The Washington times., 1910-05-01
National Football Commit
tee Agrees to Forward
Pass Clause.
OTHER ALTERATIONS
ARE QUICKLY MADE
Distance TO Be Gained Changed
From Ten to Eight
Yards.

PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-The foot
BAH committee adjourned to meet in
New York May 16
Two new rules were adopted late last
night. the retention OF the forward pass,
restricted 70 behind the line Of scrIm-
mage. and the changing of the distance
to be gained fl three ooTns from ten to
eight yards The other rules adopted
last month IT. New York, were ratified.
Six vital changes we're made IN the
game code az the close OF the two meet
ings held in New York during the past
few months. At the initial meeting Of
the mentors OF the game they were con-
fronted with a storm OF abuse, a plea
70 abolish TIE ''JUggernaut OF athletics
and mass Of reform suggestions from
every section OF the country. These suC-
Eest.ons were submitted by every type
OF person from the expert head coach
with years Of football experience to q
spinster in some college town who had
never seen the chaIk-barred field.
Nearly two meetings were devoted to
separating valuable ideas from misIu-
formed OF biased opinions. Finally at
the second session the sOsons. made six
sweeping changes IN the style Of Ameri-
can football The game was divided into
four periods OF fifteen minutes each .
the flying tackle was prohibited. and
they removed tsse old requirement that
the player who receives the ball from
the snapbaCE run five yards 70 either
side before advancing.
Difficult to Tackle.
During sprng practice at various col
leges the two changes last named proved
most revolutionary. Old football players
found Il difficult TO tackle with one foot
on the ground and quick line plunEes
by the quarterback caught the defense
mapping on several fields
Today's meeting viii end the consid-
Grafton OF three propositions considered
most important by several Of the best
/ known football authorities IN the coun-
| try The three plans relate 70 the for
ward pass Walter Camps suggestion
20 limit me line of defense to the same
/ lateral zone as the lem Of OfTense and
( an idea which would permit iinemen and
! backs 70 interchange positions at viii
On Jules relating TO the forward pass
Waites- Camp Of Yale and Coach Stays
( OF Chicago are reported 70 have oppoS-
I ing ideas Il IS understood that Camp
/ would limit the forward pass 70 use be
/ hind the line Of ScTimulaEe- Coach Stag
I believes IN retaining The forward pass
. with notifications OF the present rules.
I he has made many experiments both
/ at the University OF Arkansas and al
/ mOoted play after removing the penalty
I TO an incomplete pass and making pro
visions for the protection Of the re-
! ceiver from body checking
Across Scrimmage Line.
/ In case Coach Stages plan IS adopted
| the forward pass viii be allowed across
the line OF scrims &c, with the present
/ Vineyard limitation. and VIII be received
only by the men on the ends OF th,
rush line and the backs With sever
men always on the rush line. as {,
planned. one less player IS eligible Z,
n receive the pass than Heretofore On al
Incomplete forward pass the ball would
be returned 10 the spot where IL was Du
into play and the play to count as
u down. thus removing the present fifteen
III yard penalty Some plan viii be con
i sidered 70 give the man receiving I'll
i pass protection The rule prohibiting tn
/ flying tackle IS a means 70 this end. an
70 has been suggested that some sort =
fair catch provision De made for tn
I / receiver
i The idea which would affect the lat
! II est zone OF the defense has been stat q
! as follows Limit the width OF the de
| fensr, including rush line and backfield
| either arbitrarily 10 FIVE yards on eth