New-York tribune., 1911-12-05
TIMELY BITS OF SPORT
Glenn Warner in Favor of Some
Changes in Football Rules.
LIMIT THE FORWARD PASS
Coach of the Indians Would Con-
fine the Play Back of the
Scrimmage Line.

Glenn s Warner. football coach Of the
Carlisle Indians is out with more sugges-
'ions for changes in the rules which will
more nearly equalize the attack with the
defence. Among other things he declares
IN favor of limiting the forward pass be-
hind the line Of scrimmage. first suggested
IN The Tribune year and a half ago, as
one way to solve the vexed problem.
Mr. Warner is a close student Of the
game. and any recommendations ne makes
ere bound to carry weight. Many give him
credit for devising the shifts" which have
become so popular in offensive formations
and he has worked out and developed many
clever plays The Carlisle Indians. under
his direction, won nine ont Of ten games
played this year. beating. among others.
Pennsylvania, Harvard and Brown. They
also scored more points than any other
team. the total reaching 29S to > for op-
ponents. Brown stood second on the list
with 1S points
AR. Warncr may be called a progressive
when it comes to the question Of the rules
CusSing the code he says:
The only rules that need rev ision are
those governing the forward pass and the
on-side kick. 1t has been demonstrated
that practically the only good thing
about these plays is that they scatter the
secondary defence and make IL easier for
the team having the ball to gain ground
by regular running play. The objection
10 the rules governing these plays are that
they make It necessary TO have so-called
b-yard and 20-yard zones, which cause a
lot Of trouble. dissatisfaction and contrO-
Versy upon the part Of both officials and
players The forward pass IS so restricted
by techncalities that the play results in a
penalty more often than it succeeds. while
the on-side kick rules out a premium upon
kicks which hit the ground before being
touched by either side. thus making a de-
oidedly unscienuhc happy-go-lucky play
which should have no place in football.
In my opinion the game could be sim
pli1ed snd benefited and the same objects
accomplished as the forward pass and on
side kick are designed to bring about if the
players Of the side kicking the ball have
The right 10 secure IL on the fly provided
they can get 20 II before a defensive player
can do so. Give the defensive players first
right to catch the ball. provided one OF
them can get under the punt and makes
signal for a fair catch. Let the punt be
made from anywhere behind the line. and
have restrictions upon how far II shall be
kicked. Limit the forward pass TO those
which do not cross the line Of scrimmage
and have no other restrictions upon il.
These changes would eliminate the five
and twenty ward zones. would make every
play a complete play, would cause the sec
o.dary defence 10 scatter perhaps even
more than under tho present rules would
pat a premium upon accurate puntng,
would eliminate the basketball feature OF
the present game. would make the on-side
Kick pretty play. and, most important Of
all would greatly simplify the rules.
An these desirable results would be aC-
complished without increasing the danger
of injuries II any change is necessary TO
make the offensive more effective this
would be accomplished by allowing one
nan 10 assist the man carrying the ball
100 order TO eliminate so-called flukes
and make il more certain that tho best
team wins. which 7 believe is a desirable
object 20 be attained this result could he
accomplished by preventing the defensive
side from running with the ball after Sc
.ming it upon tumble by the other side
or after securing It upon a blocked kick
which is covered behind the line Of scrim-
mage