The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
FOOTBALL RULES
GIVEN A TRY-OUT
Summer Course for Coaches
Begun by DR.. Sargent.

While tie football world IS awaiting
the final codihcation Of the new rules
there are gathered at the Harvard sum
mer School Of Physical Education coach
es. athletic directors. gymnasium direc-
tors, and students. All these classes are
in the football work which
IS being done under the supervision Of
DIT. Sargent The course comprises men
from Harvard. Princeton. Dartmouth.
Wisconsin. University OF California, Am
herst, Wesleyan, Springfield Training
School. Bowdoin. Maine. University OF
Texas. University Of Vermont Ohio. Uni
versity Of Alabama, University Of North
Dakota, AIiddlebury. LawrencevnIe. Mar
cersburg. and various schools throughout
the country.
The greater part Of these men have had
experience in coaching. and. coming from
all sections Of the country, they make
the hour devoted to the theory and prac-
tice Of football each day a clearing house
for the Interpretation Of rules and the
possibilities Of the new game. Particular
attention is being placed on the noss!bli-
ties OF the new rules. For the coming,
fan coaches will have to consider the fol-
lowing new elements in respect 10 the
Offeuse:
First. that the player receiving the ball
from the snapperback may cross the line
Of scrimmage at any point as opposed to
the old rule Of the necessity o. running
five yards cut before crossing the scrim-
mage line This rule viii place a premi-
UNI On heavy Quarterbacks should they
assume the position behind the snapper
back Under the new rules the push and
pull game is dead. and the men 70 be
OF any efficiency must be ahead Of the
man with the bah, hence the necessity
Of weight as well as speed IN the quarter
back.
New OGSide Rule.
The second consideration with regard
TO the offense is the restriction placed
upon the offensive side in not being al
lowed TO touch a kicked ball within the
twenty-yard line. or within a space
twenty yards from the spot where the
ball was put in play. This ruling relates
only 10 men who were onside. and does
not include men who were ouside OF be-
hind the ball when it was kicked. The
object Of this rule is 10 prevent the
scramble and roughness possible under
the rule OF last year and 70 encourage
forward passing under the new rules.
This means that the only alternative OF
Q "a nFf hi
twenty-yard zone is that the men on the
onense must wait for an opponent to
touch the ball. or follow it up and watch
the opportunity 10 fan upon il after it
has passed the twenty-yard zone.
The third consideration relating TO the
Onense is without doubt the most i'm
portant innovation that has ever been
made IN football. that concerning the for
ward pass. which must be made at least
five yards back of the scrimmage line to
any Of the backfield men who are at least
one yard back from the scrimmage line
at the time the ball is snapped. or TO
either of the men on the ends Of the
line This rule does not prevent an end
from shifting and allowing the tackle TO
receive the ball
Loss of n Down.
A new ruling before the committee
this year in relation TO an incompleted
forward pass is that on first and second
down there is a loss of a down from the
spot where the bali was put in play. and
not from the spot from which the pass
was made. No distance penalty is added.
-
if an incompleted forward pass results
the ball goes 10 the opponents not on
the spot where the ballwas put In play.
but from which the pass was made. This
ruling with the allowance Of the for
ward pass over the line Of scrimmage.
provided the pass was made at least I'VE
yards back Of the scrimmage line, opens
up a rich field Of possibilities TO the
strategist.
One Of the most fertile suggestions
worked out is the directing OF the inter-
ference ahead Of the man with the ball
in one direction and the passing OF the
bail to an end or half back in the Oppo-
site. In the execution Of this forward
pass the spiral throw on a line the short
est distance between the passer and re-
ceiver has been found 10 be the most
The underhand pass and
the high throw have been found want
ing.
\ defensive problem the coach must
think out Is how 70 arrange his men to
meet a Hne-plunging game and at the
same time 70 meet a forward-passing
game and the outside kicks. One way
out Of the difficulty has been worked out
in the summer schools; instead Of having
one stationary defense, adopt a variable
system TO meet the circumstances Of the
attack
Another consideration in relation TO the
defense is now 70 handle the offensive
end on a punt. Under the old ruling an
end alone or an end and a half back
could beirass the opposing end as soon
as the bah was snapped. Under the new
legislation he cannot be toached in the
twenty-yard zone. There are three a.
ternatives open. The first Is to block
him before he crosses the scrimmage
line; the second is 70 let him go free
and follow until the twenty-yard zone Is
reached.
Under the new rules the dangers will
be lessened. but not necessarily eliminate
ed. The game viii be more speedy. and
the smaller colleges will have a better
chance to score than heretofore.