Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-23
FOOTBALL SEASON
BIGGER THAN EVER
Official Guide Shows 900
Games in the Regular COL
|ege Schedule.

The official foot ball guide just issued as
the latest addition to Spaldng's Athletic
Library gives the information that the
American foot ball season will open on
September Is with game between West
ern Maryland University and Rock Hill
and closes December - with a game at
Havana Cuba, between Rollins College
and the University of Havana In all
there are in the schedule 800 games to
be played this coming season between
teams other than those of the schools and
athletic clubs.
The changes in the rules for this season
form one of the features of the guide,
a goal from field, which now counts 5, in
stead of 4. as last year.
The forward pass remains the same as
last year. the only alteration of any kind
being that the rules now make it. clear
and definite that there is a zone lying be-
hind the scrimmase line In which space
an end might stand, and by assuming this
position be not eligible in any event to
receive forward pass. This position is
more than one foot back of the end of
the Scrimmage line, and not full yard
back. No man occupying this position is
eligible to receive forward pass, the
object of this rule being to make a man
stand either up to the scrimmage line or
h.
readily see that he Is not on the line.
Chance to Get Out.
Another and possibly still more impor-
tant change is the provision that a side
having a kickout may have the option of
taking the kick. as under the present
rules. or having the ball down for a
scrimmase on their twenty-five-yard line.
This change will permit team that has
been forced to make touchback to have
some chance to get out of their difficult
ties even if the wind is against them
Formerly they were forced to kick the
ball out while the opponents stood wait
ing for it and ready to make a fair catch
or failing in that still to have good
chance at drop kick. The defensive side
were forbidden to kick the ball out of
bounds, and hence their helplessness
1t has always been good point for
team having strong kicker to kick the
ball across the goal lire on the kickoff.
because then the opponents lost their op-
portunity for a running game, being
obliged TO kick out, and hence the side
having kicked off had also the first
chance to show their running game. This
provision is really therefore equivalent to
conceding the side which received the
kick-out what is equivalent TO catching
the ball and running it out, with safe con
duct, until they reach their 25-yard line.
LIZ they merely touch the ball back this
AS there have been some discussions
from time to time to players taking
up the game for the first time and not
knowing what the names OF the positions
mean. the rule book this year will have
definition of the positions and a designa-
ton of the players as ordinarily grouped.
Mustn't Blow Whistle
In several games last year the referee
blew his whistle to indicate foul some
times inadvertently, and as the referees
whistle made the bah dead it was impos-
sible for the offended side to take advant-
age of whatever run they made by refus-
ing the penalty. For this reason the
rules this year call particular attention to
the fact that the referee should never,
under any circumstances, blow his whis-
tie to indicate a foul However, If he
should inadvertently do so. the ball is still
dead and play must stop.
AS there was said to be some misunder-
standing at times regarding the limita-
tons of positions. a rule has been made
to show that the limitations apply only
to the team on the offense, but an at
tempt at evasion in order to get around
the rule will not be permitted by the of
hcialS.
sake of making the penalties uniform and
it was suggested by the rule makers that
the position of the referee should be be-
hind the line of offense.
The new book also contains All-America
selections by Walter Camp and other
leading authorities; review of the sea
son of 1908 by Mr.. Camp. all representa-
tive teams and their work in 1908.
Other important features of the book
this year are records of games in 1908,
list of leading colleges with names of cap
tains, with the positions they play, coach
es and managers, and the official list of
American intercollegiate foot ball rules
committee. as compiled by the central
board of officials. of which Prof. James
A Rabbit of HayerfOrd is chairman