The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1912-02-23
FOOTBALL MUCH
IMPROVED GAME
RECENT CHANGES IN RULES
WILL STRENGTHEN oFFENsE.
NO MORE FREAK GOAL KICKS
Forward Pass Improved, onside Kick
Eliminated, Length Of Gridiron
Shortened, Kickoff Changed, Mum.
Der OF Downs Increased.

Der Of Downs Increased.
Surprising seems to be the word best
fitted to describe the changes in the
football rules announced by the solons
after they finished their two day ses-
sion iu New York recently.
Not only removing the games vermi-
form appendix 10y cutting out the on
side kirk, the gridirOn doctors made
several other sweeping changes i'll the
rules. with the abolition OF the onside
kick went the elimination OF the TWEEN
~ yard zone. y forwNd pass now can
be made across the goal line provided
the pass is completed within ten yards
beyond the goal lines. Hereafter the
teams will be allowed four tries instead
OF three TO make the necessary ten
yards. The playing field was shorten
ed from ITO yards to 100 yards and the
value Of II touchdown was increased
from five points TO six points.
These changes, together with the
elimination of the field judge from the
officials. the shortening of the inter
missions between the first and second
ters from two minutes TO one minute,
the limiting of men on the side lines to
| one instead of three, the institution of
the kickoff from the kiCker's forty
yard line instead of at midteld, as
hitherto, and the putting of the ball
into play following a touChback from
the twenty yard line instead Of from
q I. ti,. ri kn
cipal changes made at the meeting.
The rule regarding drop kicking was
| made more specific. No weird kick
| like that which came from the toe Of
| De Witt in the Princeton and Dart
mouth game last fall, the ball striking
| the ground and bounding over the
| rOssbar, will be allowed to count as a
| field goal hereafter. as the committee
| has ruled against bounding ball
1t Is the opinion of the committee
that the changes will make a better
| balance between the offense and the
| defense than was shown in the game
| played under last years rules: will en-
able the stronger team to show its su-
! periOrity over weaker eleven and will
| Improve the running play of the game
without weakening the kicking depart
ment and without reverting to the
| pounding attack of the so called "old"
game. With the abolition Of the twen-
| ty yard zone football will be made
moro open than it was, but more stress
will be laid on the running game with
out weakening the kicking department.
| The shortening Of the playing field
from 40 yards to 100 yards was made
necessary by the rule permitting for
! ward pass to be made across the goal
line. provided the pass is completed
within ten yards beyond the line. Some
| football fields will not permit Of ten
yards beyond the goal lines, so the
goal posts had TO be brought in five
| yards at each end, making distance
| uf 100 yards from goal post to goal
post. The five yard rule behind the
line Of scrimmage governing the for
| ward pass was retained. as also were
other rules regarding the forward pass.
with the exception Of the one that did
not permit Il pass to be made across
the goal line.
| Provided forward pass made across
the goal line is not completed within
ten yards beyond the line the pass will
not count as touchdown, but will be
| considered as a touchback and, ac-
rordinG TO the new rules, the ball must
then he put in play from the twenty
yard line instead of from the twenty.
five yard line, as hitherto followed the
making of a touchback.
With the abolition of the OnSide kick
and the wiping ont of the twenty yard
zone the duties of a field Judge We're
nuilitieG, and hence the committee de
cid"d that a field Judge no longer will
be needed uence!Orth the lneSman
Will have jurisdiction over offside play
and also will keep time. The dutic.
formerly placed on Il field judge will he
divided among the lineSmen. umpire
ana referee
Instead OF kicking off from midheld
as hitherto the kickoff will be made
from the kicker'S Forty yard line or 1t
a point sixty y.!dS from opponents
| goal posts. rs rule. according 10
the intent "f the committee, will lessen
the kickin" strength and increase
| tho IlrrUin,r Ntrat,pth of tn.&, n,.