The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-08-19
SPORTING NOTES
Radical Changes in 1910 Rules.

football loving public were put on
sale in the Twin Cities yesterday
morning. None of the books have
been received in Bemidji. as yet. but
the following article, written by
John McGovern, captain of the
1909 University football team. gives
the important changes.
1.-The first change to attract the
attention of the spectator is in the
playing field itself. The fve-yard
lines running parallel with the
side lines will no longer appear.
These marks which made the field
look like an immense checker
board, were drawn for the purpose
of determining the legality of for
ward passes and quarterback runs
Last year. passes to be legitimate
must not cross the scrimmage line
within five yards of the center.
The same was true OF quarterback
runs. This restriction has been
removed, so that now the ball may
be passed or carried by player,
on a direct pass from the center
rush, over any part of the scrim-
mage line. The lines are therefore
no longer necessary and hence
have been removed.
Substitutions Allowed.
Another change of Importance
aimed to lessen the Injuries is in re-
gard to the substitution of players.
Formerly a player once taken out of
contest was out for the day, as the
code forbade his further participa-
ton in the game. The rules as
changed allow player who has been
removed to be returned once at the
beginning of any period. In this
way players may be taken out when
exhausted and thus saved from posi-
bic injury. Coaches were loath to
take out a player regardless of how
badly he was tired, and for this
reason many players were injured
who may be saved under the new
system. The old rule in regard to
substituting one player for another
has not been changed.
Another material change wrought
for the same purpose is the division
of the game into four periods oil
play, each of fifteen minutes dura.
ton. There shall be three minutes
intermission between the first and
second and the third and fourth
periods of play, during which time
no player shall leave the field OF
play. Between the second and third
periods will be the customary ten
minutes intermission. Some OBJ
lection was voiced against the four.
period change because it was alleged
this would tend to slow up the
game.
Two minutes are often taken out
for injuries and the time not noticed.
The short intermissions are about
the same. and while they will afforc
much-needed rest to the players
will not spoil the game in any way.
No Pulling or Pushing.
One of the most radical changes i!
to the effect that no player o. thu
side in possession of the ball shall
use his arms, hands or body to push
pull or in any way assist the mar
with the ball. The object of thi!
change is to eliminate mass play,
which is responsible for a great
amount of the injuries. The effec
of this most sweeping alteration will
not be known until this style of at.
tack is tried.
AT the beginning of the secone
and fourth periods of play, the team
shall change goals, but. the posses
sion of the ball, its relative position
to the goal line, number of down
and yards to be gained remain tn,
the same. The team shall no
change goals after a try at goa
when touchdown has been made
but the side scored upon has tn,
option of kicking off or having thei
opponents do so.
The changes regarding the for
ward pass are radical, designed t,
eliminate the dangers of this play
The change to protect the playe
receiving the pass is to the effec
that no player of either side. Will,
! Al r - 3. +