Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-29
ATHLETIC HEADS
TALK OF REFORM
Removing Limit on Forward
Pass Sought by National
Organization.
SUMMER BALL COMES UP
Promotion of Soccer and Eliminate, n
of PRO Coaches Other Topics
Discussed.

New York, Dec. 2s.-A change in
football rules to allow freer use of
the forward pass, the promotion of
soccer football, the elimination of
the professional coach in college
sports, the doing away with gate re-
ceipts, and the recognition of sum-
mer baseball playing as legitimate
were some of the questions discuss
ed before 100 delegates to the sixth
annual meeting of the National Col
legiate Athletic association here
yesterday.
That the present football rules on
the whole are satisfactory and ought
to be disturbed as little as possible
was the gist of the report made by
the chairman of the rules commit
tee, DR.. H. l.. Williams, of the Uni
versity of Minnesota. The rules
we're criticised by him as giving too
much advantage on wet days to an
inferior team, which on a muddy
field, he said could nullify the most
brilliant attack.
REMOVE LIMIT ON FORWARD PASS.
In regard to the forward pass, DR..
Williams said:
There is no question that under
the present rules the development
and skillful execution of the for
ward pass is one of the most i'm
portant factors of an efficient at
tack. If the restriction of 20 yards
beyond the line of scrimmage were
removed and no limit as to the dis
tance put on the throw, simply pro-
viding that the man making the
catch should get the ball before it
strikes the ground, 1 believe the
rules could be improved and
strengthened"
Sentiment in favor of soccer foot
ball was crystallized by the appoint
ment of a committee headed by Dr.
James A Rabbit of Haverford col
lege, to form an association to pro-
mote the game.
The discussion of summer baseball
brought out varying opinions as tc
whether the amateur law should and
could be strictly enforced.
Captain Palmer E. Pierce, presi
dent of the association, predicted
that summer baseball playing by
college men for pay had come tc
; stay.
DISCUSS BASEBALL QUESTION.
1.-The question is, shall it be per
mitted and be considered as not af
fecting the players amateur stand
ing" he said, cor shall it be per
mitted openly, but effective steps BIZ
taken to prevent the player from
representing his college in intercol
> legiate contests
The view that strict application o
the amateur law to summer baseball
could not be enforced was warml!
supported by other speakers.
Only minor changes were sug
gested by the committee on basket
, ball and track rules. The presen
committee in the various branches
OF sports was reelected with som'
additions and the football rule
: committee was requested to repor
and publish its rules in the sprini
, instead of in the fall to promote tn
= open game, and to formulate a plal
] for reducing as far as possible tn
number of officials.
A redistricting plan by states wa
: adopted and these officers wer
elected: Captain Palmer e. Pierce
president; H. w. tombstone of tn
, University of Indiana, vice presi
dent; Professor F. w. Nicolson, sec
!. retary-treasurer.
BY unanimous voice the associa
r ton decided to seek affiliation wit
! the intercollegiate Association O
I Amateur Athletes of America an
I the Intercollegiate Gymnasts @
America.