New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-22
ON COLLEGE GR|D|RONS
Football Warming Up with the
Season at Hand.
RULES UP FOR DISCUSSION
Some Apparent Conflicts May Be
Strengthened Out at Meet
ing To- night.


be held at the Hotel Manhattan this even
ing for the purpose Of interpreting the rules,
under the direction Of the central board of
officials. Managers. captains, coaches and
the leading officials have been invited 10
attend so that the code may be thoroughly
discussed and uncertain points cleared UP
10 the satisfaction OF all concerned. Wal
ter Camp, Of Yale. the official editor OF the
rules will preside at the meeting
IL will be necessary 20 go over the rules
with great care. and some changes may be
necessary 10 clear up two or three ap-
parent Inconsistencies for which the print
er may be responsible. There seems to be
a direct conflict between section and part
OF section Of rule 10. II refers 10 the
forward pass, and section { reads as fol-
lows:
Section IF the ball, after having been
legally passed forward, strikes the ground
within the field Of play either before or
after having been touched by a player OF
either side. the pass shall not be consid-
cred as completed.
This is contradicted in a sub-heading
under section s which reads:
Co When the ball has been legally passed
forward and has been legally touched, be-
fore striking the ground, by any player Of
the side not making the pass, any player
Of either side has the right TO attempt to
secure possession Of the ball.
In one case II says that the pass shall
not he considered as completed. which
spot Of the preceding down, except the
third II the ball strikes the ground after
being touched BY player Of either side.
In the second case it says that any
player has the right 10 attempt to secure
possession Of the ball II touched before
striking the ground by player Of the side
not making the pass.
Some critics are Of the opinion that the
Wild scramble after free ball opens the
way 10 injuries and consequently favor sec
ton as II reads, but 70 make this opera
tive the sub-paragraph under section s
must be stricken out or remodeued.
Another seeming conflict comes in the
wording Of the penalties under section
Of the same rule, as may be readily seen.
as follows.
Section lal After the ball has been
legally passed forward il may first be
touched only by such players Of the pass
ers side as were at the time the ball
was put IN play at least one yard behind
either end Of the said line.
Penalty.-A ball thus Illegally touched or
recovered shall 60 TO the opponents at the
spot where the foul occurred, unless the
foul occurred inside Of the opponents ten
yard line, I'm which case the ball shall 60
as q touchback 10 the offended side,
If a forward pass is FIRST touched by any
illegal PLAYER Of the passer's side the pass
shall not be considered as completed.
Penalty.-For such uncompleted pass the
ball shall 60 20 the opponents on the spot
Of the preceding down.
One other case may be mentioned. Part
Of section or rule s defines a safety az
follows:
safety is made when a player Of the
side in possession Of the ball makes an in
completed forward pass behind his goal line
or commits a foul which would give the
ball to the opponents behind the offender =
goal line.
This seems 70 be at variance with sec
ton Z Of rule Is. which reads:
If a foul, following q first or second
down, except a foul involving disqualinca-
ton Of player, is committed by the side
in possession OF the ball while the ball IS
behind their goal line or in night from
hind their goal line, the play shall count
as a down and the ball shall be put ~
play Lpon the vineyard line, II such tOul
occur following a third down the referee
Tended side If a foul is committed by the
side not in possession Of the ball while the
ball IS behind their opponents. goal hne or
in 7ight from a kick or pass delivered be-
hind that goal line the referee shall de-
clare n touchback I'm favor Of the offended
side.
The reason for the discrepancy lies no
doubt In the fact that last year the pen
atty for an incompleted forward pass cen
tired about the place where the player
stood IN making the pass, whereas this
wear IL will centre about the line Of scrim>
mage.
The officials no doubt will ask for an in
terpretatiou Of other rules or their appli-
cation. az the meeting this evening. so that
everything Will be understood when the
fret gun rs fred tomorrow.