The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16
FOOTBALL RULES
ARE TOUCHED UP
BY REv|S|ON|STS
Interference for Forward Pass
Allowed Until Pass Is Ac-
tually Made4--Quarterback
Kick Comes Into Its Own
Again and Slight Change Is
Made in Rule on Substitute
ing Players

NEW YORK. Feb 15.-The inter-
collegiate football rules committee
completed its legislation for 1913 at
three-hour session at Hotel Mar
Unique this morning. The football
legislators went through the rules
from cover 10 cover, and adjourned
with the expected announcement
that the game next fall would DO
practically q ~-standpat' affair.
Only one important change in the
code was adopted. most OF the rul-
sngs of the committee being along the
lines of codification, or editing. rather
than of amendment or change. The
new rule in football for 1918, az
adopted today. IL. however, a very i'm
portant one, The committee at its
morning session decided to revise a
part of the restriction relating to in
reference on plays which involve the
siss of the forward pass. This fall,
on forward passes. as well as on
kicks. men on the defensive team
may block of and interfere with the
offensive players until such time as
the forward pass actually lis made.
Last year the rules provided that
there could be no interference, ex-
cept on the line of sertrnmage. in any
play which developed the forward
pass. the defense thus having to wait
until a run or a kick was assured
before doing any down the field
blocking off.
At Friday evenings session the Ave
yard restriction on kicks was revised.
This, it is believed BY the football
clinic. Will serve until further to dis
senble the defense, and thereby
strengthen the effense. The new rule
allowing interference by the defensive
players until forward pass actually
Is made. is calculated 10 help the de-
Tense enough TO offset some of the
handicaps OF the new kicking rule.
Under the 1919 rules neither defen-
stve nor the offensive team was al
lowed to do any down the field block
ing on forward pass plays, but wheth-
er the attacking team as well as the
defensive team may interfere next fall
until the bali Is passed forward, lis
a matter that has been left with the
special committee. which will codify
the 1919 rules.
Rather an important revision was
made In the conditions under which
player once removed from the
game. because of injury, may be re-
turned to the scene of play. Under
the old rules q player may return to
the game at the beginning of any
subsequent period. Today. however.
the rules committee decided to allow
a player to return to the game at
any time during the fourth, or last
period OF play.
The committee increased the PEN
atty for a team delaying its return
to the field after the fifteen minute
intermission between the halves. Tn
der the new rules tn eleven that
does not report within the stipulated
fifteen nssnutess Will be required TO
=. k4snff = IN
the side of the field opposite to that
which 1t occupied during the second
period.
The penalty for pushing the ball
forward after 1t has been declared
dead. was eliminated by the commit
tee, the opinion being that the pen
atty was too severe for an offense
which would avail no ground II the
referee were alert. n
Another slight change regarding the
right of doctors and trainers to go out
on to the field in case of injury to play
ers was made. Heretofore the referee
was asked for such permission before
the game started, but today 1t was de-
cided that permission must be received
from the referee in each specific In
stance. .
To rule six. section thirteen. these
words were added:
The provisions of this section do
not apply in a case where a forward
pass is made by a team from behind
It's own goal line"
In rule ten. section c is altered to
read:
1.-THE goal line" instead of restrain
ing line," thus making the sentence
regarding the position OF the offensive
players on punt out read. "A player
OF the kicking side advances beyond
the goal line with the ball In his pos
session"
On page ~, in the penalty, the last
phrase OF the sentence hereafter shall
read: I'm which case the ball may go
ais touchback to the offended side. :"
The word may replaces the word
shall In order that the offended
Continued on Second Page.)