Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-27
Sweeping Changes Effected
in Inter Collegiate Football

defense in breaking up interference
becomes much easier.
The sixth change prescrihes that an
on-side kick must advance the bal
twenty yards from the line Of scrim'
mage. That is, IL the ball strikes th'
ground short Of the twenty line the
offepse becomes off-side. This rule
is also aimed at mass plays. one
reason for massed plays under the old
rules lay in the fact that tackles were
unprotected because the secondary
offense was drawn back to meet for
ward passes and on-side kicks. 1t is
felt that under a twenty-yard require
ment the secondary offense can come
up sufficiently to protect h tackles
with reasonable safety.
Having made these six changes to
throw safeguards around the game, the
committee took up Il discussion of
two plans for directing the style of
playing and strengthening the offense
sufficiently to balance the new oppor-
~tunities for defense.
The first change adopted was the
removal of the present restriction that
"a runner receiving the ball directly
from the s%nap-back must run five
yards TO one side. This, in the opin-
ion of the committee, Will give the
quarterback much larger opportunt-
ties to make good runs; will offer an
opportunity for quicker plays and will
create a need for the exercise of more
strategy.
The second change provides that
seven men be kept by the offense ON
the line of scrimmage. This will pre-
vent the drawing back of line men
for offensive plays and is a direct
blow at mass plays.
The third change is the prohibition
Of the diving tackle. The flying tackle
has been the cause of many injuries
and the committee was agreed that II
must go.
The fourth change consists in the
division of each half into two periods
Of fifteen minutes each, so that the
game hereafter will consist Of four
fifteen-minute quarters. The inter-
mission between the first and second
and the third and fourth quarters
probably VIII be shorter than that be-
tween the second and third n
change is made so that there may be
better opportunity to determine h
physical condition Of players.
Another clause under this fourth
division directs that q player com
PEELED to leave the game, max return
during a subsequent quarter, If he re-
covers sufficiently. With this opporf
tunity of returning to the field, it IS
felt that players will not tax their
strength as under the old system OF
barring a player entirely once he IS
off the field. In connection with this
change Mr.. Han said, it will be nee
essary to prevent abuse of this rule.
such as, for example, the possible
withdrawal Of an entire team in Favor
Of fresh men, the Withdrawn to have
the power Of returning. In any
event no player Will be allowed 70
return more than once.
The fifth change provides that no
pushing or pulling Of the runner
with the BAH is to be allowed. the
same limitations as are now imposed
on the use of hands on IN opponent
will apply to the use of hands on q
team mate. This is the committees
chief plan of breaking up mass plays.
In 1llilN LlilS iiit SoAlNt VI iiiJhTAltN
70 PLAYERS the committee found that
the diving tackles and the repetition
of massed attacks at n point were
the chief causes Of harm. The danger
from massed play lies In the combina-
ton of its speed. solodity and persist
encc. The impact of three or four
men, locked together into n COM
pact body when hurled time after
time against the same opponent, re-
suited in the exhaustion of the man
so attacked and frequently in his seri-
Gus injury.
The problem before the committee
to eliminate, SO far as possible,
the dangers which have attended the
game. while preserving its fascina-
ton as a spectacle and its discip-
linarv and educative elements.
1t was felt hat the next season
would be crucial. Either injuries must
be fewer or there would be seriou'
Of a widespread movement to
abolish football.
The steps decided upon to effect re-
forms win result in weakening the
power of the offense so materially
that it was necessary to devise means
To OilStA the AtAlbiItu HtltASAh " 80
defense. In this purpose two genera
plans are under consideration.
In the interval before the next
meeting Of the committee in Philadel-
phia on April 90, experiments win be
carried on by each member Of the
committee at his college and on
result of these experiments will
depend the plan which shall prevail.
Briefly stated. the changes so far
adopted will result in the elimination
to "A large extent OF mass plays and
the substitution Of open plays.
At the beginning of the second and
teams are to change goals, the
being put in play at the same
relative position in which it was at
the beginning of the preceding quar-
AIany other points were discussed.
such as whether the kickoff shall be
and whether goal shall be
kicked after touchdowns have been
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