The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-21
Ry WILLIAM PEET.

How will the football rules be changed
90 satisfy player and public alike that
injuries en- the future win be reduced 10
minimum
This is the problem the football rules
committee viii have 20 solve az their
annual meeting In New York next month.
and great pressure viii be brought TO
bear on them by friend and foe alike
from all parts OF the United States
Already many so-caued experts have
written their ideas on reform. and some
opinions are well worth considering. PUB
dc opinion says that there IS something
wrong with the game as played under
the present rules and demands a change
II is doubtful If the rules committee
will make many sweeping changes IN the
playing code, for the reason that where
YOU have tackling and charging a certain
risk Of injury is liable Do away with,
tackliug and charging, and you 90 away
with the game
Strenuous Game ut Best
Football is strenuous game. Tho
average American wants TO see strenuous
play in any sport The principal reason
why soccer or English rugby football has
not made a hit in this country is be-
cause il is comparatively tame when
compared with our game
The writer believes that one good
change could be made by the rules COM
mittee for the betterment Of the sport
The suggestion IS this: Either vest ln
= the referee or umpire discretionary. pew
IL. r.f g
in the mind OF the official. is groggy or
unable to continue Many times a coach
or captain Will permit a PLAYER 90 stay
I'm .--e lineup particularly IL the playe-
De one Of the stars, long after he should
have been removed According 10 reports
of the West Poiut-Harvard game. Byrne
was rendered grosgy by continual smash
ing at bis tackle. and one charge too
many was aimed az him. Had Byrue
] been yanked out when he first showed
/ signs OF distress and a new man substi-
tuteJ. the fatality might have been
averted.
Might Add an Official.
In case the committee does not vote 10
give discretionary powers to the referee
or umpire. let another official be added
some man with q knowledge OF medicine
and able 20 tell just how badly a player
is injured.
Coach BIZ Newman. or Georgetown.
/ suggests that much Of the danger might
/ De eliminated If a rule were passed to
the effect that the half backs must not
charge from a point farther from the
I line Of SCrimmuge than four feet. BY so
doing. the backs could not gain much OF
an impetus when they hit the line.
Radical changes in the bail rules were
/ recommended last week by Director A.
A. stage. OF the University Of Chicago,
who is one. Of the Western represent
atiyes Of the national rules committee.
Makes Five Suggestions.
''As It looks 20 me-" he said. "the ways
Of remedying the rules may be approach
ed as follows:
81 Allowing two chances 70 make u
yards. or increasing the distance to is
yards and giving a team three chance s..
as Walter Camp has suggested In This
way forward passing viii DO encour9 ged
by making the use OF the play more often
necessary.
80 BY prohibiting pushing OF pulling Of
the runner with the ball. which new does
lots Of damage. for. first. q single player
now is often struck by the combiqed force
Of two or three men; and. second. Il
takes the combined strength of TWO or
more men falling under or on top Of the
attacking players TO stop them
90 By making a penalty Tor crawling
with the bah, which would encourage
standing up in running.
a BY increasing the penalty for pIling
on a player unnecessarily.
80 BY emphasizing the need OF the ref
erees blowing his whistle when the ball
! IS stopped thus preventing messing"
Several weeks ago Stagg declared he
/ expected TO make recommendation TO the
conference committee. but would not
state what they would be. saying Il was
too early In the season. Since the ques-
ton was asked him ne has given mucT
thought 70 the matter, and the result
was his list OF suggestions yesterday.
He wanted it distinctly understood that
they were only suggestions. and that r.
Sc is shown 70 him they win harm IN
stead OF improve the game. he viii be
content to drop them
The midway director also asserted that
he had intended to stand for the reforms.
even II ne had not been instructed by the
athletic board.