The San Francisco call., 1910-03-27
MASSP PLAY BARRED
BY REVISED RULES
intercollegiate. Committee Puts
Tentative Changes in Shape
and Then Adj0urns

NEW YORK, March 26.-Before ad-
journing it's session today to meet at
Philadelphia on April % and complete
its work, the intercollegiate football
rules committee tentatively adopted
important changes
The changes are designed to ellml-
nate mass plays to a large extent ana
in other ways to reduce the danger OF
injury to players. The changes are:
First-RemovaI of the five yard restriction on
back
second-A requirement that seven men be
maintained by the offense on the line OF serini-
Third-Prohibition of the flying tackle.
Fourti-Diysion of the game into fonr perious
of Is minutes each
Fifth-No pushing or pulling of the runner to
be allowed
Standardization of the onside kick to 20
yards beyond the line of scrimmage
The problem before the committee
was to eliminate, so far as possible, the
dangers which have attended the game
while preserving its fascination as
spectacle and its disciplinary and edu-
cational elements.
It was felt that the next season
would be crucial. Either Injuries must
be fewer or there would be serious
hazard of a widespread movement to
abolish football
The steps decided upon to effect re-
forms will result in weakening the
power of the offense so materially that
1t was necessary to- devise means to on
set the acquired strength of the de-
fense. In this purpose two general
plans are under consideration.
In the interval before the next meet
ing of the committee in Philadelphia
on April 30, experiments will be car
ried on by each member of the COM.
mittee at his own college and on the
result OF these experiments VIII de-
pend the plan which shall prevail.
The first change adopted will, in the
opinion of the committee, give the
quarterback much larger opportunities
to make good runs; will offer an op-
portunity for quicker plays and will
create need for the exercise of more
strategy.
The second change will prevent the
drawing back of linemen for offensive
plays and is a direct blow at mass
plays
The flying tackle has been the cause
of many injuries and the committee
agreed that it must go.
The fourth change, the intermission
between the first and second and the
third and fourth quarters, probably
VIII be shorter than that between the
second and third. This change is made
so that there may be better oppor-
tion of players.
Another clause under this fourth di-
vision directs that a PLAYER compelled
to leave the game may return during
subsequent quarter, If he RECEIVERS
sufficiently. With this opportunity OF
returning to the field. it is felt that
players will not tax their strength as
under the old system of barring a play
er entirely once he is off the field
The fifth change provides that no
pushing or pulling of the runner with
the7 ball is to be allowed The same
Limitations as are now imposed on the
use of hands on an opponent will ap-
ply to the use of hands on teammate
This is the committees chief plan of
breaking up mass plays. 1t means that.
whereas in the past. the teammates of
the man with the ball might lock arms
with him, pull or draw him along, or
provide interference by running before
him with locked arms, in the future
such tactics will be prohibited.
While the men forming the interfer-
ence may, run shoulder to shoulder
they will not be permitted to hold each
other. Thus the task of the defense
IN breaking un interference becomes
much easier.
The sixth change prescribes that an
onside kick must advance the ball 20
yards from the line of scrimmage
ia. 10, II TIE Dail strikes the ground
snort OF the 20 yards, the offense be-
comes offside This rule is also aimed
at mass plays
The committee took up discussion
OF two plans for directing the style of
playing and strengthening the offense
sufficiently to balance the new oppor-
tunities for defense.
The first plan contains two main
features-First, limitation of the for
ward pass to territory behind the line
OF scrinmage; second, limitation of the
width of scrimmage lines. These two
provisions of plan one cohere in a gen
eral design to make forward passes
and quarterback runs better ground
gamers by opening up the play and
compensating the weakness ,of the Of
Tense in--Sther ways.