Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28
NOVEL METHOD IN
FOOT BALL PRAC T|CE
Game Based on Basket Ball, to
Induce Open Play, Arouses
Enthusiasm.
By Edward r. Bushnell.

Something absolutely novel in the line Of
spring foot ball practice has been evolved
from the fertile brain of George Fl. Brooke,
the University of Pennsylvania famous
fullback of a decade ago, and now head
coach of the Swarthmore eleven and as
sistant coach at Pennsylvania. The new
game is being used for the preliminary
practice of both the Pennsylvania and
SWarthmore elevens md it is
thoroughly mastered the two teams will
play a series of games with it. Brooke has
named the game basket ball foot ball.
because its essential features are borrowed
from basket ball and foot ball.
The prime object of the new game is
to develop long and accurate passing of the
ball, absolute certainty in handling punts
and the ability to drop kick. Although
Brooke is the inventor of the game he re-
ceived many suggestions from the Penn
sylvania coaches, all designed to teach the
players the more open game One of the
best features of the game is the rule pro-
viding that muffed or fumbled punt shall
go to the opposing side on the very spot
where the muff occurred. Brooke declares
that this will compel the backs to hold
on to the ball in actual games next fall
Following are the rules for the new game:
l. The dimensions of the field shall be
thirty-five by seventy yards, with regula-
ton goal posts at each END.
g The halves shall be fifteen minutes
each, or as by arrangement.
3. Play shall be started from the center
of the field by pass or by a kick In
either direction. no player on the side that
has not possession of the ball being allowed
within ten yards of the passer.
t. There shall be no restriction TO the
position of the players on either side, eX-
cept as provided for in these rules.
5. There shall be tackling, but there
he
rugby.
6 If a player who has the ball in his
possession is then touched by a player on
the other side, the ball changes hands, and
is put in play at that point
T. Any player who has caught a kick or a
pass shall not be touched until he has
taken two steps, except however, in such
case where no opponent was nearer to him
than two steps when he caught the ball.
8. Only one player on either side shall
be allowed to punt.
GA pass which hits the ground without
any one touching it shall go to the other
side at that point and be put in play as
at the beginning of the game.
10. A muffed or fumbled punt goes to the
other side on the spot where the muf or
tumble occurred.
kicks and in scoring and in regard to all
foul play such as tripping, batting the ball,
etc.
u No player on the side which has not
sound attempt to deceive the passer into
throwing the ball to him or to one of his
side.
49, A foul made anywhere outside of the
twenty-five-yard line entities the other team
to try at field goal from placement, the
opponents to line up as in rugby.
IA. If a foul occurs inside the thirty
yard line the other side shall attempt to
drop kick. In this case the ball shall be
snapped back to the kicker from the spot
where the foul is made, the opponents
lining up three yards back of this point.
15 There shall be no delay in putting the
ball into play.
The new game has caught on remarkably
we'll at Pennsylvania and the candidates
are working at it with enthusiasm. 1t re-
lieves spring practice of the drudgery which
has attended it in previous years and has
brought out great many new candidates.
The players do not wear padded suits, as
there is no danger of injury. If the game
is successful 1t will be used every year
hereafter for the preliminary practice. This
| is the first year that the spring practice
| at either Pennsylvania or Swarthmore has
| been put on business-like basis, and real
results are looked for in consequence.
Spring practice is now well under way
| at both Yale and Princeton. At Cornell
| the usual lack of interest on the part OF
| the candidates has multiplied the difficulties
| of the coaches. Harvard still sticks to her
original intention to have no spring prac-
I-tice of any kind and is suffering in conse-
| quence. The other eastern universities
| have no sympathy for Harvards position
| and propose to make spring practice an an
nual feature.