Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-07
By J. W. Heisman.


WEARS ago the rule in football
was that team either had to
gain five yards in three trials
or else lose twenty yards in order to
retain possession of the ball. If a
team had failed to gain In their first
two trials and they had plenty OF
territory behind them to where their
goal line stretched along, they delio-
erately meas ured off how much more
ground they would have to lose to
make 1t a full twenty yards in the
three downs. The ball was then
snapped and the man catching 1t sim
DIV ran back to that spot and downed
the ball: it was then a new first down.
This was way Of making first
down.
Now the present rules contain pro-
vision for a way to make first down
which is known to but few players
Of even the present day. 1t is found
in rule 81, which relates TO the nee
essary distance to be gained on
downs. This rule reads to-day exact
ly as it has read for the past twenty
years (barring the addition of one
more down and the doubling of the
distance to be gained), but it's YER
biaRe and English, while perfectly
logical, are yet too much for many
and many a casual reader. There is
not a season p-sses but enc or more
letters come to me asking for an eX-
PLANTATION of it's exact meaning, and,
while the meaning is perfectly definite
and precise, yet it Is really hard
thing to explain on paper. However
| shall do the best l can.
CECTION / of the rule says that a
- team must make ten yards in four
trials or else give up the ball to op.
moments, These four downs are, Of
course, to be consecutive downs, and
this they could not be unless the ball
had been CONSTANTLY in the pos
session of that side for the four
But saws section 2, THE ball shall
not be considered as having been
constantly in possession"
"(b) When the ball has been kicked
and the opponents given a fair and
equal chance of "aining possession
of it. (No kick shall be regarded as
having given the opponents sucn
ChanCe unless IL SHdll I4dNt ~ Os9' -
the line of scrimmage or shall! have
been touched by an opponent)
Now. Just what does this paragraph
mean? | have heard college gradu-
ates contend that ii means thai any
and every kick team makes MUST
60 across the scrimmage line, or else
IL is a violation Of his rule! / have
heard It contended that II means that
when a ball is kicked beyond the
scrimmage line then the kicker's side
has the right to touch 1t at once,
regardless Of the fact that they are
nearly all Of them always off side.
And l have heard other interpreta-
tons that were equally fearful and
wonderful to hear.
Q OMETIMES in the case of punted
= ball an opponent breaks through
and blocks, or partially blocks, the
punt. He has touched" the ball, and
by so doing attests that his side has
had a fair and equal chance of gain
ing possession Of It. This touching OF
the punted ball, therefore, operates to
put all the punter's side instantly on
side again, which is the reason they,
as well as any member OF the other
team, may try to ret 1t. IF one OF the
punter's side is fortunate enough 10
secure IT., the is theirs for first
down" and that regardless Of what
down IL was on which the previous
punt was made. AS this really often
happens in a game, the case Is well
understood. and there Is no misun
Outstanding ~ - he meaning OF this