Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-12
Monday, November II, 1906.
Football Under the New Rules.

The end of the 1906 football season
season opened, the new rules form the
leading topic Of discussion among the
lovers of the sport. Many of those who
strenuously objected to the changes in
the rules are still unconverted, but on
the whole, with spectators and players
alike, the new rules have steadily gain
ed i'm favor as the season has advanced.
Their popularity is doubtless greater
with the former than with the latter,
for those watching a game appreciate
the more open playing which has re-
suited, the frequent exchange Of kicks,
and the unexpected trick plays, while
it is hard for the players to get recon-
ciled to the large element of uncertain
ty which has come into the game, an
element which frequently allows vic
tory to be won by flukes and luck.
There is no doubt that the new rules
put d greater premium on skill, speed
and accuracy, and make weight and
brute strength less Of a factor. This
was one of the aims of the revision of
the old rules. Mass plays have been
relatively unknown this year, and the
old objection that the ball was hidden
from the spectators most of the time
has certainly been eliminated. This
has made physical strain on the players
appreciably less, but it does not APP
pear to have lessened the number of
accidents. Sprains, wrenchcs, disloca
tions and fractures have figured as fire.
qucntly as usual and most of these
have occurred in the tackling of play
will tell you that he prefers to take mis-
chances in the old-fashioncd mass play
to tackling or being tackled when run
ming at full speed in the open field.
Football under the new rules or under
any rules, is a rough game-not 50
rough as it looks, to be sure, but still
too rough for frail or frightened youths.
But if the new rules have failed in
their attempt to lessen materially the
number of injuries, they have at least
eliminated the greater part of the
dirty playing which was OCCASION
ally prominent in earlier years and
which aroused much objection to the
game. This good result is due in part
to the neutral zone" when the teams
line up, in part to the doing away with
mass plays where the unfair player
found his opportunity. and in part to
the greater strictness with which the
rules have been enforced and penalties
inflicted by the officials this year. In
this respect the new rules are success
and deserve all commentator.
For all teams playing under them the
new rules have made the season one
of many experiments and changes Of
program. Next year they will know
how to go at it at the opening of the
season, for there is no doubt that the
revised rules will continue in force
Minor changes may be made here and
there, but essentially the 1907 rules Will
he those that have been given trying
out this fall. 1t may be true that the
changes have made he game a little
less popular this fall than 1T was a year
ago A part of the fight has been
taken out of the game in making 1t
more open. but many feel that this loss
is one to cause rejoicing. In improv-
ing the game as a spectacle. in putting
- premium on quickness of thought and
action and in making the scoring feat
urc of the game almost as uncertain as
baseball, a bid is made for the increas-
ed popularity of the great autumn
game and the results will be apparent
another season.