New-York tribune., 1907-10-06
NEW GRIDIR0N RULINGS
FORWARD PISS CLEIPER
Spirit of Game Dscelt Upon IA.
Important Meeting.

ray Hill Hotel on Friday night as toId in I''y ur Aur-
days Tribune. was regarded by the leaders of r.
movement for the reform of the game as the -
important since the sessions of 1895 when III -
game was remOdelled, after the death OF a TTrf
player in a game local gridiron Walter o.,
DR.. Babbitt of Haverford and Professor Fine -
Princeton. hand TO elucidate 70 the -
ficals all points of doubtful meaning in the nss,
rules and a technical discussion that Iastas
three hours more the whole code was reviews
There is doubt that the meeting will bavs :
most important effect On the deliberations OF ,hs.
rules committee at the end OF the pres Mt seasor
as the three members Of The rules committee nrez
ent were decidedly impressed by O number Of tIa
points raised by the men taking part in the dis
cussion. who were among the most famous cOacbcr
and football strategists the game has ever kno1-o
Both Dr. Babbitt and Mr. Camp sought 10 i,1
press upon the officials be fore the talk bega3 tba
Importance of having clear and uniform undar
standing on every point where such understandings
possible and also impress upon them ~
necessity of Interpreting all the rules IN Accord
ance with the spirit o1 the new code Both men
said that the spirit OF the game was To De- upda-
the code cleauness first of all. with a rinin,
izIrg Of all risk. II was this spirit tnat gave r.
game a lease Of life last season. after the sv
tremely critical period OF the winter Of 1895 wbs,
Columbia abolished g. game. 10 he followed 6v
two Of the smaller colleges. and when ais,
the two great Pacific Coast colleges. Stanford and
California. adopted the English game Of Rugby
with a fair degree Of success. There was general
recollection Friday vght of the service done
to tho game at the MacCracken conference when
the representatives of West Point injected a sans
element into a somewhat hysterical assembly near
20 for 'ae yaar at % & o @s or DE sso5a''
The spirit OF the rules was thought Of in every
discussion as to an interpretation on Friday night
and the rulings of Mr. Camp. which oCcasOnalv
varied from the strict letter of ruI- We're an
made with This idea in view II made plain
that the central board OF officials did not want
men for officials who strict COustructiOnists.
but rather capable OF deciding points upon
their merits The idea was that football a game
conducted between sportsmen, should be governed
by rules made for SpOrtsugen. and that the con-
stant and annoying disputes to the meaning Ot
rules and sections of rules should be eliminated as
soon rs possible.
As was 10 be expected the forward pass gave
rise to great part of the discussion The Play
is only beginning to be understood. and there is
doubt that II will be used this in much mora
scientific manner than was the case last year IN
important point was settled when il was ruled that
II player make an Illegal or lncomqleted for
ward pass from behind his goal line. whether
on the first second or third down. safety IS
scored There was some question as 70 whether
touchdown should not be allowed 10 the opponents
if such Illegal pass made the third down
but it explained that the ball in the event %
such a pass to be considered dead the
point where the pass was made. al the instant Of
the pass. there being no provision for the contnu-
ance Of the play Hence the BAH although the
penalty for an incompleted or Illegal forward
pass the third down Is loss Of the ball does not
pass into the possession Of the opponents until the
next play is begun. There some doubt in the
minds of certain officials on Friday night as To the
ruling that all such plays the first or second
down resulted in safety. but it is hard 20 sea
hind the goal line. the impetus placing it there
being given by the defending side. and, the pass
being unlawful. the ball IS dead the point from
which the pass was made, just as If the man maxi
ing the pass were 10 fan OF the ball
Al Sharpe. Of Yale brought UP one point that
not received with great deal OF sympathy
He cited the case of an attacking team carrying
the ball TO a point the defending teams goal
line II a forward pass goes over the goal line
either on the ly or after a bounce, on the ursJ Or
second down. II is a tOuchback, provided. OF
course. that the play is not completed, IN which
case 3 touchdown is Inevitable But II the same
thing occurs on the third down the tali 10 the
defending team the spot where the pass vas
made Sharpe said this left the defending team in
extremely critical position. and seemed 70 think
something should be done TO lessen the burden or
the defending team. such calling a touchoack-
The general sentiment, however, was that a team
that could carry the ball far down the field was
entitled to advantage Of position. even II held
for two downs, and no action was taken
The first point seriously taken up that in
voved I'm the second section Of Rule 8. which pro-
vides a hfteen-yaTd penalty for the further par
ticipatton in the game OF player who has been
replaced by a substitute Some officials took this
to mean that a could submit 10 such a pen
atty and then continue 10 play the man II was
ruled. however, that the man must be taken out
very important point came UP in the discussion
OF fourth section of Rule l. This provides thar
when time is about 10 expire has expired and
touchdown has been made the time OF play shall BE-
extended to allow of the try for the goal The
provision to the extension OF time was held 10
apply also fair catch. Ii was further held that
the side making the fair catch might exercise the
privilege of choice 10 whether the ball should
be put into play by kick a scrtmmase- L the
side elects to put the ball into play by scrimmags
the play may be completed, matter how little
time may remain for play when the ball IS put INFO
play. which Is done the moment the centre places
IL on the ground In position for swapping back
Al Sharpe. in connection with the discussion OF
Rule s. Section > told OF ruling he had made !ase
season in connection with the position OF the centre
He held that the player could not assume POSITION
intended 10 make IL easier for him 90 Eet into the
interference quickly. but il was held that ths
snapper back could assume any position provided
it did violate the existing provisions OF Sections
I and OF Rule s.
The conflict Of penalties possible when a fouI oc-
ours simultaneously with Illegal forward pass
settled by the ruling that the penalty 1or tie
latter only should be eXaCted- The sum OF uo
penalties be inflicted because IL is neld uN
the Illegal pass is a foul The penalty Ior I-o
illegal forward pass cannot be declined II was as
decided that the penalty must be inflicted oS Ol.'
referee when there Is a violation OF Rule To- SEC
tion ,. strict Interpretation of Rule To- SecllOn =
was also decided upon. This is expected anu u
tended do away with the remaining traces oi ''
habit OF playing for time.
For some reason there was long discusSloh
TO tOuChbacks when kicks go the goal line' anu
the interpretations of the sixth rule decided upo
practically limit the possibility OF tOuIL uI.
down on kick TO kick-Offs and free kicks IN WlS
cases all players of the kicking side are necessarily
side.