The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-25

The five-hour session IN New York
during which some 2oe football en-
thus'asfs listened to interpretations Of
the rules by Walter Camp OF Yale
and hts coterie OF codifysrs, brought
out fewer interesting points for the
coaches. players. officials and fans
than were exploited at any Of the
previous eve of the-season confer
ences held by the central board.
Mr.. Camp, Billy Morice. Bill Lang
ford and others who were about the
chairman's table were OF the opinion
that the spirit OF the rules. which
ann To eradicate causes of injury TO
the players, was against kicking the
bali along the ground. The final
Interpretation was that no member of
the team that put the bail in play may
Kick Ii again after once pnnting, I'M
der any circumstances. but that the
players on the defensive team man
return the kick, even II the bah is on
the ground
But the opinion of the representa-
tives OF the central board is that the
rules should not permit the ball to
he further kicked or driobled along
the ground
About Interference.
The expected discussion OF the rules
regarding Interference on forward
passes and kicks did not amount TO
much.
The rules clearly state that on for
ward passes men coming down. the
1eld may not be blocked off, although
they may be body-ch checked when COM
ing down the field under kicks The
rule explains exactly the meaning of
the rules committee, and there was
no chance for any Interpretation.
In the games this fail ii simply will
be up to the defensive players to
guess whether the opponents will use
the forward pass or kick Ii they
make wrong guess and block off a
man when forward pass is made.
then penalty must be paid.
AT the same time that the central
board emphasized that this rule must
be taken literally. there is feeling
among football men generally that
the defending team should not be
Handicapped by having 10 wait SO long
after the ball is put into play before
having a chance to determine its plan
OF defence However, the rule will be
tried this fan and at next winters
meeting 1t can be changed II the rule
makers think necessary,
Shifting Of Men.
No discussion was more interesting
than that concerning the exchanging
of linemen and backs on offense and
defense. Last season. at Princeton.
Eddie Hart played tackle on ofYense
and on defense was rowing around be-
hind his rush line. while one OF his
backs came up to play tackle.
There was no question that Hart
was eligible to shift about. but the
point was raised that the halfhack
who went up into the line on defense
should NOT have been allowed TO play
in the back field unless he took
station FIVE yards back OF the scrim
mage. under the rule that governs the
use OF the center. guards and tackles
as members of the attacking back
field
MIR. Camp explained that the spirit
or the rules III To prevent the with
drawal OF heavy linemen into the back
field. but that the officials should use
Judgment In interpreting the rule. OBJ
yiouSly the rules do not intend that
u halfback cannot come up to the
rushline on defense for the purpose
of breaking through to block kick,
and the central board also holds that.
unless the occasional exchange OF
places BY middle lineman and a
back appears to be an evasion Of the
rule, that officials need not be too.
strict III making teams conform to the
absolute latter pf the rule.
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