New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-11-27
ON THE GRIDIRON
RULES ON THE GRILL.
Suggestions for Changes Made
in Vide TarietV.

Discussion % the probs bic revision Of the
football rules and the line of action to he
taken has been keeping the gridirOn Sex-
perts busy for the last two days. the sea-
son being over. There Is general agree
ment that action Of some sort will be taken.
and many of those talking on the sub
ject seem 10 he impressed bv the argu-
ments Of those who oppose the forward
pass
The play is Of little Use. anyhow" said
one old player yesterday 1T scarcely fig
ured al all in the Yale-Harvard and Penn
syivania- Cornell games. and psrtakes
altogether too much Of luck 20 be popular
Moreover. il is mighty dangerous play.
in ways that cannot be seen readily. as in
the obvious risk TO the man catching the
pass. The only way l can see to protect
the man receiving the ball il for him to
signal for fair catch. as a back going
after punt has the right To do and thus
stopping attempts 20 tackle him. The rule
would have 10 he one compelling him TO
attempt such a catch. and this would. Of
necessity, stop the man receiving the pass
from running with the ball after catching
IT, Such a rule would he absurd. of course
and ] do not suggest its adoption by any
means. j simply mean that unless some
such rule is made. the forward pass ought
10 be abolished !, for one. am for aboli-
tion"
The situation, far as the New York
schools is concerned, which is still unset
tied. also aroused much comment yester-
day Suggestions that decided notifications
In the rules be made for interscholsstic
games were heard In some quarters. There
vas a general agreement that Limitation
o. playing time TO ifteen-minute halves
would ne beneficial, and il was said also
that medical supervision OF the strictest
sort should he required In every case. with
authority vested at every game I'm some
master or official 90 order any roy 10 stop
playing.
Mrs Miraheau L. Towns Of Brooklyn.
one of the women members Of the Board
Of Education recently appointed by Mayor
Mcclellan, is one Of those opposed 20 &C
ton by the board aboiishinC the spor+
This is what she has to say about the
game.
Il don't think they ought tn take the
game away from the boys I have a son
who PLAYS football. and / consider il .
healthy and spOrtsmanhke game. The
school pupils % greater New York have
few enough recrearions now, without de-
priving them Of one Of the sports in which
they are interested
The reformers who want 20 see a game
stu more open are supplying most Of the
IDEAS Just nov. and their suggestions vary
from increasing the distance 10 ~ gained
IN three downs TO ffteen Yards 20 . rule
requiring the quarterback or the man re-
ceising the bsli from centre 20 stand rive
yards behind the line Of sCrimmage Either
% these schemes would eliminate line play
. most automatically, OF course. unless the
defence were further weakened. when the
lo-ysrd rule was adopted the neutral zone
was established between the lines 81 scrim-
mage as much 20 help the team carrying
the ball - 10 prevent rough work los the
forwards. which has been diving out good
deal al late years anyhow without any
fresh rules The coaches who taught that
sort 81 football are not a. popular a. they
once were