New-York tribune., 1909-12-05
NEW REVISION PLAN
TO REDUCE DANGER
Suggestion TO Limit Use Of
the Forzcard Pass

have been suggested in all the rn..
football wisdom that has been put ar ~
disposal Of the rules committee bur
plete and revolutionary change was .,
gested by Alec MOrat. OF Princeton
told exclusively in The Tribune yssfs-s.
and a comprehensive scheme OF r.,o--
composite In its origin and the vvo,,
a group OF men who know fOotbau g..
mateiy with all its faults and vir,uas y
presented to-day
These men hold that the forward ~.
is responsible for many OF the -
serious accidents this fall but thev -,
the idea that the public thinks TOO ~,
OF the play to receive its abolition na.-s..
ly. With this in mind they have sYxx...
ed the following fundamental changes /.
the rules:
First-PrOhiOitiOn OF the forward u.
except by a team on the offensive xt..,.
twenty-five yards OF the opposing 70,
line. The rules and restrictions zovs-.'
ing the pass now are to remain unchanx.s
under this provision. save that II the b.u
crosses the goal line and is caught nv
player OF the attacking team II shan \.
a touchdown. while II II strikes the grouns
il shall be a touchback-
SecOnd-TwO men may drop back f,o,.
tAt liir VI -tilli4tild kr 10 EfONlQe more
fective interference for end runs. our NO,
more than one man, I'm any case. in adai.
ton TO the one carrying the ball. shall ta..
part I'm a play directed at any point b~
tween tackle and tackle.
Third-The player first receiving In. b.u
from the centre shall be permitted to ru,
with ii without any restriction. CAT pre.en,
he must cross the line OF scrimmags ar
least five yards TO one side or the other
of the centreD
FOuTth-The referee shall be required IA
blow his whistle at the instant the for
ward progress OF the player carrying m.
bali is checked. and severe penalties shah
be imposed for failure TO cease play with
the whistle.
Fffth-No player in the backheld shall
when the ball is put in play be nearer
than five yards TO the line Of scrimmase
Sixth-The sO-called neutral zone b.-
tween the opposing forwards. shall 10
abolished.
Seventh-If a player is disqualified by any
official that official shall within twenty
four hours file written statement OF the
circumstances with the central board OF
officials. IL two such reports be filed against
a player he shall be ineligible TO play for
one year.
The men who in the course OF a number
OF discussions of an informal character
drew UP this set OF suggestions discarded
plenty Of ideas. Some. for instance. wanted
to abolish the forward pass absolutely.
They held IL TO be dangerous and vicious
and TO De completely at variance with the
spirit and the traditions Of the game.
/ But Difference TO probable public opinion
/ affected their decision and they made I'D
II
duced to a minimum If the play were
! stricted in location II really isn't so much
/ of a restriction as far as actual playing
goes. because 10 team has made practice
/ OF using the play in its own territory. Bur
the danger OF il has been present, 10 be
/ guarded against. and a good quarterbsck.
/ seeing the opposing team unprepared. could
/ launch the play suddenly and successfully.
/ Other suggestions were made anent tns
/ forward pass, one being to give the BAL
/ after striking the ground the status OF
/ kicked ball under the old rules; that is 70
say making every player on the onsncs
| Offside until a defending player had touched
il. This. IL was thought. would protect the
\ man making the catch TO a certain extent
/ by dfverting attention from him TO the ball.
But il was Indirect danger. through weak
ening OF the defence. that the group feared.
and that would not have been lessened a.
/ all by this device.
With the strengthening OF the defence T
the elimination OF the forward pass IN me
greater part of the field and the abolition
| OF the neutral zone. the cOnferreeS found
difficult % solve the problem OF now |"
work the ball 10 the 25-yard line without
forcing the cOntending teams TO rely wholly
| upon kicking game. No reduction OF tns
In
contemplated. although it was suggested
that four downs. instead of three. mishi
he allowed. save within the 25-yard line
That would be a compromise with the oa
| 5-vard rule, under which. OF course SN
! downs were allowed for gain OF 'sA
! yards.
| IL was agreed that elimination. as lN
| as uOssible. of the mass play was w
sirabIe. although the meE who make uss'
| srggestiOns were BY no means wiliins
| subscribe TO the theory that mass pasS
| are in the main responsible Tor ihJui''
Therefore the rule requiring BACKS eA1ss.
| the one. TO receive the ball. 20 hne up A'o
/ wards behind the ball was incorporated +"
the suggestions. This rule with the one'
! concerning the forward pass and the hs
traI zone. may be classed as the s'
structive part OF the programme INV
| weaken the offence.
The constructive part OF the prOsi s"
includes the provision as 10 for"dru -, -
that crosses the goal line without oe"s
| touched the rule allowing the Quar'ei'-
or man receiving a direct pass rom -
/ centre to run where he chooses an"
permissiOn TO call line men back 20 %
vide interference. No man so caiieu '~
/ could carry the ball, and TO eimiha's
/ possibility OF such a rule being 50 - -.
pIeted as 10 permit the old taeS'e -
and guard back mass plays, 0niN One
would be allowed 20 give direct ala
PLAYER carrying the ball in line pia"ss
1t was the feeling of these eSpei'S
the quarterback run. freed OF res'''0.. -
could be very highly developer -
PLAYS of various sorts could De u"r'
with a direct pass from centre 10 -,
back or funhack. and a quick eps"@'
made BY an alert guard w0uid s'0 a.
opportunity 20 slip by the seconuaS ~.
fence Altogether IL was thous"'
change would give the sttaeShs
more chance TO make it's distance. VIZ" VIZ
tendency to open the play sun i~.s a.
Moreover. il would tighten the ou'ue ar
the officials, as would the ellminS.O" a..
the greater part OF the game OF 'no
ward pass With the increased NV ~
ence for wing PLAYS. made poss' ,s,,
dropping men back frOm the hns. "a,
/ quarterback run would make u Eessrrs