Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-26
By John B, Foster.

\
| Prior to the revision of the foot ball
rules in the winter of 1905 by the COM
mittee which had the matter in charge
stern objection had been made to foot pan
on two grounds-the first and the more
important. that it was productive OF 100
many fatalities and accidents, and the
second that gradual perfection In the art
of defense was making the game less ana
/ less attractive, owing to the closeness OF
it's formations and the inability of the
spectators to gather enough explicit IN
| formation in regard to the advance OF the
ball. 1t was charged that the sport had
developed into magnificent push ball ana
i was no longer expert foot ball.
The committee which labored upon the
revision Of the rules undertook to eilml-
nate both of these faults. In the year
| 1906 foot ball was largely experimental
Injuries were comparatively few and IA
| talities were unknown.
| There was not a great deal of strictly
frst-class foot ball under the new rules.
| Coaches were slow in grasping an tie
points which were available, and "hlle
| at the larger universities progress was
| fnster. because the fundamentals or the
| snort were better understood. the game IL
| self was largely in an experimental staee'
but it unquestionably was more open.
In 1867 and 1908 still further progress
was made, and in 1909 strict adherence 10
the truth makes necessary the statemen.
that progress had not abateo' put ="
granting that comes the point at ISSUE
had progress been developer on pom ~ o cav
principles of the sport? Tnat is TO say,
had there been as much improvement IN
attack "a there had been simplifying OF
defense.
Two Great Principles.
It Is perhaps best to state here. for the
Iayrnan to understand what the eApeil
fully knows, that In such sports as ioo'
ball and base ball there are or necessary
two strictly defined principles OF the game.
There is attack, which means IN oo'"
base ball and foot ball ability TO scone.
and there Is defense, which MEANS A'
TO prevent scoring. .,, not
That being understood, the question nat
uraIl,- reyerts to the question WhethoI
foot ball, under the revised ruies' nas
been developed along the Lines Oh scoi.as
ability equal to its deve.o pmen. ai th NE re-
lines of defense. or its equi'aeh'' INC -
yention Of scoring. ., .,o,,
Upon these premises rests the dppea
which Is now being made for a iurtneI
revision Of the foot ball rules. IN oluei
that PLAYERS may be better protected ana
that the game may be made SAFER 1or
those who take part In 1t and become d
game adapted to a wider nelo OF con
testants than those who have the Dehent
of university coaching and the systematic
living which is a part Of the college
system OF governing athletics.
Those who are foremost In advocatins
another revision of the rules point 70 tne
large number of fatalities ana aeu
Smr;np the season of 1909 as a powerful
reason for immediate action In changing
the code which now governs the sport.
BEFORE the subject of rule changes IS
discussed IL is necessary to look the mat
face and analyze the list OF Ihose ioI
whose personal hurts foot ball IS held 10
be responsible in 1909.
In the fatalities we find deaths as
cribed to foot ball for when the sas
is not responsible, as has been asserted
i'm reports which have geen given 10 tne
public prints For example, 1t Is haluiy
fair to charge foot ball with the deatn oi
a player who was suffering from an al
lection of the spine, and who played
agains. the advice Of parents and pnysi-
Clans. with the result of bringing on
fatal Termination Of his illness.
Result Of Investigation.
Information has been sought from al
most every locality in which so-caiied
foot ball fatality has been reported, and
the replies which have been received IN
dicate, as they did in 1901. that there mas
been gross inaccuracy In the reports to
the press. We may be charitable ana
attribute this to the excitement Wnlcn
pertains to the foot ball season.
Five of the deaths for which Ioot oaii
was held responsible We're witiIout o., .ot,
the fatalities were due to injuries whicn
had been received prior to the beginning
of the foot ball season That eliminates
eleven from the list at the very start.
Four other deaths were those OF boys
with absolutely no training or prepare
ton for foot ball. For that matter. they
did not even play foot ball. Ihey en-
ga eed in an aimless, helter-skeiter meo-
ley of running and KICKING m,eii v .ad foot
hall was held responsible for the untlme-
~ ending Of their lives. ,...o
ON the other hand, there were fatahties
which can be directly ascribed TO injuries
which were received in active play by
players who were members OF teams that
had been carefully coached and taught
and to eliminate the possibility of such
results the members of the foot pan
rules committee VIII meet at sailoo ~
times between now and the beginning oi
anotber wear of foot ball to modify the
code of play. II.
The loss of one life is depiorable mis-
fortune. and if it is possible SO 10 recon
struct the regulations OF the game that no
loss Of life shall result the sport Will De
a thousand per cent better Tor the haru
work which lies before those who nave II
In charge. ,,,o =, mi.
AT the start OF any uISS -
changes for 1910 1t must be agreed that
foot hall in 1909 was not responsible Ior
Ali of the death list for which it was ar
raigned. Whether 1t will be possible Ior
anv committee of men. no matter no"
clever and how thorough their KhoWleuse
of the game to draw up rules which
shall eliminate all danger OF personal IN
jury, is doubtful. o
Five hundred communications and more
have been filed from different sources IN
the United States suggesting changes IN
the foot ball rules OF 1910 an OF tne.h - =
improve the game. At least such Is tnelr
intent.
They vary between the widest extremes
that are possible In the sport. Some Wouid
abolish the forward pass. others "ouio
increase the use of the forward pass by
removing all restrictions from IT,
Some would abolish the ons1de KICK
| Others consider the onside kick one or the
finest plays OF the game, but ineHectuaHy
developed in the past.
Against Mass Play.
Ninety per cent Of the suggestions
would do away with mass play entirely.
| or this 90 per cent 80 per cent oner no
plan by which mass play is to be elm
| mated from the sport. Put 1t out, say
the writer's but they don't know now 10
| put 1t out
School teachers who have voiced their
opinion on the game ask that something
may be done whereby 1t shall be made
less severe for the younger generation
who are possessed with mania to play
foot ball. but who have suffered more
than their older and better developed
brothers. The teachers have few sugges-
tions to make Their communications are