The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04

at the end of the coming football season it would not be surprising if such a course was pursued.
 Changes Analysed
 The coach of football team this fall in order to have his players thoroughly understand the new rules will have to be s man with considerable ability in peda- gogy. For this reason. and in order that those contemplating playing football at the high school or on other teams Tn Birmingham this fall, may get at least an idea of the rules and their relative changes. I have made the following analysis:
 Considerable as a whole, there are seven changes in all, the first of these has to do with the lining out of the held, the longitudinal lines being omitted. rms has been made possible by the new rule' which allows the quarterback or for- ward mass to cross the scrimmage line at any point. thus making only the hori- zontal divisions necessary, as was the case in 1902, the only difference peins that now 1t is necessary to gain lo yards in order to secure first down instead of five yards, as was then the case. The rule regarding the substitution of players is important. especially rom
 the standpoint of those institutions bav vinp large squads where several men trying for positions are ot-apout the same ability. Both may now De gwen trial and should the second man substituted prove inferior to the hrst man, the latter may be put pack m the game again, provided he goes In at the beginning of some subsequent neriod. This rule will. however. prove a decided advantage to coach from the standpoint of the condition of his p,an Should a valuable man become fa tigued at any point of the game he may be taken out and with little rest and advice on the part of the man in charge the player who was otherwise of no use to his team may return to the game and really do some thing.
 In order to really see the import ance of the above rule one must un- derstand the division of the game, &C., cording to periods. It is divided into four periods Of 15 minutes each, with a 15-minute inuermission between the second and third periods and a three minute intermission between the first and second and third and fourth pe- riods. During this short fntermlssion of three minutes no player Is allowed to leave the field of play or any rep resentative come on except one who has to do with the physical condition of the players. At the beginning of the second and fourth periods the teams change goals but the possession of the ball, the down, the relative spot of the down and the distance to be gained all remain the same as at the termination of the preceding period.
 Doom of Mnssed Plays
 Seven players are required on the line of scrimmage in place of six, as in former years. The man behind the center may carry the ball across the line at any point. This rule Is ob- viously aimed at more open game and the abolishment of mass plays. This latter part of the new rules will ma terially strengthen the offense, some of which will, however, be counteract- ed by compelling one extra man to be placed on the line of scrimmage. No longer will six men be on the line and five pushing and pulling back Of the ball. The position of quarterback will be a much harder one to fill this year. He must be a man who Is fast on his feet. of enough weight to buck line and have sufficient brains to play both his position and that of a back for the quarterback at present Is as much of a back field man as the halves and fullback and must be re- lied upon to advance the ball as wei: as the ordinary back field man.
 The legislation regarding the forward pass is in effect as follows: There are two lines of scrimmage, the lines as formally passing through the ends of the ball, one line each for the offensive and defensive teams. A man to be on the line of scrmmage must be within one foot of his teams scrimmage line A player to be eligible to receive a. forward pass must be at least one yard back of his own line of scrmmage or ocuppy a position on either end of his line of scrimmage. No one of the offensive players can therefore take forward pass who is not one yard back or one the end of the line of scrimmage There is an- other imaginary line in addition to this one-yard line and that is five yahrs back of the line of scrimmage. No man may make a forward pass nor-may he kick the ball unless he is behind this imag mary five-yard line. Between this limo and the line of scrimmage he is forbid den to make pass or a kick. There Is still another imaginary line 20 yards back of the defense and within this space between the imaginary line and the line of defense there are restrictions as to the obstruction of players If q forward 4e