Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
CHANGES IN THE
RULES OF FOOT BALL
Much Current Speculation
Over Possible Alterations.
What the Big Games
Demonstrated.

There Is much speculation over pos
sible changes in foot ball rules LOT
another year. Those who have the pest
interests of the game at heart do not be
ueve any radical changes are necessary
They claim that the big contests this ran
proved conclusively that in its prlnclpd'
features the revised game is greatly su-
perior TO the old.
Pafo-e the Ya!e-Prnceton game, now
ever. certain prominent coaches were OF
the opinion that four downs for ten yaros
would be better than three, and that the
Scoring value OF the drop kick should De
decreased from four points to Two OF
tbrea nofnts Some coaches even sus-
-eetad that the tumble under certain CIT
srns+ances should not result in loss o.
tbe hail After the big New Haven con-
test tho reformers saw that team with
n good attack did not find three downs
+or ton wards too great a handicap. Ihey
bebe,d other things. too. which placed the
forward pass and on-s4ue MIN
realm OF mere CHARGE. 49, 600.
Voio and Princeton showed the Ioot
hall world that careful blending OF .lIs
open game with compact Inc pirsS S,,ttlr
so-called "old foot BALI was the soiu.io 10
of the problem OF attack wmch hao pteh
considered seriously ptiheo ~
dents Of the game. -
1t is almost certain That seVerdi Sus
gestiuns will be made to the tunes go -,
pittee by coaches who dtlecteu Ici a..
slight weaknesses in the cooe ul i sto, ",
usual conditions. If 1t is fouhd Heee1
sary TO use the blue pencil IN the rule
hook here and there the playing coue me-
season viii be found more co'il'ie 49,
in detail All the big features are my -
to remain Just as they are ana tha1 -
a
new game has proved its worth as q
splendid test for the players ana Scea.
spectacle for the cheering thousaAos Al
the stands. ,,,,r,,,.
of the forward pass, as was s.a.su ~
sona Quarters, but he is inchneo 10 tI;e
belief that the modification o. tne tut 1
by which the penalty OF loss Oh tlie oar
was changed to a loss of ftteen yaros W
an incompleted pass in the nrSt wv
due has resulted in too loose style
OF play. o.,.. ,,-,s
tried and failed the side passing the "a
lost it on the spot when the pass We
made In the winter of 19O6-0l the ri!
makers found so much talk in the an
about the forward pass and hearu So
much agitation for the open ana yer lilol
omen game that the more coEserFati,e
element In the committee acceoeu 10 ..ie
suggestions of the inexperienced raui-
Gals TO modify the penalty on the pass
SO that two attempts could be MADE 10
succeed with the play before Tie. oai'
should be lost.
The result has been, as Mr.. Camp sus
easted that elevens not properly coached
In any systematic method of play ana
being hard pressed to gain niue ao-
vantage have got in the haDlt o. t,i'o ~
ing the ball prom!scuously around the
field, hoping that some lucky turn OF the
FOOT bail wheel will give them yards
enough to hold the ball on downs. ms
.bo+ Mr Camp seeks to eliminate from
the game and not the forward pass, In
dications are plentiful that Mr.. camp
will be supported by more than one col
iege man of authority when the rules
so7,rnittes meets for its next annual ses-
sion.