The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-02

be legal.
Diagram Shows Players Positions.
The above tells how the forward pass
may be made and how received. An ac-l
diagram shows the positions
Of the players in trying for the pass.
Ofhcials will probably have their hands
full watching for the imaginary lines in
the forward pass. The referee is to note,
whether the man passing the ball is back
the requisite five yards. The field Judge IS
to ascertain whether the pass actually
goes more than twenty yards without
touching the ground or player. Both
the referee and field Judge are to deter
mine whether the man who received the
forward pass was on the end Of the at
lacking side or at least one yard back Of
the scrimmage line when the ball was put
into play.
After this play has been put into opera
ton any player Of the side that did not
make the forward pass has full right to
touch the ball and attempt to secure pos
session Of It That is. 1t is "anybody's
Of the player who passed It But II for
ward pass is even touched or fumbled by a
player, no players on the other side may
interfere with the opponent until the ball
Is actually in possession Of the player ex-
ccpt in an attempt to get at the bail. OF
course. the moment that a player has the
ball in his hand he may be tackled, as he
would be on any play, but he is not to be
blocked, pushed one side or thrown to the
ground before he gets chance to catch
the ball, as was the case last year. when
concerted effort was almost invariably
|~s.Ae-to nut the man who was to receive
the forward pasS~out OF the play before
me could get the bail.
One contest was played between Prince
ton and the Indians in New York which
brings that system to mind. The Indians
had proved adept at the forward pass.
Princeton watched an Indian game and
when the contest was played at the Polo
Ground IN New York the Princeton men,,
divining almost every effort which the In
dams were attempting to use the forward
pass, paid little attention to the ball and
devoted their time to taking care Of the
man who was to catch the ball. In this
n amer Princeton made the attack of the
Indians almost useless. Under the pres
ent rules 1t will be impossible to do any
thing Of the kind. although it is very evil
dent that the officials will have abundant
reason to keep a close eye on players until
the players finally have 1t Thoroughly inn
pressed upon them that in the game of 1910
they have got to remember, as Walter
Camp well puts II. to keep hands or"
Play Is Intricate.
There are intricacies about the forwa RI
pass which never existed before. and II
may readily be understood how the Older
football players are inclined to fight these
innovations. which seem to them to be de-
| tracing from the fundamental tntentio,
Of the sport.
| Still. so long as the forward pass was
insisted upon by those who can be induced
to believe that 1t is good football, it is
evident that certain restrictions had to be
formulated and enforced to prevent such
I rough and harmful play as had become in
evidence after coaches and players learned
how to block the use Of the formation.
| The practice had become common tc
make the attack almost wholly on the
player who was eligible to catch the ball
Little attention was paid to the man who
was passing the ball. and risk was willing
~ assumed in the recovery of the ball
For the moment effort was concentrated
on blocking the catch. and not infreauent.
! ~ players who could not have caught the
pall were pushed to the ground, caught by
neat device where two men would run
into one and back him over a third, and
IN other ways so roughly handled that
complaint was common.
| Inc question which arises Is whether the
forward pass is likely to become a more
popular play this year or one OF infre-
4uent usage
Some OF those who have steadfa stiy
stood up for the forward pass insist that
1t has been so well protested that for the
first time in It's history it will begin tc
snow ITS advantage as a spectacular and
strategic move.