The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-08-23
CHANGES in THE
FOOTBALL RULES
FOLLOWERS OF POPULAR FALL
SPORT MAY NOW FORM oPIN-
! IONS OF WHAT GAME
y WILL BE LIKE

With the appearance of the new
football rules, compiled by the special
committee of the intercollegiate
rules committee today, followers of
this popular sport will get their first
opportunity to compare the game as
II will be played by the schools and
colleges of this country during the
coming fall. with that of the past few
years. Many changes will be found,
but careful study will disclose the
fact that with the exception Of one
or two radical departures, the 1910
game will be very similar to that OF
1909.
The most noticeable changes from
spectators point of view are the
fact that the field once more takes on
the appearance Of a gridiron, aban-
doning its checker board marking.
and that there will be four periods
instead OF two halves. The first
change is due to the fact that the
forward pass can go over the line
of scrimmage at any point and that the
man with the ball can advance In any
direction. The division of the game
into four periods OF Is minutes each,
replacing the former halves, will
seem strange at first but II will only
be a short time before the spectators
becomes as used to the periods as to
the halves.
The game will start as heretofore.
the captain winning the toss choosing
goal or kickoff. At the end of the first
and third periods the ball VIII be
placed In the corresponding place on
the opposite side of the center to that
at which IL was downed when the
whistle blew signifying the end of
those periods. The time between these
periods will be three minutes and be-
tween the second and third 1t VIII be
10 minutes. Starting the third period
the side kicking off has the opeion
of kicking off or receiving the kick.
The new rules which will govern the
forward pass arercxpected not only TO
take away the element of personal
danger evident last year. but to make
Il n more finished play. The ball can
not now be passed unless the player
il at least five yards behind the line
of scrimmage. and no player can be In
terfered with in any way after he
has passed the line of scrimmage and
before he has gone more than 20
yards. This will prevent the bowling
over of players unable to protect
themselves and will make IL compul-
sorry to try to catch the ball. The re-
duction OF the penalty for an incom-
pleted pass will also tend to make
II n more popular play.
Interlocked interference. that Is
players of the side having the ball
taking hold OF each other or using
their hands or arms to grasp their
teammates in any way Is forbidden
and II Is also forbidden for any man
on the side having possession of the
ball to push or pull in any way the
man running with the ball.
Another innovation Is to be noted
In regard to substitution OF players
during a game. A rule has been pass
ed which provides that player
who has been removed for any cause,
except disqualification or suspension,
may be returned to the game once at
the beginning OF any subsequent per-
Tod.
Another radical change Is that gov
erning the flying tackle. This has
been entirely eliminated by a new rul-
ing, which provides that a player
must have one foot at least on the
ground when tackling an opponent.
The fact that pulling and hauling
will not be allowed in the new game
and the requiring OF seven men In
the line OF scrimmage at all times
have materially weakened the offense
to all outward appearances; but the
new rules have also made changes
which are expected materially TO
make up for these losses. The offensc
has gained one man through the fact
that the player who receives the bail
can advance with IL at once In any
direction The fact that the forward
pass can go over the line or scrim-
mage at any point should also help
the offense materially.
That the modifying committee had
a difficult task on its hands Is very
evident. A close study of the new
rules will also show that they have
worked hard in an effort to eliminate
all the objectionable features In the
1909 game without materially affect
ing its system Of play, and while IL
will take the actual playing of this
falls game to show how successful
they have been I'm this direction II
would seem as IL the rules just com
piled would prove satisfactory to
every one.