Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1912-09-17
HOW FOOTBALL WILL
Be PLAYED THIS FALL
Changes in Ruics Do Not Affect
Game to Great Extent.
FIELD ZEN YARDS SHORTEN.
This Provision Has Been Made to En-
hance Opportunities Of the For
ward Pass-NO Field Judge.

With the beginning of foot ball
practice during the next few days
there will be great deal of specula-
tion as to how the changes in the
rules will affect the play, both from
players and spectators standpoint.
Much discussion will take place as
to what is likely to happen in the
game to be played this fall. The
coaches and players will study The
different systems with the idea of
securing the greatest possible eff
cheney out of their teams, while the
general follower of the game will
wonder if he is to note any decided
changes from the side lines.
Notwithstanding the main state
ments which have been made to the
effect that the game would be revo-
lutionized by the changes which have
taken place this year, it is not prob
able that any great difference will be
noted in the styles of play from what
has been seen in other years. There
have been many times when it has
been predicted that the sport would
be turned completely topsy-turvy, yet
it is now, in its essentials, what it
was before the forward pass came into
existence. In the real elements of
what has been construed effective
offensive play the principles on which
the play is based and has been based
since the forward pass has been used
are the same as those which formed
the foundation for the offense of
teams years ago.
Seven years ago it was the prob
lem of the coaches to advise plays
powerful enough to gain five yards in
three downs. To accomplish that a
few fake plays and end runs were put
in to keep the opposing eleven guess
ing, and the main dependency for
gaining ground was placed in smash
ing the line off the tackles for short
gains. In its elements the same
system has been in effect since the
forward pass was originated, and the
same will be seen on the gridiron this
year. Teams will depend for the ma
jority of their gains on diagonal rush
es through the line, with men before
the runner instead of behind him,
with just enough end runs, trick
plays and forward passes to keep
the opposing eleven from closing
up its defense and to keep it in
quandaIy as to what will be the
next move.
From the spectators point of view
fo otball this year will be what it
has been in the past; from the play
ers' it will be slightly different in
that they will be compelled to be
more versatile, and their duties will
be of greater number, there be-
ing more departments of individual
end team play for them to master.
Taking the changes in the code
generally before discussing them
specifically, it may be said that
the same kind If football will be seel
on the field when two teams appear
for game, and yet there will lie a
difference. The difference will exist,
not in the style of play, but in the
quantity of it. By quantity of play
is meant the length Of time that
team may keep the ball The same
kind of plays which last year failed to
make the ten yards in three downs
will be good enough this season to
carry the oval the required distance.
With four downs in which to make
ten yards, an average distance Of
2 l-2 yards must be covered in each
rush. and with the constant menace
of forward pass that is not going
to be a very difficult matter, espec-
/ tally in a case where one team is
slightly the superior of the other.
One team will probably keep the
ball longer than has been the case in
recent years, and an effective offense
will be difficult matter to stop. Con-
sequently, instead of the all chang
| ing hands in the middle of the field
to a great extent, as has been the
case since 1909, there is every prob
ability that clubs will be seen carry
ing the oval straight down the field
1 for touchGowns, Jr, at least, they will
| go for long gains before being stop
ped or finally losing possession on a
tumble. Such play as that has not
been seen between evenly matched
teams in long while.
The problem for coaches last year
was 10 DuliQ some KIND or offensive
strong enough to score touchdowns.
but this year it would seem that
the main problem will be to develop
defensive capable of withstanding
the onslaughts which are surs to
be made. The first, although a minor
change, is made so that the sole ad-
vantage of it il placed on the often
sive side-the shortening Of the field.
fhe field has been shortened ten
yards, which means that the offensive
team has that much less distance to
carry the ball to make touchdown.
Another rule which has been placed
in the code is that allowing forward
pass to be made across the goal line
within a zone of ten yards. This
will not give another method of
scoring a touchdown, but will cause
the defensive to stay scattered when
the defending team is down under
its own goal line. Thus it will be
much easier for an eleven to score
than under the old rules where the
defense could close up and present