The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-29

them to arbitrary conditions as rep
resented by certain distance to be
made within the goal line? ms
Ia the gnat that Is in the ointment
and over which all present s@-
gestions are straining their utmost
powers.
Changes TO Simplify.
The changes herewith submitted
will simplify: debrutalize and spectacu-
lari2e. They Will economic time.
make the game absolutely Just and
incidentally eliminate otlcial super
nuneraries, unnecessary chalk lines.
questions of Interpretation and a null
titude OF don't rules.
j. The natural distance to be gained
is lie yards, and Is marked by the
goal line. Abolish the rule requiring
a certain distance to be gained Ia
any number of downs and substitute
five or six downs, to be allowed alter
nately to each team until score has
been made. This will give ca oh team
one half OF the playing time for the
expression Of offensive strength.
Q. Remove all restrictions how I'm
posed upon the three arms of the posi-
tive service. the rush. the kick and
the pass, such as Ave and twenty yard
zones, and only one pass in each
scrimmage. etc. Maintain the rule
leaving seven men on the line OF
scrimmage and six players eligible
TO receive and make the pass rs for
n1erly. Abolish the onside kick and
permit OF body checking anywhere in
the field OF play which is not dan
gerous to life and limb and ia hon.
estly designed to further the interests
of or check the actual play
3. The teams should exchange goals
a. snr Crf1 nd of
quarter. Unless a score is made, the
ball should not be kicked off between
halves or before score is made, but
should be placed In the relative posi-
tion at the other end OF the field With
the number of downs etc. to remain
the same. In case of failure at try
at goal from the field or a touchback.
the ball should be brought back to the
last line of scrimmage. with posses
sion passing to the opponents.
Fair For Both Teams.
With such system OF play, each
team will get one-half of the playing
time and every inch 1t has gained at
any time over the sixty minutes OF
play. Weather conditions will be
equalized. the three arms OF the CT
tense will be made applicable under
all conditions over the entire playing
field and expressed In full, free and
unrestricted effort. This will make
the game simple, natural. just and
free from dangers.
The fact that the player with the
ball Will have the right to pass. kicN
or run In any part Of the field will
cast doubt inso the minds OF the de-
fensive team as to his purpose. and
naturally eliminate the deadly tackle
and body check, since they will prove
unsc!entffic and fruitless. Two off,
cials-the referee. who should have
jurisdiction over the ball and time.
and the umpire, who should have
Jurisdiction over the players-are all
that are necessary.
The only way the continuity OF Ave
downs. or any number OF downs that
the rule makers determine upon. can
be broken Is by a tumble, the incorn-
pletfon. tumble or interception OF the
forward pass or by voluntarily kick
ing the ball before the fifth down.
The penalty for the failure OF tho
forward pass should be possession 10
the opponents
The only mark withn the field q,
pidy would be 70 designate the CEN
ire This Will make the game al
strong as the rock Of Gibraltar and
Tree from further attack Of would T,a
reiormers. Such rules will absolutely
determine under free conditions ina
point al issue-the Question OF per-
sonal equation.
Unnatural RESTRICTIONS
me impossibility OF determining a
JUST distance-say. ten. eight Or Ave
yaras-to be gained on any number
OF downs IL clearly recognized when
you attempt to ascertain on what
grounds to base calculations The
number Of unnatural restrictions that
have been imposed in order to dis
cover the impossible and the contin-
uai changes and piecemeal legisla-
ton that have been enacted through
out the history Of football should
prove capable evidence that this
ruling has been based on ono Of the
fundamental misconceptions Of the
rule makers What Is the weight