Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-20

upon the offensive side In not being al
lowed to touch a kicked ball within the
2O-yard zone or within space 20 yards
from the spot where the ball was put in
play. This ruling relates only TO men
who were offside and does not include
men who were kicked. The object OF
this rule is to prevent the scramble and
roughness possible under the rule OF last
year and to encourage forward passing
under the new rules.
This means that the only alterna-
tive OF the offense on the bounding ball
In the twenty-yard zone is that the
men on the offense must wait for an
opponent to touch the ball. or follow
II up and watch the opportunity to fall
upon 1t after IL has passed the 2O-yard
zone.
THE FORWARD PASS.
The third consideration relating TO
the offense is without doubt the most
impostant innovation that has ever
been made In football that concern
Ing the forward pass. which must be
made at least five yards back of the
scrlmmage line TO any OF the back
neld men who are at least one yard
back from the scrimmage line at the
time the ball is snapped or TO either
OF the men on the ends of the line.
This rule does not prevent an end
from shifting and allowing the tackle
to receive the ball
number of perpleXing questions
have arisen in connection with the
forward pass, one OF which is. Does
a forward pass to be legal have to
cross the line OF scrimmage? As a
practical demonstration. suppose an
eleven shifts all its men on the left side
OF center To Its right side, can the CEN
ter snap the ball to any one OF his
backs and Immediately receive 1t be-
fore crossing the scrimmage line?
A. AWne
ball from the center have to be Ave
yards back before passing the ball to
center II the center received the bah
on his side Of the scrimmage line?
new ruling before the committee
this year I'm relation to an incompleted
forward pass is that on first and second
down there Is a loss of down from
the spot where the ball was put In play
and not from the spot from which the
pass was made. No distance penalty
Is added, as was the case last year.
on third down IL an incompleted for
ward pass results the ball goes to the
opponents not on the spot where the
ball was put in play, but from which
the pass was made. This ruling with
the allowance Of the forward pass over
the line OF scrimmage provided the pass
was made at least five yards back OF
the scrif1mage line, opens up a rich
field of possibilities to the strategist
DIRECTING INTERFERENCE.
one OF the most fertile suggestions
worked out is the directing of the in
reference ahead OF the man with tho
ball I'm one direction and the passing
Of the ball TO an end or halfback In
the opposite.
In the execution OF this forward
pass the spiral throw on a line the
shortest distance between the passer
and receiver has been found to be the
most satisfactory. The underhand |
pass and the high throw have been
found wanting. The Inference is that
premium will be placed upon tall. |
rangy men in receiving and fast, ac-
curate men In passing the ball.
A defensive problem the coach must |
think out is how to arrange his men |
10 meet a line plunging game and at |
the same time TO meet a forward pass
ing game and the onside kicks. One |
way out OF the difficulty was worked
out in the summer school; in
stead OF having one stationary 1
defense, adopt variable system
to meet the circumstances OF the
attack. Another consideration In re- |
lation TO the defense Is how TO handle
the offensive end on a punt. Under
the old ruling an end alone or an end
and halfback could harass the
opposing end as soon as the ball was
snapped. Under the new Legislation
he cannot be touched Ia the 20-yard
zone. There are three alternatives
open, The first Is TO block him be-
fore he crosses the scrimmage line:
the second is TO let him go free and
follow until the 20-yard zone is reach
ed. The last Is to play n respectable
distance back, 50 as to be in a position
for fake kick or render interior
ence for the runner OF his side who
has secured the ball.
In viewing the coming season there
are number OF statements which may
be made by way OF forecast:
That the season. OF necessity, must
be experimental.
That the teams that secure an early
start will have a big advantage over
their opponents.
That the game will be OF speed, nc-
curacy and brains rather than beef and
strength
That the smaller colleges will he on
a better footing this year than ever
before.
A premium will be placed upon
com netent. officials.
Finally. that the dangers win be
lessened considerably, but not eliminat-
ed. There will never be attained a |
Utopia In football until Interference
and tackling are eliminated These two
elements give the game Its strength