Cañon City record., 1907-09-12
IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE
IN THE GRIDIRON GAME

The football rules for 1907 have just
been published. Walter Camp of Yale.
the editor, and Secretary E. K. Hall
of Dartmouth, the secretary of the
rules committee, have been working
on them for months. and have given
the followers of the game a great
book gp
From now on until the opening of
the season followers of the game all
over the country will be busy study
ing the rules. One glance at the rules
will convince the veriest tyro that
the gridiron game is one that calls
for brains as well as Drawn. The sew
eral alterations in the game and rules
are herewith briefly summarized:
An increased length of the game.
Owing to the fact that 1t was found
under the new rules the players were
rather less exhausted than in the old
game, it was determined to increase
the playing time another ten minutes
by adding five minutes to each half.
1t was voted to continue the method
of two umpires, but to define their du-
ties more specifically, SO that one
would aid the referee in decisions
down the field. This one is practically
an assistant to the referee. and is
called the field judge. The other, gen.
orally speaking, has control of the
decisions that belong to the lineup.
The ten-yard rule Is preserved ex-
actly as before, that innovation hav-
ing met with almost general approval
in that it made far less effective any
thing lilo tba
open play which every one SO much
desired. 1-.a
Forward passing has been altered
to certain extent, making it less
risky to use it on the first and second
down. Instead of losing the ball In
case the forward pass strikes the
ground before striking a player of
either side, the same side retains pos
session of the ball by losing Is yards
in distance. When the forward pass is
essayed on the third down, however,
and 1t strikes the ground without strik-
ing player, or is otherwise made IL
legally, the ball must be surrendered
to the other side exactly as formerly.
In order to cover point which
there was some discussion last year,
the following legislation was enacted:
That a line man may carry the ball,
provided he does not leave his posi-
tion in the line until the ball is put in
play.
1t was also determined that the for
ward pass or tripping or hurdling by
the side that did not put the ball in
pay in scrimmage should be pen
allied fifteen yards.
In order to more clearly settle the
point about the rights of side on a
fair catch. 1t was enacted that a man
should be regarded as having an op-
portunity to make fair catch when
1t was possible for him to reach the
ball before it should strike the ground.
In order to prevent signaling by one
man and catch and run by another,
it was legislated that II one man OF the
side signals his intention of making
fair catch, and then another OF his
side, who did not signal, makes the
catch, this player may not run with
the ball. nor is he entitled to the priv
iliges coming from a fair catch, but
the all must be put down at the point
where he caught 1t for scrlmmage by
his side.
All questions OF hurdling we're put
within the Jurisdiction of the referee.
The book, which is published by the
American sports Publishing company,
has. besides the records of the past.
the schedule for the coming season.