The Washington times., 1911-02-04
FEW CHANGES MADE
IN FOOTBALL RULES
Forward Pass Receives Most
Attention From the
Committee.

NE" 1Oflhp rSD T."
cally amounts to a 'stand-pat' policy
was the result Of the annual meeting
of the football rules committee at the
Cumberland Hotel. The committee felt
that the changes made last year had ac
complished the purpose sought in that
serious injuries had been eliminated al
most completely. They were satisfied
that the ruling against pushing and
pulling had made the game reasonably
safe
E. X. Hall, OF Dartmouth, the chair
man, stated that il seemed to the MEM
bers very unwise to do any tinkering
with a game that worked pretty well
last season in its first try-out, and that
it would be best to wait until further
experience made it reasonably certain
further changes were necessary, and
what they should be.
There were many suggestions, Mr..
Hall said, in regard to changes in the
rules that governed play in the 20-yard
zone on onside kicks, but the committee
felt that it was worth another trial.
The changes that were voted for were
of a rather minor nature 1t was de-
Cided to reduce the intermission between
the first and second and third and
fourth periods to two minutes from
three minutes. This settles the question
of whether or not a return would be
made to the old style of playing two
halves instead of four quarters.
Forward Pass Little Changed.
The forward pass was let pretty much
alone. In order to establish a more
definite point from which to infiict
Il.
was wanted to apply them from the
spot of the down and not from the spot
whence the pass was made No change
was made in the, rules requiring a
player making a forward pass to be. at
least five yards behind the line of
scrimmage and none IN the present rule
which forbids interference with the
players of the offensive side on a for
ward pass or onside kick until they
have advanced twenty yards behind the
scrimmage line. It was also decided
to leave the twenty yards restriction on
the advanced flight of the forward pass. |
An amendment was made to rule IS, |
section 2, to strike out the words land |
taken more than one step in any di- |
rection." This means that the recipient |
OF a forward pass may be tackled as !
soon as he has the ball in his posses !
sion. The committee felt that the rule
as it stood could not be enforced. There |
was lot Of discussion and many sug-
gestions toward Strengthening the Of /
fensive play within the twenty five-yard |
limit. Some wanted more downs in |
which to gain the necessary ten yards, !
others shorter distance to be gained. |
The committee, however, voted to
stand pat" on this problem, too.
Side Play Agreements.
Other matters voted on by the com.
mittee were: To permit teams by agree
ment to transfer the supervision of off,
side plays upon the line of scrimmage |
from the umpire to the head nnesman,
the latter, however, to report infractions
to the umpire. That the throwing TO |
the ground of player carrying the ball |
after the referee has declared the bali |
dead may be unnecessary roughness.
That rule Is, section 4, be amended so
that only three instead of five men be
allowed to walk up and down the side
lines. That rule 6, section II, be amend
an official 1t shall not be considered dead,
but play shall continue. To transfer
the duty of keeping time from the field
judge to the umpire. To make no
c1dHSe IN Ine present rule requiring
kick other than a kick off, kick out or
free kick to be made from a point five
yards behind the scrimmage line.
When Pass Is Incomplete.
1t was decided that II the bail, after
having been legally passed forward and
having legally touched, shall then be
fumbled and touched the ground, the
pass shall be considered as incomplete.
The objecI Of this rule is to stop high
passes and make a clean play.
A foul following first or second down
committed on or behind the goal line
by a player of the side in possession OF
the ball, while the ball is behind the
goal line or in fight from a pass or
Kick delivered behind the goal line.
shall be penalized by the loss Of a down
and the ball shall be put in play for
the ensuing down on the one-yard line.
II such foul follows third down the
referee shall declare a touchdown in
favor of the offended side.
Bender Ready for Work.