The Washington herald., 1907-01-28
NO RADICAL CHANGES
Policy of Football Commit
fee Meets with Approval.
GAME IS NOW SATISFACTORY
Under the New Code Forward Passes
VIII BE Less Dangerous, as Fifteen
Yards Loss, Instead of Forfeiture
of RaI, VIII BE Penalty - Field
Umpire in Defending Territory.


The stand-pat policy of the football
rules committee, at its meeting in New
York Saturday, in refusing 10 radically
charge the code, which proved SO salts
factory last fall, will meet with the
hearty Endorsement of gridiron followers
all over the country. and in this city in
particular, as football in Washington last
season was more successful than ever be
fore
While a number Of minor alterations
and notifications were effected, only three
important changes were made. The
length of the halves was increased from
thirty to thirty-five minutes. This was
five minutes shorter than the expected
change. The forward pass. which vas
used exclusively last year, was the sub
ject of the principal legislation Of the
meeting, and i'm the future. instead of a
penalty Of the loss of the ball on an UNI
successful forward pass, d penalty Of if-
teen yards was inflicted on first or second
downs, and when "a foul has been commit
ted the ball is declared down at the point
where the onense occurred.
The third of the important changes was
the Introduction of new official, which
10 all intents and purposes makes him
an assistant referee. The new official
will be known as a field umpire, and In
addition 10 his duties as umpire, he will
relieve the referee of some Of his duties
in deciding points of play
Several Minor Changes.
Substantially, these three important
measures covered the labor Of the com
mittee, although several other changes
were made which. in the main. make
clear the wording OF definition OF certain
rules which were not clearly understood
last year. BY virtue Of the changes it
! is expected that the game VIII be mate
rally improved.
The discussion of the forward pass was
a lengthy one. and consumed more time
than an the other changes combhsed.
Heretofore the penalty for an unsuccess-
ful forward pass was the loss Of the ball
This rule has been changed so as 10 make
the penalty for AN unsuccessful forward
pass on first and second downs fifteen
yards. This means that "a team can now
critical stages of the game. whereas last
year such an attempt might have meant
dire disaster for the team attempting il.
In addition to this. the following rule has
been substituted for Note of the Def
milton of Terms for the bail being out Of
bounds.
If the forward pass before touching
the ground. or on a kicked ball, either
before or after touching the ground. goes
out of bounds. the bali shall belong 60 the
opponents at the point where it crosses
tbe side line"
Rule ia was changed so that on a
kick-out after touchdown or safety op-
pOnents may not come within ten yards
of the side having the BAN. Last year
the opponents stood on the twenty-five
yard line
Linemen Garry Ball.
In order to clarity the off-side rules.
provision was made that lineman is al
lowed TO carry the ball forward. provided
be does not leave his position in the line
until after the ball is actually put in play.
IThis point was brought out in the Penn
Standardization game last year. in
which Coach Yos- asserted that PennsyI-
vania was 0n-side when such a play was
made
Another technicaIity was brought out in
connection with the definition of the Off
side rule which was made palmer. as
follows.
a player may at all times pass the
ball to another of his own side who is
behind him.
Last year the dOuble-umpire system was
optional, but by the introduction of the
second official it becomes this year obliga-
tory. The list OF officials on the field will
m future be a referee line umpire. field
umpire. and liuesman
The duties of the field umpire as defined
by the committee, are as follows:
Duties of Umpire.
IN addition to the regular duties of
umpire he will have Jurisdiction over the
ban The Interference and the fouls in
connection with the catching. securing. or
position OF a BAN that has been kicked
or passed down the field. He shall mark
the spot of a fair catch. shall rule on
points covering the touching of q ball by
any player after kick or forward pass.
the touching of the ground by the bali
after a kick or forward pass. the posses
sion Of the ball when down has been
made and violation of rules covering q
fair catch. He shall mark the point where
the ball goes out of bounds on the oppo-
site side of the field from that on which
the linesman is stationed. On every at
tempt al goal from the field or from a
touchdown he shall take a position under
the goal posts to assist the referee in
making Il proper decision. BY holding up
his hand he shall indicate to the referee
when to blow his whistle on all decisions
under his jurisdiction"
The duties of the umpire viii be the
ordinary duties heretofore followed by the
umpire The word Zine" designates sim
ply that he shall stand in the neighbor-
hood of the line of scrimmages. The field
umpire viii stand behind the defensive
line down in the field where a kicked ball
is likely to go.
THE player shall be considered as hav-
ing the opportunity of making a fair
catch if he is in such position as it would
be possible for him TO reach the ball be-
fore il reaches the ground"
a provision was adopted making ii OD-
HgatOTy on the referee TO report to the
Iumpires any holding which comes under
his observation. Jurisdiction over hur-
ding was placed exclusively with the
referee. This latter provision was made
as the referee is always following the
player with the ball
Old HOnesty's Entry Refused.
Covington. Ky. Jan. PA. J. Corey
is greatly surprised at the action of the
Coney Island Jockey Club in refusing