Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-26
TRYING TO IMPROVE
THE FOOT BALL RULES
Prominent Gridiron Coaches
Agree on Plays That Will
Protect Players.

Safer foot ball and a reform in the pres
ent playing rules was the subject of a
long discussion by the coaches Of the
high school and several of the prepare
tory school foot ball teams last night at
the National Press CLUB. -.--. .-.-
In the course OF the conference the fol-
lowing changes in the rules were sug-
gested:
Every player must pass a physical ex-
animation before allowed to take part in
game.
Divide the game into three periods, with
two intermissions OF ten minutes each.
The length Of intermission may be
changed by mutual agreement.
No player on any team having the bail
shall use his hands to assist the runner
The offensive team shall have seven
men known as linesmen on the line OF
scrimmage at the moment the ball is put
| IN play.
The forward pass is restricted so that
the ball cannot pass over the line OF
Scrimmage.
Crawling with the ball after a player is
doWned is judged as fragrant offense, and
any violation shall be penalized by loss
OF fifteen yards
lacking around the neck or above the
shoulders will not be allowed. Viola
eioiis Call LIZ d Ol Hllcen y0rQS.
For the onside kick no man on the Of
| fensive side, with the exception Of those
behind the kicker. shall be allowed to re-
cover the ball until the bal has been
touched by player on the opposing side.
Although 1t was not decided to adopt
these changes as yet, the. teams OF the
Technical High School and National Ca
thedral School Will give them practical
| test Saturday morning on the Washing
ton School for Boys field, in Tenley-
town.
1t is the purpose of the coaches to work
out the proposed changes without any
scrimmage. The players viii be moved
about like puppets and there will be no
tackling.
The most important change is the elimi-
nation of the forward pass. There was
considerable argument regarding that
play. 1. was finally agreed to restrict
the forward pass to behind the line OF
scrfmmage. banishtng> entirely the long
spectacular fling permissible under the
rules during the past three years.
The onsfde kick was also discussed.
which resulted in the fule being changed
SO that none of the linesmen on the
kick until it has been touched by q
player of the opposing side. The men
behind the kicker (those onside) may
recover the ball on the fly, the same as
These two changes will do away with
much unnecessary roughness. For in
stance, the. only logical way to break ul
the forward pass has been for an oppos-
ing player to smash full tilt into the man
reaching M to catch the ball, so that
the ball will hit the ground and be
brought back for the ffteen-yard penalty.
Many players have been badly hurt by
these violent collisions.
In the case of the onside kick, the
change will do away with that mad
scramble for the ball where accidents
are always liable to happen.
By dividing the game into thirds is
regarded as a good change. it gives
the players more time to recnperate.
The coaches believe that the strictest
possible penalties should be ttached 10
crawling with the ball, after a player
had been downed, or for tackling above
the shoulders
Another move toward eliminating mass
plays was that ordering seven men in
the line of scrmmage. where heretofore
six have been all that was required.
The rule adopted prohibiting the use
of hands by any player on the side rf
the team having the ball will do away
with hiking half or full back through
the lines.
Those present at the conference last
night included C. f. Hecox of Technical
High School, Tom Kirby of Central High
School. Clifton Bryd Of Western High
School. George F. Green of National
Cathedral School and William Peet OF
Business High School.