The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-02
CAMP ON new
FOOTBALL RULES

Philadelphia, Sept I'm reviewing
the prospects of the various football
teams for the season of 1911. ii Is well
to run briefly over the work of the
rall OF 1910 and consider not only the
way of individual DEVELOPMENT. but
also the outlines of team play and
the attempts Of coaches and captains
to devise ground gaining plays under
the very strict limitations of the
changed rules.
First, the exclusion of nushtn0 and
pulling rendered the problems OF the
attack far more complicated. At the
same time, it placed a greater pre-
MUM upon Individual performance in
the back field. 1t was contended. and
rightly that some Of the best team
play of the past consisted in the aid
thus rendered the runner, not only in
getting him through the line but in
aiding him after he has passed that
bulwark OF defense
Minnesota, In the west, had the start
on these plays through having used
that character of attack previous to
the introduction Of the rules of 1910;
Brown, in the east. through having be-
gun very early in the season plays of
this character, acquired better per-
lection in the execution of them than
any Of the teams In her section. Be
fore the season was ended, however.
many Of the teams had turned to this
method and the play Of former years,
which lend themselves most readily TO
such alterations, were revamped and
brought in.
FLYING Tackle Gone.
AS far as Individual work is con-
cerned the abolition of the flying tackle |
hurt temporarily the spectacular work
OF brilliant ends, but for the most |
part the players Of this position learn |
ed TO get nearer the runner before at |
tempting to tackle, and thus showing |
up where they were less likely to |
overrun their man or miss him. There |
was one element which was not suf-
hciently appreciated early in the sea-
son; that was that the work OF the
backfield. IL they were given too much
hard pounding in the attack, suffered |
correspondingly in the defense because /
the men were not fresh enough to be |
on their toes and ready for the un-
expected
The onside kick under the new rul- |
ing that 1t must go twenty yards has /
been rendered much less effective as
a standard play. 1t is doubtful IL any
amount Of work put upon this play
under the present rules will result In
making 1t as dangerous to the defense
as were well executed onside kicks /
under the old ruling. Furthermore.
this twenty yard zone and the necessi-
ty Of keeping the forward pass within
these limits. cut out some Of the best |
of the complicated movements where
the pass was delayed and then sent
for a long distance hp the field.
The successful forward passes OF
1910 were those which took as great
distance as was safe in this twenty /
yard zone rather than the quick toss
Ing which some had hoped would come
into the game. That short passes will /
develop to be very dangerous is a
question which the season Of 1911 must
answer.
BY characterizing play as one that /
looks simple. mean to say that often
times q play OF this appearance may
require a great deal OF practice. and |
very hard practice in order to develop
the deception, for an opposing defen- /
sive player may be thrown ever so |
slightly out OF line as to make it nee
esEary for him TO check his momentum |
and recover before starting in another
direction. 1T may mean for the attack |
just that amount Of leeway necessary
to get q runner through at the point |
where this man, had ne not been
thrown of his balance, would have GER
tainIy protected.
Forward Pass Important.
Yale won the Princeton game last
year and Michigan won her Minnesota |
game BY the use OF the forward pass.
and such examples must spur on other
teams to the development Of that kind |
OF playing. Many team has. however,
found the forward pass boomeras..r,
and plenty OF teams have seen what |
looked to be the starting Of d good |
play on their part turn into long
run for the opponents through the IN /
Perception or the bungling OF sorne
such maneuver. The measuring of pen