Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-09
CHANGING FOOT BALL RULES
Passing ~Conjectures About What Will
Be Done.
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CHANGES
Hard TasjS to Make the Game Safe
Beyond Question, hut There
Are Things hat Can
he Altered.
'UGGEsTIoNs FOR THE CHANGES

What the changes may be that the in
tercollegiate foot bail rules COMMITTEES will
make in the regulations for the game in
1910 there is no easy way of determining.
The rule makers will nave meetings this
month and probably for some time to, come
in their endeavor to straighten out affairs.
The game will have to be changed be-
cause of the fatalities and injuries of the
last season. Many Of the persons who are
loudest in their demands to have altera-
tions made, however, are those who can
not or do not suggest just what things
should be done to make the game more
acceptable on the side of safety.
In their attitude they answer very well
the complaints made by some technical
experts in the game. The experts said to
the professors and college presidents:
We know foot ball and you know your
teaching subjects. Why not leave us
alone?" The answer to this by the faculty
men is; Very well. you know the game
and we don't But we know that the game
must be reformed. We don't specify how
1t shall be done. All you have to do is to
go ahead and alter it,"
According to some persons, the neutral
zone, open field tackling and the workings
Of the forward pass were the things re
sponsible for the CORY showing of foot ball
last season. II was contended that the
neutral zone, that is compelling the play
ers to line up so that they were separated
by the distance OF the long axis of the
ball. rave the tackling side so much more
ground in which to get a start on offense
and also made the clash OF players com
ing together all the more severe, They
| aIl,,.A-.A-a f. 49, ~. -IAaN. -
slapping ones hands together was neces-
sarily greater than the pressure OF hands
placed together and then worked against
one another.
They pleaded for a return TO the former
single line OF defense. 1t is argued against
this that the ball is not so well in sight
as II is with the neutral gone. The Of
ficials, too, favor the neutral zone because
it gives a clearer view OF the players and
helps to detect offside and holding.
Tn sharp open field tackling is another
thing much objected to. 1t is argued
that when a player is off his guard OF
rather has his attention centered on catch
ing a ball that Is flying through the air
toward him he is incapable of making a
proper defense to a tackle that is launched
at him simultaneously with his capturing
Of the ball. For instance, there have
been plays in which the backfield mar
slightly misjudges the ball and is forced
to lean back a little to get 1t at all.
Measure his chances against some player
who probably outweighs him thirty OF
forty pounds-the not uncommon proportion
OF quarterback to - is coming
down the field full tilt and who strikes him
so overbalanced at the moment the bal
nestles In his arms.
1t is small wonder, say the directors
to this style of play, that the catcher
fumbles the ball. And ever II he does
keep a secure grip on Il he is apt to be Sc
dazed by the Ehock OF this collision thai
he may not be himself for several plays tC
come. and thus lays himself open to beinl
hurt. 1t is commended by those who Oppose
savage open field tackling that very offer
these collisions have been the forerunner'
Of severe hurts, although the public II
seeking the reason for these accidents doe
mot look beyond the very play in which
the foot ball man meets injury.
For such reasons the public is likely e
object to certain plays, which in themselves
are harmless, as being fatal, solely becaus'
they open the way for a man being hur'
! when actually the damage was done man.
minutes before. when he was Jared -
that he never recovered his poise. Inciden,
tally such Is another objection TO th'
r present conditions under which the for
ward pass is made. The player often hai
to twist about in bis efforts to reach th'