The Washington times., 1912-09-02
CAMP DISCUSSES
FOOTBALL CHANGES
FOR THIS SEASON
Foremost Gridiron Tactician
Points Out Innovations
in Rules.
GLARING WEAKNESSES
HAVE BEEN REMEDIED
Important Paragraphs Have Been
Cleared by Com
j mittee.
BY WALTER CAMP.
Dean of Football Rules Committee and
Advisory Coach at Yale.

AuNlSO1y NUdCH dlt.
The first change to be noted in the
football rules for the 1912 season is that
shown In the diagram of the field. and
described in the first rule. Formerly the
field was 16D feet in width by $50 feet
In length. The field is now 300 feet from
goal line to goal line, but there is an
end zone at each end OF the field of ten
yards. or thirty feet, thus making the
entire side line from one end line to the
other 800 feet in length. This furnishes
beyond each goal a zone called an end
zone which Is 16O feet in length and
thirty feet In width-that is. 1t extends
across the entire end OF the field. This
end zone furnishes a space into which
a forward pass may be thrown without
making It illega or a touchback, as for
merlT. when such a pass crossed the
goal line. In other words. a man may
be inside this end zone behind the goal
line and still be eligible to receive a
forward pass
The change in length of the field ne
cessitates a change In kickoff. Instead
OF the ball being kicked from the center
OF the field. as has been the custom in
football for generations and long be-
1ore the Introduction of the American
the Dali VIII now
be kicked from point sixty yards away
from the goal at which the kick is di-
rected. or on the 4o-yard line of the
kicker's side This Is so that the bah
VIII not be at once kicked across the
goal line, as would be the case IL it were
started from the SOY yard line.
Ball Must Be Regular.
Under rule II the next change in the
rules is to be noted in the fact that the
ball is described within certain limits
that is, 1t may not be over 2S1 inches
In the circumference of it's long axis,
nor less than 2S inches and in its short
axis the circumference may not be over
% inches nor under 22h. The weight
may not be over fifteen ounces nor un-
der fourteen. There has been some
question as to what happens when the
ball gets thoroughly soaked, as it does
in some games.
Under rule III there is a change to
the effect that new player coming in
may report to either the referee or the
umpire.
Under rule " and the length of the
game the intermissions between the
first and second and third and fourth
periods have been reduced still further
to only one minute while in case of
delay after the long intermission be-
tween the second and third periods a
side that Is not ready to play within
two minutes shall be peRalized twenty
five yards. One other important change
under this rule, that in the case of a
fair catch made after time has expired
the kick is to be allowed and time
called when the ball is next declared
dead.
There are several changes under rule
VI. but not of very serious moment
One is the further description of what
Is meant, by opportunity to make q
could catch the ball before it touches
the ground. The difficulty caused last
year by having bounding ball score g
goal has been remedied, for it is now
provided that a goal may not be scored
II ball after leaving the kickers foot
touches the ground before passing ovel
the cross bar or uprights. The descrip
ton of dead ball Is further amplifed
and rearranged.
Help Loser of Toss.
Under Rule VII relating to kick off
the privileges of the loser of the tos;
are more definitely described in that HI
has exactly the same privileges in re-
gard to choice at the beginning of the
third period as had the winner of the
toss at the beginning of the game.
Cder Rule IN 1t Is provided that If 6
back-field man goes up on to the line
of scrimmage he must conform to th(
rule regarding the position of his hand:
and feet. 1t is also more clearly pro-
vided under this same rule that If one
player of a side is In motion and it hap
pens to be a man on the line of scrim
mage, another man must take his place
as there must he seven men on the line
when the ball is put In play.
Under Rule X the kickoff is modified
quite materially by forcing the side
kicking out TO be inside the 20-yarc
line, instead of: as formerly. the 25'
come up to the 2O-yard line. 1t is alsc
provided under Rule XIV as there have
been claims that when in a kick-ou
a ball is kicked out of bounds the op
posite, side might refuse. to have i,
kicked over again, regarding this Is q
penalty, It is provided now that kick
Ing the bali again in case of this kinC
Is not construed as penalty, and
therefore may not be declined by the
opposing side.
Rule XVIII has been very material!
altered in the matter OF wording, bu
not so vitality in its spirit. The princi
pal point Is that men coming down tn
field under a kick may use their hand
the way.
Popularize Long Pass.
Rule XIX relating to the forward pas
has also been materially changed b.
permitting the pass to be thrown an!
distance toward the opponents goa
under the usual restrictions, which ar
made somewhat clearer in the letter Q
the rule.
In Rule XXI lies the most vital chang
q OF all made this season, in that a team
Is allowed four downs to advance tn
ball ten Yards, instead of three down
as formerly.
Rule XIV also has an important al
teration in that only one man is nov
allowed to walk up and down on eac
side OF the field instead Of three as las
year ard FIVE as formerly.
Rule NNVlI also provides for anothe
change in the elimination OF tine fiel
Judge. The officials are now COnfine