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

v YEARS ago the rule in football
" was that a team either had to
n gain five yards in three trials
or else lose twenty yards in order to
retain possession of the ball II 4
team had failed to gain in their hrst
two trials and they had plenty OF
territory behind them to where their
goal line stretched along, they DEMO
erately mea sured 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
snanped and the man catching it SIM
plv ran back to that spot and deWneo
the ball; it was then new first down.
This was a way of making first
down.
Now. the present rules contain pro-
vision for a way to make frst 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
Nv 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 its YER
biage and English, while perfectly
logical. are yet too much for many
and MANY a casual reader, There is
NOT a season passes but tne or more
letters come to me asking Tor an eX =
planation of its exact meaning, and,
while the meaning is perfectly definite
and precise, yet it is really a hard
thing to explain on paper. However,
shall do the best | can.
CECTION of the rule says that a
. team must make ten yards in four
trials or else give up the ball to OPP
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
trials. ,-r tn -,o,,
not be considered as having been
Constantly in possession.
"(b) When the ball has been kicked
and the opponents given fair and
aouaI chance of 1aining possession
Of II mo kick shall be regarded as
having given the opponents sucn
chance unless it shall have crossed
the line of scrimmage or snai: nave
been touched by an opponent)
Now, Just what does this paragraph
mean? I have heard college gradu-
ates contend that 1t means that an,
and every kick team makes NJ US
90 across the scrimmage line, on else
Il is a violation of his rule! nave
heard II contended that it means that
when a ball is kicked beyond tne
scrImmage line then the kcker's side
has the right to touch 1t at once
resardless Of the fact that they are
nearly all of them always of SIDE
And / have heard other interpreta-
tions that were equally fearful ana
wonderful to hear.
COMBINES in the case OF a punted
y ball an opponent breaks through
and blocks, or partially blocks, tns
punt. He has touched" the bal, ana
Nv 40 doing attests that his side has
had a fair and equal chance OF gain =
ing possession of II. This touching OF
the punted ball, therefore, operates TO
nut ali the punter's side Instantly on
sids again, which Is the reason they,
ss wei as any member Of the other
team NAV try to let il. If one or the
punter's side Is fortunate enough 70
secure n. the / Is theirs for first
down" and that regardless or What
down it was on which the previous
punt was made. AS this really often
hapnens in a game, the case Is well
undfrstood and there 10 no misun-
ders lnding as to The meaning OF THIS