The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-08
COMMITTEE DODGES
NUMBERING PLAYERS
Football SOlOns Take NO Action
on This Topic. Doubting
authority to DO SO.
SEVERAL RULES AMENDED
All Changes on Minor Points.
None Seriously Affecting
Present Game.
SEVERAL RULES AMENDED
Second Section

The football rules committee recon-
vered IN the Hotel Martinique yesterday
and uassed from the discussion to the
action stage. Several changes o: momen,
vera made IN the code by the fourteen
commlttcemen none Of which will affect
seriously the game as now played but
which are exp, cited "a improve II neverthe-
lees.
4 rule was passed curtslling the prom-
rerc- OF the head coach on the feld "
was Goo tho effect that nobody whatso-
ever shall be allowed 10 promenade the
eide lines during a game. The head coach
wasn't spccihod. hut the role Of the side
line pedestrian has been confined to him.
he st.ll can be on the side lines, but
iYuet remain seated. just like lesser NOR
'l's The purpose OF the rule Is to mini
,nze a. far as possible side line coach
ing
Another change was to this effect After
The teams have lined up for "A scrimmage
neither side shall cncroach on the neutral
zun, For several seasons certain teams
when on the offence have been using the
wheel shift. that liz having men cross
over IN the neutral zone just before the
bail was put into play. This maneuvre
didn't preserve the integrity of the neu-
nality to any great extent. hut it was per-
m.ssdh,. II was used often by Harvard.
though not made unfair use of by that
team Other teams. however. when EN-
ployiug 10 INDUCED i'm rough work with
their elbows on opposing Countenances. so
tnat several rumpuses were started
AboushinG this particular shift means
cleaner play.
II was decided to impose ten yard
penalty from whore the ball was put in
play on Intentionally grounding the for
Narl pass. Teams about to throw the
.rssS tossed the ball to the ground when
y looked as, II The pass wouldn't GO
throlgh. The only penalty was the loss
OF down. and as a consequence good
defensive work by the other side ia get
ting through ana bothering the passer did
not In the minds Of the committee. earn
sufficient reward.
The position of field judge was re-
stored, but optional with teams The
field judges duties are not TO be incor-
porated IN the rules. but he is 10 serve
es an assistant to the referee and umpire
and be assigned 10 duties as the needs
arise
one change effected is an interesting
aftermath of the last Harvard Yale game
II will be recalled that O'Brien OF Har-
he goal posts and bounded back into
the field OF play and carried IL back oyer
the goal line for what was ruled TO be a
safety. This was on Yale kickoff The
ule was changed Yesterday so that n
Kicked bail which bounds back into the
neld Of play from the uprlghts or cross
bar shall be n touchback This will ne
cess!tate changes in the wording OF sec
ton II of Rule VI
The committee didn't taLa a,,, ao,,on
on numbering players. 1T was thought
better to wait and see further how
me plan WORKS out, since more teams are
gong 10 try II next season. Prince
ron. for one eleven. is going to adopt
The scheme this year. and there doubt
IS VIII be numerous others As FOR
the rule makers. they felt that they needed
more experience. Furthermore they
didHt consider that they had the au-
ihority to say wh1. players shall wear.
orly what they shall not wear
ON plays al the 90 yard line follow
NE touchbace. there Is TO be no more
putting the ball In play by a kick When
We rule was passed that "a kick or a
H'rimmage was optional in such cases,
~" scrmnage method was taken up al.
most entirely. The kick. therefore. was
becoming obsolete, and It was considered
useless 70 retain ii in the rules
For the sake Of clarity a change was
made IN section ! ta) of rule VII. In
Tie sentence which says III the WHINE.
of the toss selects the goal. the loser
must lake the kick of" the words take
The aye stricken out This does away
with some slight confusion which existed
as 10 whether the loser Of the toss should
do the kicking off or receive the kick,
though the intent Of the rule was clear
enough, However. the words left room
'or hair splitting.
IN rule XIV, section 2, the phrase
oioey was changed TO roughing the full
hack Instead OF running into the fullback
BF the change officials can use their own
judgment as 10 whether the fullback II
Intentionally interfered with and avoid
in''0'ng a penalty when no foul was in
tend a. Another minor change was the
creating ~ n five yard penalty II any
player is out Of bounds when the ball
is put In play.
committee consisting of w s. Lang
FORD. W. y. Morice and Nathan Tufts,
prominent officials. was appointed to con-
Ter with Walter Camp. secretary and
editor, in the codifcation of the rules.
on the central board of officials the
following were appointed Dr, James
B1hh'tt, chairman; Walter Camp, Or.
W Savage, Parke Davis, +. *. Hail.
Percy Haughton, II. O. Cope and A. A,
Stagg. In addition there IL to be a
committee on officials to help the CEN
tr'l board, these being the three named