The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1911-10-06


changes which have been made in tn
rules of the game for this year.
Much dissatisfaction was espresso
from time to time last year regard
ing the football code. There wer
certain points which did not appea
to work out we'll
Naturally, the same opposition whicl
had been manifest against the old fash
Toned game and the opposition of an
other faction which never has been re
conciled to the forward pass, would
not be silent if the game did not work
out to their satisfaction.
The provisions for defence, which
were incorporated into the rules, ii
was alleged, were too powerful for any
plan of attack which might be formed
The game had been worked too far
into negative problem. Two teams
might play, and one team, perhaps,
be superior to the other in everything
except ability to make drop kicks.
The former team would lose all ad-
vantage which it might gain by the
ability of the weaker team to lift goals
every now and then from the field
Furthermore, two teams which were
well matched to pay might never
bring the game to a conclusion, since
neither team might be able to score,
despite the fact that one of the two,
on general form, might appear to be
better than the other.
Changes We're Few.
In spite of all this, the changes in
the rules were very few and quite con-
servative. After much discussion it
was agreed that perhaps it would be
better to give latitude to the rules in |
general to run for another year, trust
ing that players throughout the coun-
try would be better accustomed to
them, and that the coaches might
had in the past
1t was affirmed that annual rule
changes never would bring the game to
anything, although it was suggested,
with perhaps equally sound reasoning,
that while the game was in the process
of being changed the changes might as
we'll continue until some satisfactory
basis had been agreed upon. The ques-
ton arose as to when satisfaction was
likely to be general.
The rules have practically been re-
written this year. This is something
which every player should note. They
ire simpler, more direct, and clearer
n language than they ever have been.
The benefit of this will apply large Z
y to the teams Of young players, +
where one of the hardest tasks which
las confronted them has been to un
erstand what the rules mean. Paren- IL
hetically, it may be added that there =
ave been some older players who .
we're not without their troubles in u
he same direction.
The principal changes in the rules y
re in reference to our old friend, the II
3rward pass, which has been in the ="
entire of football agitation for the y"
lst three years. ~
The first change which was made I'll
as in the rule regarding the penalty ~
IF an incompleted, or anillegal, for We
ard pass. The incompleted pass is ~
lat which hits the ground before be-
g touched by player of either side. u
he illegal pass is that which is made &c
thin less than five yards back OF the I'll
ne of scrimmage, or one which Is
st touched by player of the side Gu
possession of the ball who Is not Wy
igible to touch the ball. 90
As 1t was Last Year. lin
Last year penalties for faults of this cit
aracter were measured from the
OF on the playing field from where the
. ball had been passed, and the ball rec
Is returned to that point. The Of an
ial who was in charge of the for 7
I'D pass always had to mark the ter
1t from which the ball had been ono
rted in order that the penalty might has
enforced from the proper spot II TIL
pass were not allowable. arc
This year the new rule provides that bla
ball must be returned to the spot trot
m where it was originally put into 9th
Y after an illegal or incompleted O
IS. This will make it much easier wal
the officials and probably do away gan
h some wrangling on the field. All upo
all, it seems to be much more sat play
lctory than the first method OF also
orcing the penalty. 1t is not like inst
to curb the use of the pass, and "
le play is poorly performed all that refe
teams will be asked to do will be the
20 back to the line of scrimmage have
CHI they have just left. We
hen the forward pass was first put that
the game, and when the rule seen
ers began to perceive that it was Their
Useful that it could often take the SO.