Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-29
FEW CHANGES IN 1909 RULES
Foot Ball Guide Shows but Two Chief
Alterations.
PROVISION FOR KICK.oUT HELPS
Defense Not In SO Great Danger from
Opponents After Ball e. licked
over Goal Line-FieId
Goal Points.

only two important changes have been
made in the official foot ball rules for
1909. The value Of a goal from field has
been reduced from 4 to 3 points, and this is
the most vital change. Another alteration
which will be favorably received over the
country is the provision that the team
having a kick-out may have the option Of
taking the kick, as was the rule last year,
or taking the ball down for a scrimmage
on their twenty-five yard line.
This latter change in some respects is
the most important one made, as IL will
many times prove a boon toea team driven
to desperation by a good kicker. 1t will
permit a team that has been forced to a
touchdown to stand a good chance OF get
ting out Of danger.
Under the old rules a team forced to
make a ~touchback was compelled to kick
out to their opponents who were standing
ready TO max a fair catch. Even though
the fair catch failed the opponents still
had the down for a scrimmage and failing
to gain by that means could try a goal
from field and often would sent the ball
right back over the goal line again.
This caused the defensive eleven to un-
dergo a great strain, especially IL working
against a strong wind. 1t was not allowed
to kick out OF bounds and were helpless
unless the opponents fumbled or lost the
ball on downs.
Under the new rule a defensive side has
all the advantages Of kicking out as be-
fore, and the additional advantage OF a
scTimmage IL 1t desires with none Of the
disadvantages.
FavOra the Defense Now.
with the opportunity Of a scrimmage,
the defense can stand some show of work
ing the ball back down the field. II held
they still have the chance to kick and the
ball may be kicked out of bounds, too.
which will avert a fair catch or a return
by the opposing team.
This rule has another good point, for It
will tend to discourage the kicking of the
ball over the goal line on the kick off by
a team having a good kicker. 1t has been
the custom for the strong kickers to send
the ball over because II deprived the OPP
ponents of the chance for a running game,
forcing them to kick out, which, in many
events, gave the side that kicked off, the
ball for scrimmage on the forty or thirty
yard line of tho eleven that was on the de-
Tense at the kickoff.
II the ball goes over the goal line from
a kickoff under the new rule the defense
has a chance at running with the ball from
the twenty-five-yard line.
This new rule probably will lessen the
scoring this fall, for many points in other
seasons have been made on touchdowns or
field goals scored after some team had
been forced to kick out from a touchback.
The ball vas held for a fair catch, it was
run back to within striking distance of the
goal or it was sent over by an accurate
drop kicke
The Ames-Nebraska game last fall in
Omaha serves to illustrate how disastrous
the kicking out from a touchback often
was. Two OF the touchdowns scored by
Ames were made after Nebraska had
kicked out. Once the ball was booted from
the east goal and fell into the hands of 81
Lambert and he ran with it to the Corn
huskers' ten-yard line, where it was pushed
over for a touchdown in two plays. An,
other time the ball was caught and car.
ried back a few yards. Then severs'