Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-07
REVISE FOOT BALL RULES
intercollegiate Committee Considers
Number Of Radical Changes.
DUE TO TACKLNG
Games Between Teams from HiRH
schools and Colleges 20 he Dis
cournEed--MedIcaI Exam
inRtion of Players.

| NEW YORK Feb. "a radical revision
Of foot ball is under advisemeut by the
Intercollegiate rules committee in charge
Greater safety for the player and mo, e
variety for the spectator are felt 20 be
essential IL the game is TO be permitted
to live by public opinion.
The rules committee adjourned last night
until March 20, after appointing sub
COMMITTEES to consider three plans Of re-
organization.
The subcommittee Is composed OF A. A
Stagg. University of Chicago; Dr. w. L.
Dudley, Vanderbilt university. Nashville,
Tenn, and o. w. Savage, Oberlin, o.
When the rules committee reconvenes It
will pass formally on the recommendation
decided upon in the meantime by the sub
committee.
In the main the committee now feels
that injuries to players are largely due
not so much to masse plays as to savage
tackles.
No More Diving 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 the shoulders or ENDS racing
down the field after the ball be abolished
and that the back who receives a punt be
protected, on the other hand, from un-
necessary violence by the ends.
Uner one Of the three plans suggested
playing halves would be shortened from
thirty-fve to thirty minutes, with fifteen
minutes intermission between. and these
halves themselves split again into four
periods of fifteen minutes play with in
termission Of five minutes. It is ques-
tlon in the opinion Of the committee IL it
would not be wise to abolish foot ball be-
tween high schools, or at least between
high schools and colleges. where the play
ers are more mature In physique.
Three Plans Suggested.
The three plans upon which the sub-com-
mlttee will report provide in substance for
the following changes of alignment and
play:
First plan:
l. Seven men on the scrimmage line.
2 No pushing or pulling of the man with
the ball.
8 Prohibition Of diving tackles.
T. Ends going down the field not to be
body checked.
g. Players going down the field under a
punt not to approach nearer than five yards
to catcher or punter until he has touched
the ball and not to tackle him or charge
forward unless he starts to run with the
ball
6. Eliminate on-side kicks
Z First man receiving the ball to be al
lowed to carry 1t anywhere.
s. Forward pass 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
l. Divide the halves as already specified,
play to be resumed by the side in possess
sion Of the ball when the preceding period
closed.
q Seven men on the line Of offense and
three OF the backs to be at least four yards
in the rear of the nne (This would elimin-
ate the tandem play perfected by Harvard.)
g. Forward pass to be made and caught
only by players standing behind the line
when the ball is put into play.
T. In offensive plays between the two
twenty-five-yard lines the team with the
ball must advance 1t ten yards Ia four con-
secutive downs or forfeit possession (on
this article the committee states itself open
to further advice.)
Third plan:
/. Seven men on the line of scrimmage,
with the back field of offense limited to
four men, center rush always in the center
and no interchange of players permitted.
2 Eliminate neutral zone and on side kick
g. No runner with the ball to receive any
help until he has reached the line Of scrim-
mage CThis would reduce the weight of
the attack)
4. Distance to be gained, seven yards in
four downs.