
| must have one foot and the opposite
hand up to or within one foot of it. He
must also stand with both feet outside
the feet of the player next to him un-
| less he be one of the two men standing
on either side of the snapper back, in
which case he may lock legs with the
| snapper back"
1t may readily be seen why the above
provisions have been made. Under the
old rules the two lines might assume
any distance and any method of brac-
ing themselves for the rush or recep-
ton of an opposing shock.
| So far as may be Judged under the
| the new order of things a line smasher
will receive little or no assistance from
| the wing men, who cannot possibly
| brace themselves for line demoraliz-
ing tactics.
Open work must necessarily enter
and much attention will be paid to a
prevention of long dashes on short,
| quick spurtS down scattered field.
Fair Catch Rule
What appears to be one of the best
rules enacted Is that which demands
that player desiring to try for fair
catch raise one hand in warning to on
rushing opponents. The fair catch
caused it's quota of trouble during the
past seasons, as 1t was impossible to
always distinguish whether receiving
player had justly claimed a fair catch
after fumbling or whether he missed in
an effort to get away for a field run.
| Hurdling has been forbidden, and
while one of the most spectacular fea-
lures Of the game is obliterated an
obvious danger point is overcome in
an effective manner.
AS protection to injured players who
| might insist upon remaining in the
game a rule has been enacted which
says that a captain shall take time out
but three times during a half without
penalty, after which a loss of two
yeards will be entailed for each time,
| providing the player is not removed
from the game,
The following rule is also embodied
with an idea of lessening the possibil-
ities Of bodily injury:
mo player of those ordinarily occu-
pying the position of center guard or
tackle, that is, the five middle players
OF the line may drop back from the line
of scrimmage on the offense unless he
goes back at least five yards and an
other player takes his place in the
line.
1T is Furthermore provided that there
shall be no shifting of men to evade
this rule, the intention being that the
big men in the middle of the line shall
not be dropped back for the purpose
OF carrying the ball or using their
weight in the Interference. The drop
ping back of single man five yards in
this way is to enable the team to use q
kicker if he happens to play on tbs
line"
Will Add Zest
Another rule which will add zest tc
the play, is that which proclaims players
on side SO soon as a kicked ball from
one of their own teammates has
touched the ground. This provision
will do away with much of the squa b.
bling that resulted when close play
occurred under the old rules. Further
more, greater dash will ensue, "a;
players OF both sides are to possess
something of an equal chance at secur.
ing the leather
A forward pass, in former times a pal.
pable foul, will be allowed under the