Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-05

because he must ann toward a certain
player who is to catch the ball. but it
does not require so much skill to find
the player alone rs il does both to find
the player and then accurately shoot
the ball certain prescribed number of
yards.
II the forward pass is a good play it
is good 10 every inch that il can be
utilized. In other wards, il is as good
for one hundred yards as II is for one
yard. II there are players who are eN-
pert enough to handle il properly
against the opposing team.
If II is not a good play 1t has no
place ii the game. 1t then becomes
worth nothing, restricted or unre-
stricted. An arbitrary curtaiIment of
us efficiency was a half hearted way
Of stating that its projectors did not
knew thoroughly how to care for their
innovation.
Its Original Condition.
The pass, when first Incorporated
into the rules code. was a free and
open affair so far as distance to be
gained was concerned. There We're
few teams who knew what to do with
it. Yale was the first to find sue
cessful play and astonished and some
what upset Princeton by throwing the
ball about as far as good punter
could kick it and gaining so much
ground that the Yale eleven ultimate
ly won.
Other teams were encouraged to at
tempt the same play as the season
progressed and there We're more than
Yale which gained ground by the long
pass.
For some reason the rule makers
year ago saw fit to decide that an I'M
abridged pass was detriment rather
than a benefit to the sport, so they
amputated the play to not more than
twenty yards from the scrimmage line.
That made it harder for the officials
and really put so much of handicap
on the pass that it rendered effective
only the short, sharp thrusts oyer the
end of the line, and two thirds of the
time attempts at that play were inef-
fective, for the handicap was too great
for the skill of the players.
Restricting a forward pass is nc
more logical than it would be in base
ball to restrict a home run or in foot
ball to restrict the length of a punt.
The makers of the code said in sub
stance that they gave the game good
play when they permitted the use of
the forward pass. They followed that
up in 1911 by intimating that they
were not sure but the play might be
too good. So they placed restriction
upon it. AS if a play in a real sport
could be too good The better the
play the nearer the sport becomes al
ideal pastime.
All Distance Available.
If there are contestants in 1912 who
are clever enough and strong enough
to pass the ball sixty feet forward
they ae privileged to do so. Every
inch of real gain which can be made
by the attacking side is permissible
with the use of the forward pass.
Other rules which regulated the for
ward pass of 1911 are in effect this
year. First of all, the ball, is not to
be passed from the scrimmage line but
from a point ar Sensitive yards back
of the scrimmage = line. That rule
made a little trouble last season be-
cause it kept officials on the jump to
note whether the ball had gone back
five yards before it was passed.
! III Inc 4tdttI SdlHCo III liz 7N<ASo'-
there was less difficulty in regard to
the falling back five yards, because
the Importance of the contests was
such as to 4induce the players to be
certain that they were in a legal posi-
ton to shoot the ball before they per-
mitted it to get away from them.
of course, but one forward pass. will
be allowed in each scrimmage. That is
one concession to the theory that the
forward pass, even though 1t be an
element making for open play, is ca
disturbing element or rather would
become a disturbing element If there
were too much of it. If team could
try a forward pass every time that II
lined up it is probable that 1T would
be only a question of time before
kicking the ball would become a lost
art, and football would better be
known as shoot ball." because of the
tendency to pass or thrust it from one
man to another to gain ground.
Illegal Pass. M
The forward pass is not legal if the
ball strikes the ground before it is
touched by a player of either eleven.
That was in effect last year and is
perfectly logical. There must be a
perfect catch of the bali to fulfill the
completion of the play.
Another restriction of 1911 Is incor-
porated in the code of 1912. The ball,
after it is passed, to make the pass
perfect and legal for the side in pos
session of the ball. must be caught by
some player of that side who has been
on the end of the scrimmage line. or
who has been playing at least one
yard behind the scrimmage line. In
other words, the completion of the
pass rests upon specified players of
the attacking eleven. Any man who
is on the scrimmage line, except the
ends, is disqualified to catch the ball.
Any player who is at least yard
back of the scrimmage line may catch
the ball. 1t may be the center, if he
is a yard back of the line when the
pass is made. 1t may be either
tackle, or either guard. if either or
both are behind the line the required
distance, and it may be any back who
is yard or more back of the line, but
it may not be any player on attack
who is leading the line breaking on