The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-01
FOOTBALL IN THE MAKING
COMING SEASON WILL. DEVELOP
UNDER NEW RULES
(By Walter Camp

tBy waiter camp
In viewing the prospects OF football |
for the season of 1911 it is well to run
briefly over the work OF the fall Of
1910 and consider not only the indi-
cations therein put forward In the way
of individual development but also the
outlines of team play and strategy
that were foreshadowed by the at
tempts of coaches and captains to de-
wise gronnd-gaining plays under the
very strict limitations Of the changed
rules.
First, the excelsior of pushing and
pulling rendered the problems of the
attack more complicated At the same
time It placed a greater premium upon
Individual performance in the back
field 1t was commended, and rightly,
that some OF the best team play OF the
past consisted in the aid thus render
ed the runner, not only in getting him
through the line. but in aiding him
after he had passed the bulwark of
the defense.
To a good old-time player nothing
was prettier than the gathering of men
about the runner, Selling him, hold
ing him upon his feet and by united
work moving that mass steadily on
ward for sometimes many yards be-
fore the play could be broken up by
the defense. II is no wonder that with
the eliminationsof this the team play of
1910 seemed crude, and II will be a
season or two yet before the new
form Of team play can reach any per-
lection that will really satisfy the old
er player for the loss of this type OF
united effort.
As far as individual work is con-
cerned the abolition OF the flying tack
lie hurt temporarily the spectacular
work OF brilliant ends, but for the
most part the players Of this position
learned to get nearer the runner be-
fore attempting TO tackle, and thus
slowing up. they We're less likely to
oyerrun their man or to miss him. II
was hard to learn, and for the man
who was really a brilliant flying tack
Ter II seemed like changing from a
very skilful method to one much more
crude. But still, for all that, there
we're very few instances toward the
latter part OF the season where the
ends We're rendered very much less
effective by the new ruling.
The onside kick. under the new rul-
ing that II must go 20 yards. mas been
rendered much less effective as a
standard policy. Il is doubtful If any
amount OF work put upon this play
under the present rules will succeed
in-making it anything like as danger
Gus 10 the defense as we're well-exe-
euied kicks under the rnling. Further
more, this 20 yard zone and the ne
eessity OF keeping the forward pass
within those limits cut out some OF the
best Of the complicated movements
where the pass was delayed and then
sent for long distance up the field.
The successful forward passes OF
1910 were those which took as great
distance as was safe on this 20 yard
zone, rather than the quick tossing.
which some haf hoped would come
into the game. Whether this quick,
short pass will develop 10 be very
dangerous IS a question which the sea-
son of 1911 mUst answer.
Most OF the shift plays. both of last
year and the earlier ones. depend upon
this very slight but very quick de-
ception practiced upon the defense,
and with the premium SO greatly ill.,
creased by the very fact that plays Of
the old fashioned form are 10 longer
useful IL Is probable that We shall see
greater development along this line
than has ever taken place before in 4
single season For this reason. Tho
work OF teams Iii adding forward
passes TO deceptive line attack VIII b.
watched with practical interest.
Yale won the Princeton game last
year and Michigan won her Mime
sofa game by the nse Of the forward
pass. and such examples must SPUR
Oh other teams 10 the development III
that kind Of play. Many team. has.
however. found the forward PASS
boomerang. and plenty OF teams have
seen what looked 70 be the starting of
good play on thci. part turn into
long run for the opponents through
the interrogation 81 tho bungling 81
some such maneuyers. The masuring
Of penalties on the forward pass from
the point OF the preceding down will
lend encouragement to this kind Of
play. and probably the fact thar the
pass must be actually caught this
year not fumbled and scrambled TOR
will make Il 4 clcaner.cnt propo-
sIiion,
The rule that provided man receiy.
ing forward pass could not be tack.
led until he had gone two steps prov
ed, rs was expected b. many. ID absD-
lutte dead letter.
There are nc other very serious
changes In the rules. The poiiu OF
intermission between the first and
second and third aud fourth quarters
has beeu shortened from three min.