New-York tribune., 1912-02-03
NO RADICAL CHANGES
IN RULES OF FOOTBALL
This Much lntimated After Three
Iona Sessions of the
Committee.
ACTION WILL COME TO-DAY
Indications Point to Modified
Revision of Code That Will
Insure a Better Bal
anced Game.
ACTION WILL COME TO-DAY

football rules this year judging from what
lt;ic could be CLEANED from members of the
rules committee after three long sessions
at the Holland House. in this city, yester-
dav Something will be done however, to
insure a better balanced game and to more
nearly equalize the attack with the defence.
although no official announcement along
these lines was made. As a matter of fact.
= K Hall, Of Dartmouth who was re-
elected chairman of the committee. and
Walter Camp. Of Yale, the secretary. an
nounced al the close of the meeting that
orly progress could he reported. and that
not a single vote. even a straw vote had
been taken on any question at issue
Mr. Hall explained that the procedure was
much the same as last year, and that the
manning. afternoon and evening sessions
were devoted largely to a general discussion
and a careful consideration of the hundred
ana one suggestions offered by critics and
followers of the sport to improve the game.
In this way much of the dead wood was
eliminated. and the suggestions more close
ly bearing on a general scheme TO strength
en- the offence or weaken the defence were
retained TO he voted on at the session this
morning.
The members were loath TO talk as to just
what had transpired, inasmuch as the dis
cussion had been Of an informal nature,
but by putting two and two together II
seems fair to predict that the forward pass
over the line Of scrimmage will be retained,
although the present rules bearing on this
play may he amended or modified TO some
extent 1t seems reasonable to predict
also-or. possibly guess would be better
wcrd--that the distance to be gained by
rushing in four downs or three tries Will
he reduced from ten yards to either seven
or five. II is possible. however. that the
distance TO be gained may be left as IT Is,
bet an extra down added. suggested by
Tom Shevlin.
One member Of the committee said that
in his opinion, much had been accomplished
even though no definite action had been
taken. He added that the committee fully
realized that the chief job IL had was 10
bring about a better balanced game, and
that Indications pointed to something be-
ing done at the session this morning 10 ac-
complish that end.
George Foster Sanford. of Yale; Ed
Cochems. at one time coach Of the ST Louis
University eleven, and Glen Warner, coach
Of the Carlisle Indians, appeared before the
committee at the morning session and ex-
pressed their Niews as to changes that
should be made.
Mr.. Sanford made an earnest plea for
te change he urged in his full and COM
pichensve article in The Tribune Of De-
cember -. He pointed out once more that
the forward pass over the line Of scrm-
mage opened the way to the most dangerous
hazard in the history of the game and called
or the committee to revise the code in
way to eliminate H. Summarized, his sug-
gestions were as follows:
Forward pass limited to behind the line
of scrimmage, an offensive zone limited to
5 yards by yards. distance to be gained
five yards in four downs or three tries and
one man to help the runner after the latter
reaches the line of scrimmage. He con-
tended that in this way the game would be
returned to the place it occupied in 1890
as sound, sane and reasonably safe.
He enlarged on this by saying
Lay down the following rules: Seven men
on the line of Scrimmage; forward pass
back OF your own line f 'scrimmage. the
pass not 20 be received teyond the point
Where the ball was put in llay; a zone 4
by yards in the offensive field that shall
ccrtaip only the quarterback. the other
offensive backs TO be back OF the ball four
Yards always. or Ave yards Cu, from centre;
one man allowed to helu the runner and
hc TO help only after the mar has reached
his own line of scrimmaSe cr iS five yards
out from the centre. Then, with the man
who receives the ball from centre allowed
10 carry the ball at will, with the forward
pass back Of your own line. We will have
q stronger and more varied offence than in
the period Of 1859 to 1891 The distance to
be gained, five Yards. will bt. easier TO Sc
cure and the game Will I've re-esta blIShed
with definite striking distance. and an
offence with reasonable continuity.
With such a game IN force. let us see
what We have accomplished.
= There will be no difficulty in limiting the
offensive backs ir the zone by . yards.
Is 10 prevent the offence from massing on
given point. An official could readily no
lice any infraction OF the rule and could
compel the offence TO adjust it's formation.
Defence IL is possible TO limit I'm two
ways: first by legislation. and. second, by
pecUliartics and the eXigencies of your
style OF offence. II is clear that in the
game that I have proposed the defence will
Immediately adjust itself 10 he offence and
dose up near the defensive line of scrim-
mage. 10 Is equally clear that the super
human burden now placed on the defensive
back will be removed.
The rlaycrs are near toL.ther at the
start We will have made . mass forma-
tlUn imDTactiCabl We VIII have min
inlized The weight possible to be. thrown
against one man. We will have eliminated
ihe admittedly dangerous, dcslgnedly Tree
fal In the open. We VIZ heVe Eot rie
open attack with a visible ball. and we VIII
have made IT, as well. interesting loSlcal
sane and safe
Ed Cochems appealed TO tire committee
TO remove all restrictions and make the
game more natural He also pointed out,
As In his article IN The Tribune, that foot
ball, Of all sports. was distinctly unfair in
It's time elements, 30 far as the offence
was concerned, and submitted his plan 10
give each team the ball for certain num-
Der Of downs alternately. with the goal line
to gain
Mr.. Cochems said in part:
There are three distinct propositions
which / wish TO lay down for the consld-
Grafton Of this committee. ! maintain that
they are fundamental ana sclentlnc ana
without their adoption that the game Will
Itmain unjust, subject TO continual chahSe'
unnatural and brutal.
First, the game is unjust IN the dlsTlDu-
Hon Of it's time elements. If TINS Is true,
and can be proven, IL should enlist the
serious attention OF this body. Moreover,
4 contend that this Is true only 3t thee me
game OF American college football. All
other games give each team an equai
share of the playing time. contend tnat
both teams should share the sixty in,huies NIL t
equally. And this Is the root or All tHe
trouble. In arbitrarily stating that Ger
tain distance Is to be made IN any nuilper
oi downs. you are dealing WIN Eadiaole aa, pe
not constant. on what basis OF iact OF
ngures can you declare that certain uiss -
lance can be made In a. certain nulnpei oi
Gowns? what Is the given defensive anu s,,,
offensive strength OF the contending teams.
or what are the powers, say. oi loedl oI
typical teams? No one can answer uin an
never will be able 10 answer. ana on 'iiio -
variable basis you have attempted 70 10
formulate the rules No wonder they need
t0niinual lacking up TO make them apP.di,
ust In baseball there Is no tlrie n,t "t,,t nmt
rave that which is essential 10 put out