The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-03
VETERAN PLAY Err S
LIKE REVISE .
FOOTBALL CODE
Eckersall Analyses Effect of the New
Forward Pass Rule and Be-
lieves It Will Prove Very
Beneficial
One Trustworthy Result Will Be the
Elimination of the Fluke Plays
So Frequent in 1909,
ey WALTER II. EcKERsALL

The action OF the intercollegiate
football rules committee in adopting
the rules OF limiting the forward pass
back OF the line of scrimmage and re.
ducing the number of yards 10 be gain
ed In three downs from 10 70 s, Is
move In the right direction for the
preservation OF the great college sport.
The change of limiting the forward
pass is a good one. although II did not
meet with the approval OF all mem
bers of the rules committee and II is
a certainty that all the coaches Will
not be in sympathy with the move.
The alteration Is a result OF com
promise between two factions OF the
committee, one OF which wanted the
forward pass abolished entirely, while
the other wanted the play to remain.
II is almost certainty that forward
passes Will not be much in evidence
this fall. for II is hard 10 conceive OF
making much ground with the play
when the ball can only be passed for
ward, back OF the line OF scrimmage
Instead Of the long throw, which has
characterized the play since its adop-
ton, most of the coaches will use
short or hand 20 hand passes. Plays
will be evolved OF the split interfer-
ence variety. and In this sort of at.
tack the forward pass Will be used TO
the best advantage.
Return to Old Game.
The restriction placed upon the pass
and the reduction OF the distance TO
be gained In three attempts are
changes which will gladden. the hearts
Of the old-time football warriors, for
the alterations will make the game
more like the one which was played
before the rules were changed SO radi
cally In the winter OF 1905-'06 Prac-
tically the only difference which will
be noticeable at once will be the lack
or aid 70 the payer carrying the ball
At its meeting in New York in March
the rules committee passed a rule
that the runner Is not to be pulled or
pushed in his attempts TO gain ground
With the exception of the heavy. CON
centrated attacks on one spot, the
game will be more like the one plaved
six years ago.
In reducing the distance TO be
gained the committee made rule
which Will encourage the old style at
tack OF drives on and off the tackles
and the use OF end runs. This change
VIII allow teams 10 try TO gain ground
without danger OF losing the ball on
any or their attempts unless they fail
10 make the required distance. There
Will be no more OF the chance ele-
ment with the forward pass and the
monotonous feature OF penalizing for
incompleted passes. thing which has
become boresome 10 the average spec
tator
Instead of spending days in perfect.
ing forward pass plays. which nine
times out Of ten have not worked sue.
cessfully In games. coaches can now
turn their attention to evolving PLAYS
In which there will be no danger of
losing the ball. and which IL properly
perfected, should be sure ground gain
ers.
Games Decided On Merits.
The new rules are sure to have a
great effect on the game as II has
been played In the last six years. The
style OF attack TO be used In the
future will resemble the old game.
and there Will be none of the fiukes
which have made many of the games
played under the new regime end SO
unfavorably. Games will now be won
or lost on the merits OF the competing
teams and the style of football
should prove TO be more interesting
to the spectators and players.
The other rules which were adopted
seem TO be good ones and should go
long way in eliminating the danger.
Gus features OF the game. II they are
followed by all the colleges, Il is a
rOrt QintV TINT tho h. .sf
and injuries will be fewer than in past