New-York tribune., 1914-11-22

dclphia and W. l.. GarCClon of Boston has
recently accomplished great deal in spread
ing this game in public schools
The new rules are not for safety They
are needed TO keep within bounds the thou
sands of ingenious, inventive minds of
coaches and cX-playcrS, players and fans,
who are continually doviSng new forms of
play Some of these forms are vicious IN
their consequences, and would, if allowed,
put the game ON the rocks. The committee
Is needed aS naNigatorS are needed. To keep
the Eastern, Southern, and Western squad
ronS of football upon safe course.
This year, for instance they have added
rules that make the forward pass more &C
ccptabC and therefore will bring it into more
general use The coach of the big team,
knowing that his laboriouSlv bullt-up rcpu-
talon of years is likely To 20 crashing If he
loses single important game inClincs al
ways toward the safest plays. The rules
committee has had to exercise unusual
Judgment IN this question of the forward
pass. On the one hand were the smaller
teams showing that 1t is a sure means IN
actual practice, and also by threat of keep
ing the play open. On the other hand the
university coaches. bound bv the best ira
diuonS of the game, lean toward science in
football and away from the haphazard
which is the essence of the forward pass
None the less the university coaches form
ing the majority in the national rules com
mittcc, have each year added new attractions
to the use of the pass for the reason that
IN 1906 they promised to open the game
in the hope of making it safer for the players.
ANOTHER example of high-minded I'M
usual sincerity was given by the com
mittee this year when it made law for
bidding the coaches G.c., themselves To
walk up and down the side lines in The prog
rcSs of the game Everyone who has seen
a game of football has noticed the coach
following his team along the edge of the
gridiron. hands buried I'm ulster pockets,
usually pipe or cigar clamped between his
teeth. at times the most important, and
again the most impotcnt. figure of the Strug,,
glc-"mOSt important when ne had
picked ont the blind spot i'm his teams dc
Tense or attack. and whispered the answer
10 substitute and sent him into the game,
perhaps i'm time TO change the final result;
most impotent" when he was forced 60
stand bv biting his lips while his players
forgot what he had carefully taught them
and threw away their chances.
For the sake of Silencing somewhat shall
low criticism the coaches have voluntarily
given up this privilege No longer Will II
bc possible for unfricndly critics TO assert
that the game is played not by the players
ON the field. but by "thc little Napoleon on
the side lines And. mark YOU, no longer
will il be possible for the coach usually the
only mature and experienced man with the
squad of boys TO keep watch over his play
crs. to detect the first signs of exhaustion
thc dragging foot, the weary back and
So 70 remove the exhausted player from the
game before his dullcd senses cause him to
forget to save himself" when tackled or
struck. Responsibility for injuries has
wisely rested entirely upon the shoulders of
the mature coach. except in those rare IN
stances where an athletic association is able
to provide a special physician or trainer TO
be on the field and to watch over the team.
Now that the coach Is required TO remain
seated during the game il follows that, except
on rare occasions. he will not be close enough
to the teams to watch cveryman during every
play. This is possible only when one Is able
TO walk along the side lines and thus stay AT
right angles to the forward line OF the team.
When one is compelled to view the teams
at an acute angle it follows that his vision
includes not all, but only few, players.
Does anyone imagine that the coach VIII
or should subside into the background Of