The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-14
Football Rules Committee
Take Final Action.
GAME Is GREATLY MODIFIED
soIOns Complete Work OF Reforming
GrfdirOn Game-FOur Periods Are
Adopted and Protection Afforded
Players Eligible to Receive Long
FIinE-Ten Yards in Three Downs.

inc Hotel Cumberland In this city TO-
day. the intercollegiate football rule:
committee practically finished its work
OF overhauling the playing rules. and
next fall the game played will be greatly
changed from what It has been. The
meeting to-day was the fourth this win
ter and wording and codifying OF the
new rules is about all that remains 10
be done. except the actual try-out of the
revised rules, which will come next fall.
Inc Forward pass stays IN, and It isn't
restricted to behind the line Of scrim-
mage as several long-headed members
OF the rules committee hoped IL would be.
Inc complete list Of changes in the
playing rules. some adopted before to-
days meeting, is as follows:
The game shall consist OF four periods
OF fifteen minutes each. adopted pre-
viously.
Seven men on the line Of scrimmage.
Adopted previously.
Ten yards 70 be gained IN three downs
4hls was the rule as it had been. but II
wasn't decided until to-day that there
should be no change in the distance TO be
gained.
F1Ne-yard Rule Abolished.
Removal Of the Vineyard lateral restric-
ton on the first man receiving the ball
from the snapper back. Adopted pre-
viously
No pushing or pulling Of the runner
and no interlocking interference. Adopted
previously.
The on-side kick shall go at least
twenty yards beyond the line OF scrim-
mage. Adopted previously.
Now comes the final and Iong-deferred
action on the forward pass as decided
upon to-day. II was to this effect:
The forward pass may cross the line
OF scrimmage at any point. but the player
making the pass must be at least five
yards back Of the line when the pass Is
made and the player receiving the pass
shall not, when the catch is made. be
more than twenty yards in advance OF
the spot where the ball was put I'm play.
In short. the forward pass Is limited in
length and the long pass is no longer
permissible.
Only end men on the line Of scrimnage
and the four men in the backieId shall
be eligible 10 receive the forward pass.
and a back to be eligible must be one
yard back Of the scrimmage line when
the ball is put in play.
On first and second down. in case OF
an incompleted forward pass. the ball
shaH be brought back 20 the spot where
the pass was made, the play to count as
down and the point 70 he gained to re-
main the same. on third down the
ball 10 go 20 the opponents at the spot
where the pass was made.
Protection for Receiver.
A forward pass. which crosses the line
Of scrimmage, or kick Of anv descrjp-
ton must be from a point at least
yards back OF the scrimmage line. The
idea is that by developing the play early
as this rule IS calculated to do better
protection can be afforded for the man
taking the forward pass.
With the idea Of protecting the man
receiving the forward pass. which was
one Of the knottiest problems for the
committee TO solve, the following rules
were adopted:
a player on the Offense who has cross
ed the line Of scrimmage may not infer
fere with a defensive player on a kick
until the ball shall have gone % wards
nor on a forward pass until II shall have
been caught. except in an actual atternp+
70 catch the pass.
Players on the defense behind tho
scrimmage line may use the hands oDI,,
on opponents bodies in order n Get a.
the man with the ball until the bah shan
nave advanced past a line yards baol,
OF the scrimmage line. After the bau
has gone beyond that line, they may NAV
as heretofore.
Defensive players behind the u,o .,
scrimmaEe on the forward PASS shan
not in any way interfere with Opponents
except in an actual attempt to catch
the ball, nor shall such players in case
Of kick, IN any way interfere with their
opponents until opponents have gone %
yards beyond the line OF scrimmage.
To Avert Injuries.
When player IS actually In the act NJ
catching forward pass, no player while |
IN the act Of catching the forward pass
shall be tackled. thrown, pushed pulled !
shouldered. or straightforward until he /
snail have caught the ball and taken 1
more than one step in any direction. Pro- /
vioed that any such interference which /
Is incidental to a bona fide attempt 70 /
catch or intercept the pass shall not
come within this prohibition.
Vineyard penalty was provided for
any player carrying the ball who crawIs .
after the ball has been scaled dead. The
penalty for pushing or pulling or inter- |
locking interference viii probably be III.
same as for holding. a player removed |
from the game for an cause excent ais
qualincauon may return to the game at
once lie must return at the beginning