Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-11
EY PARKE ii. DAVIS.

prnccton's Representative Jpou the IntcrcoIlc-
Siatc Foot Ball Rules Committee.
The object continually before the mem
beers OF the rules committee in its SIREN
nous sessions OF 1910 was the lessening
Il the possibility for injury. The statistics
Of the season just closed indicate that this
object was accomplished. 1t fairly may
be claimed for foot ball that this game
now presents no greater hazards than
base ball. hockey. track sports ana Ia
.TosSC 1t may be assumed, therefore,
tlat the major amendment of 1910 by
which this result has been accomplished
The abolition of interlocked interference
which. of course, includes aid to the run
ncr, will stand. From some quarters
tmanatcs a demand that this rule DE
modified by allowing one man to AID the
runners As not more than one man was
lcccssary to aid the runner at the helsht
uc the push and pull game II is extreme
~ doubtfuI if this demand will sufficient
il impress foot ball men TO permit It's
reinstatement In the code. Inc return W
III" rule OF the early sos by WHICH
Withdrawn player may he returned AGAIN
70 the game has been provocative OF such
unexpactedlv good results and is so unah-
mous!y commended by the pia!eis .""'
II also may he considered as d nNtufe-
The forward pass is still unpopular
with many foot ball men, but it Is 1ea-
ture too attractive to the pubic 10 ne
eliminated without bringing upon nne
game an avalanche of diSapprONaL Inc
"details cf forward pass play. however
mast face further scrutiny ana SOME
change. Ii is true that the present sHs
tenn has not proved injurious, but us
cumbersome and complex mechanism mas
ueen unintelligible to the spectator, con-
fusing to the player and beyond appllca-
lion by the officials. Its methods must
be ,SiTnp.itied And Yet, this Is the very
problem that blockaded the rules commit
tee for eight consecutive days ana
large portion of the Intervening nights
IN its deliberations last spring. NeNerthe-
ifss there is solution. 1t lies in the
removal of some OF the restrictions by
which this play has been surrounded and
complicated. and which actual use in the
games recently played has demonstrated
10 have been fanciful and unnecessary.
The question of quarters versus halves.
upon which the players apparently are
evenly divided: the fairness of the rule
recurring a gain of 10 yards within the
25-yard line which apparently majority
OF players deny: the perennial problem or
the relative value of place Kick with
drop kick, and of any field goal with
touchdown, the prevention of the priVl-
lege of making substitutions from abuse
Ivy using IL for purposes of side-lne
coaching. the ancient proposition OF I'M
ting the positions TO be assumed py
players on defense, and the query to
the fairness of locating the KICKOFF at
midheld instead of on the 3o-yard line,
thereby Immediately placing a team on
defense within the shadow of its own
goal posts. not through inequality in play,
bat through the flip of COIN may be eX-
pt cted 10 rise at least for debate and dis
cussion.
Many suggestions appear here and
thare for interesting additions to this
game, but intercollegiate foot ball has
reached the limit of expansion. A game
whose patronage is SO great that seating
capacity cannot be provided and tickets
Of admission become subjects for broker
age and broken hearts surely needs no
further spectacular features. What foot
ball needs is-the perfection of its details,
simpIifcation of its rules and pro-
longed period Of stability and rest for its
code.
The perfection of the games details is
not difficult Leisure study of the rules,
which time denied the committee last
spring. together with the tests and strain
Of actual play, has disclosed deficiencies,
antiquities and some contradictions in the
rules. Thfso rHS1y are remeGied, but
tEc'r =, siould prompt the men,
Jt % the committee for 1911 to assem-
Die early in order that the subject may
receive the deliberate attention that it re-
llireS. SiuipIification OF the rules, which.
81 course. carries with it simplification of
play, may BE- accomplished by the elimina-
ION of questionable restrictions with
zones anu liHdB lines, anu the CIed-
lion OF a distinction between a foul which
involves an element of willfulness and
fault which, Is merely a misplay, as, for
Instance, incompleted forward pass,
linus making possible a diminution of
souls and an equalization of penalties.
As for stability of the rules, the time
aas arrived when this has become impera-
tive For th!rty-seven years rule makers
annually have been experimenting with
this sport. am during this time players
aud public patiently have been unlearn-
ing one game in order to learn another.
While foot ball was confined to a college
following its cnangeableness was not a
serious fault. Today the game is played
~ schoolboys. sailors. youths of leisure
and young men OF business as we'll as by
roliegians II is watched by men and
women Of every branch of society to an
extent that has won for it tho facetious
title of the greatest show on earth. In
s+!ch "a field of nationality the want of
v.Tmanence easily may become a null
sance.
Changes in the rules, however, invari-