Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-02
BY II. C. BYRD.

Every player on a foot ball team should
have a thorough knowledge of the rules
One of the prime essentials for the de-
velopment of a winning eleven is that
each individual shall have every point
in the code so clearly understood that
whenever a doubtful ruling is made by
the referee he will be able to apply his
knowledge and correct it. There is
nothing that will so hinder the progress
of a team, both in practice and in reg
ularly scheduled games, as not knowing
the finer points which may come up at
any time and upon which depend the
result of the contest.
From the average spectators stand
point there may seem to be very little to
learn in the code. but nothing is farther
from being true. There is no code drafted
for any sport which affords the oppor-
tunity for study as does that which
governs foot ball. Many of the rulings
are so finely drawn that it takes time
and study to get the correct idea as to
what is really meant by their sponsors
For instance, it is questionable if the ma
jority of the players on the college teams
know to just what extent they are per-
mitted to use their hands and arms on
the defensive and offensive, there are few
players who know the penalties for the
different fouls or infrinsements on the
code. and there are many who do not
know everything which puts them on and
off side.
Referee Often Fails.
OF course. it is held by the player when
he is asked concerning the things he
doesn't know that the referee is in the
game for the sole purpose of administer
ing impartially the full justice of every
penalty. But ofttimes this is not done,
and it may be said in many cases re-
ferees fail TO give teams everything that
is coming to them. not because OF any
intentional unfairness but simply because
he overlooks the infringement. Referees,
like umpires, are prone to mistakes, but,
unlike umpires. they are subject to cor
rection by the captains of the contend
ing elevens.
A player to obtain the referees atten-
ton and courtesy in a game must show
himself to be master Of the code OF
of foot ball team approach referee
and start to argue the business
of ruling. and let that referee find that
the captain does not know the rules as he
should and is unable to talk inelligently
concerning their finer points, then that
will be the last time that that captain will
get a hearing from the referee on any
question that may arise in the game. be-
cause the arbiter will naturally think that
the player does not know what he is talk
ing about. Then on the other hand IL a
captain shows to a referee that he is as
fully conversant with the code as is the
referee himself, which he can easily do
provided he has given the right amount
of study and time to the rule book there
will not be a moment in the contest when
he will not be accorded a hearing on any
question which may arise wherein he
does not believe that he is getting what
is justly due his team.
And upon this very thing will depend
the result of many games. 1t Is possible
that the biggest contest Of the season
may be lost through lack of ability on
the part Of the players to realize some
technical point which has been decided
against them. Games have gone against
teams which had some player been quick
CROUCH to take up a certain point would
Technical Point Beat Navy.
Instances are recalled where games
have been won or lost through the in
ability of the players to solve the tech
nicalities of the rules. 1t will be recalled
especially that the game in which the
University of Virginia won from the Ma
val Academy in 1909 there was just such
point as Is here mentioned may come
up which gave the contest to Virginia by
a 5-to-O score. The case was this. The
Virginia eleven had worked the ball down
to the Nays 5-yard line, where the Sail
ors had made q determined stand and
had held the Virginia team until il was