Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-02-06
RADICAL CHANGES
|FOR FO01bALLERS
ELIMINATE DANGER AND MAKE
GAME MORE INTERESTING
FOR SPECTATORS.
Three Plans Are Offered for consid-
GRAFTON Of the Committee - Fly.
ing Tackle and Mass Plays Brought
to the Attention Of the INFLAMMATION
Committee"

New York, Feb. 5.-Radical revision
| Of football is under Amusement by
| the intercollegiate rules committee
| in charge. Greater safety for the
player and more variety for the spec
tatOr are felt to be essential if the
game is to be permitted to live by
public opinion.
The rules committee adjourned to-
night until March 25. after appoint
ing a subcommittee to consider their
plans for reorganization.
The subcommittee is to comprise of
A. A. Stage, University of Chicago;
DR.. w. l.. Dudley, Vanderbilt univer-
sity. Nashville, Tenn, and o. w. Saw
age. Oberlin. o.
When the rules committee con-
venes it will pass formally on the rec
concentrations decided upon in the
meantime by the subcommittee.
I'm the main the committee now
feels that injuries to players are
largely due not so much to mass play
ing as to savage tackles.
Accordingly, it is recommended that
there be no more diving tackles; that
a rigid physical examination of all
candidates be insisted upon with
medical supervision of all players
throughout the season; that (buffeting
with shoulders of ends, racing down
the field after the ball be abandoned,
and that the back. who receives a
punt. be protested, on the other hand.
from unnecessary violence from ends.
Under one of the three plans sug-
gested, playing halves would be short
ened by thirty five or forty minutes,
with fifteen minutes intermission be-
tween and these halves themselves
split again into four periods Of fifteen
minutes play, with intermissions of
five minutes.
1t Is question in the opinion of
the committee if it would not be wise
to abolish football between high
schools, or at least between high
schools and colleges. where players
are more mature in physical condition.
These plans which the sub-com-
mittee will report. provide in SUB.
stance for the following changes of
alignment and play:
First plan-1. Seven men on the
scrimmage line. 2. Pushing or pull
ing Of the men with the ball. g.
Prohibition of diving tackles 4. Ends
going down the field not to be body
checked. 5. Players going down the
field under punt not to approach
nearer than five yards to catcher or
punter until he has touched the ball,
and then to tackle him or charge
forward. unless he starts to run with
the ball. 6. Eliminate outside
kick. Z. First man receiving the
ball to be allowed to carry it any
where. 8. Forward passes allowed
over any part of the line to men on
ends of the line or behind the line
when the ball is put in play.
Second plan-1. Divide the halves
as already specified. play to be re-
sumed by the side in possession of
the ball when the preceding period
closed. ,. Seven men on the line of
onense and three of the backs to
be at least four yards in the rear of
the line. (This would eliminate the
tandem play perfected by Harvard.
5. Forward pass to be made and
caught only by players standing be-
mind the line when the ball is put in
play. 4. In offensive plays between
the two 25-yard lines the team with
the ball must advance it ten yards
IN consecutive downs or forfeit pos
session. On this article the. commit
tee states itself open to further adj
vice.
Third plan-1. Seven men on the
line of scrimmage, with the back field
OF ofense limited to four men, CEN
ter rush always in the center and no
interchange Of players permitted, 2.
Eliminate neutral zone and outside
kick. 3. No runner with the ball to
receive any help until he has reached
the line of scrimmage. This would
reduce the weight of the attack. 4.
Distance to be gained. seven Yards
in four downs.