The Washington herald., 1907-10-20
RULES ARE NOT PLAIN
New Football Code Has Nu-
merOuS KnOtty Points.
WALTER ECKERSALLs OPINION
Great Chicago Quarter Back says
Comparatively Few Spectators Tn
derstnnd the Technical Features of
Game and study Of Rules Neces-
sary-SOme Peculiar Rules in Book

Chicago, Oct. 19-Walter II. Eckersall.
the famous quarter back, declares that
few Of the thousand who crowd the
stands Of the big football games under
stand the rules. and il is worth the while
Of anyobdy who enjoys the game IN more
than a superficial way to read the rules
thoroughly. The best way to learn the
fine points - football IS % play IT, AS 1t
is more difficult 10 learn the fine points
OF football by mere observation than the
fine points Of baseball. a close study OF
the code VIII help the laymaE. A close
study is needed, for the rules are many
and complicated and must be digested.
Some Of the penalties provided for in
fractions Of rules are almost dead letters
for The reasons that occasions for indict-
ing them so seldom arise. yet they might
arise, SO are necessary. Such case is
/ section .. rule 3. II provides that when
new player comes into the game ne
. must first report 90 the referee. and that
the player supplanted shall not return %
the game. The penalty for not reporting
or for second participation in the game
is a loss Of Is yards But cases Of players
trying to ring in" are almost unknown.
An Impossible Play.
A paragraph IN section g, rule 6. viii
/ cause deep p7Hdering as 20 its meaning:
"a safety IS made when a player Of the
side in possession of the ball commits a
foul. which would give the ball 10 the
/ opponents. behind the offenders goal
line" How could such a foul be COM
mitted? The provision is almost obsolete;
/ it is q relic Of the old rules.
When the rule makers came TO that
7 paragraph in getting this years statutes
ready for the printer they scratched their
heads, but it was thought best 10 let the
rules stay, in case a play did crop out.
/ Then there is the succeeding paragraph:
| a safety IS made when a BAH. kicked by
man behind his own goal line, crosses
I the extended portion of either side line. "
Such a thing might happen, but one sell
dom sees a safety of this sort,
Referees from time immemOrial have
had their troubles distinguishing between
safeties and touchdowns. The following
two associate paragraphs clarity the stu
alton somewhat hut at that call for
watchfulEess and discernment on the part
! Of the official. 1T is q touchdown when
/ a player on defense permits q ball kicked
| by an opponent TO strike his person and
then roll across the goal Hue and any
player of his side then falls on il back
| of the line. II is not a touchdown if such
| player juggles the ball so that he in any
way forces il over the line and he or any
player OF his side then falls on H."
Iafrequeut Violation.
An infrequent violation Of the rules is
that provided for by section ., rule 19:
The ball may not Doe passed or thrown
toward the opponents goal by a player
/ of the side thar did not put the ball in
play from a scrimmage.
There is a rule. however, and a most
/ important one. that is broken oftener
! thant penalties for the breaking are in
/ iicted. BY the same token there is a
pressing need for more severity by Of
acials in enforcing the measure. which is
| incorporated in section IS. rule "A. as fol-
/ lows: IF a team on the defense com
mits fouls so near his own goal (the
meaning is clear despite the GRAMMAR
/ that these fouls are punishable only by
/ the halving Of the distance TO the line.
the object being, in the opinion of the
| referee, TO delay the game, the offending
| side shall be regarded as refusing to
allow the same to proceed. The referee
shall, in such case, warn the offending
/ side once, and if the offense is repeated
/ he shall declare the game forfeited to the
| opponents.