The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-07
STEFF|N REVIEWS
FOOTBALL RULES
Thinks Game Will Revert to
the Old Style Of Mass
Playing and Pounding

Chicago, Feb. ,7-The raoACdI
changes in football announced at the
conclusion Of the rules -com1ntttee
meeting in New York came az a COM
plete surprise to followers Of the grid
iron sport. Although the game as
played last season was far from sat.
isfactory and was severely criticized
by eastern coaches, changes that make
the pastime an entirely different one
were not anticipated. The new changes
are the most radical made since the
introduction Of the forward pass In
1906: ~
astonishing changes were made, which
will permit the development Of often
sive play, to Il degree never before
seer and which will consequently
necessitate a change in the defen-
sive play to meet the combination OF
mass and deceptive formations that
will be Developed under the e code.
Changes Are Radical
Probably the most radical modif1-
cation is the increasing of the num-
her of downs in which to gain ten
yards, from three to four. The rea-
son for this vas the result of a de-
mand ly eastern coaches that a means
be- found whereby the offense balanc-
ed the defense. ! ..
THE demand was warranted as 1t
was. generally conceded that the rea-
son for the. many tie games and low
scores OF last year was that the ten
yards in three downs handicapped the
offensive cam.
Just what will be the result Of
this change 1t is. perhaps, a little
early to predict. but it must be admit
ted that there Is a strong likelihood
that many coaches will revert to the
old style of mass and pounding for
---A~-- >..@ nsnN4 <t4 trtrnNlINftnn
of the open game have all coaches
given up the old mass formations and
many teams neglected to develop the
fanciful forward pass and open plays.
Gophcrs' Plays Are Ideal
1.-THE Minnesota style of play as
ideal for the new rules. The Gophers
have had great success during the last
few years without using the forward
pass. Coach Williams has develop
ed a semi-mass formation attack
which has been adopted by leading
teams throughout the country and
used with surprising success. This
style Of play undoubtedly will be used
more than any under the new code.
Some effort was made to encour-
age the use Of the forward pass by
removing the twenty yard zone re-
striction and by permitting the pass
to be made across the goal line. a
Dldy "OsA SO
been called a touchback. The re-
lmoval of the restrictions in the twenty
yard zone will probably have little ef-
feet in the way of encouraging Its use
as during the years 1906-1-s there
were no such restrictions and The for
ward pass was seldom attempted.
Permitting the pass to-. be made
best changes made. This will enable
the teams to score more easily when
close to the goal line. During the last
few years teams have on innumerable
occasions been held on the two or
three yard line because there was no
chance to open up the secondary de-
Tense, which would mass up behind
the line, making it almost impossible
for the attacking team to crash
through.
Defense Is Altered
THE onside kick has been eliminate
ed and in GO doing the committee has
taken away from the game n OF the
prettiest features and also one OF the
strongest weapons of the attacking
side. However. the elimination OF this
rule will tend to decrease the num-
her Of injuries as the onside KICK was
one of the most dangerous plays IN
the game and it's removal is probably
justiiable for that reason.
Several minor changes were made
which will help to better the game.
The removal of the. twenty yard zone
made it possible to remove the field
judge and this will be met with favor
by players and coaches as the sport
was hampered last yea by too many
officials. The scoring system was al
tered and wisely. too. by increasing
the value Of a touchdown from five to
six points, the object being to make q
touchdown equal to two field goals"