The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-22
Committee ExpectedtO
Clarity Football Code
Rules Are Still Deficient, But Session Will Be Called
In New York Next Tuesday to Make
All Points Simple.

NEW YORK Dec. 22.-when the foot
ball rules committee meets here next
tuesday, the council table will be piled
high with Suggestions, not only LOT
minor changes IN the rules but also
definitions OF unusual plays not covereu
by the rules, which cropped out durlhs
Athc games OF the past season.
The one important amendment TO the
rules which the committee VIII con-
slider il a rule making 1t compulsory TOT
the players OF all teams to wear mum.
bers. It is expected that the maloTlty
OF the fourteen members viii FAVOR tnc
new rule, put strong opposition 10 eA
pected from Harvard's representative,
Percy Houghton the CrimsQns head
coach. While numerous former hhi
ward captains, including Charley Brlnch,,
| ley ana Dan Hurley are In favor %
\ numbering the players, the autnorltlSS
! at Cambridge have been strongly, OPP
posed to II. 1t is now a question WhIln
er the graduates influence, when h1s
! been brought to bear. can persuade D .,o,,
egate Haughton, to favor the lnoNauoh
at next weeks meeting.
! While Walter Camp. secretary OF tne
committee, and Naie's representative,
has expressed himself in favor OIL tne
number system. opposition AZ New
Haven, among the present STAN OF
coaches and Captain Wilson OF iasl
years eleven, was so strong that haIc
agreed with Harvard an Nd r nlsveTs. !"
adopt the numbering or the players
The cornmittec which meets here Is
made up as follows: . .
Z, X. Hall. Dartmouth, chairman
Walter Comp, NHie. SeerGtdT -, cori
| Williams, Pennsylvania. Percy ltaugh-
ton, Harvard; Paul J. Dashiei; Annaho-
lis: Harris g. Cope, University OF Tue
! d. i. sultan, West Point; c. w. say
| age, Oberlin; Clyde Williams. Iowa
state College; A. A. StaCg. CHICAGO !;
DR.. Harry l.. Williams. MINNESOTA anu
Ermund w. Butler. Cornell
In an Interview yesterday George Eos,
ter Sanford, the old Yale player ana
coach Of the Rutgcrs team. GNpteas ,;S.
former players. that the rules commit
tee desist from changing the rules Tor
1 a few seasons and give the gridiron
game a chance to become standardized
in its present form.
There has Teen too much mussinS
with the rules during the past Few set
sons said Mr.. Sanford. and TIC code zoe.
should be allowed To remain as 1t for
a while until football becomes stanc-
ardiZed Tho rules have been changed
so often that the majority OF the spec
tators do not knew What II Is All about.
when an official penalties team a
few wards YOU hear ono spectator ask
ing another, What was that for No
body can tell him. The SPECTATORS are
| in the dark about mIch that happens
on the field.
"If they let the rules alone and make
/ tho officials give more attention to in,
forming tire spectators OF the plays ana
tho nenalties., by means of the S|Cre-
| hoard. in q fcw sea sons the public
would become familiar with every plaH
| OF the game. l think that " should nc
the duty Of the headlincsman t. ma
out iuFt why each nenalty is inflicted,
and IN son,e way give this Rnow.ed2c 10
the scoreboard nianipulatois as that the
spectator ran glance up at the boalI
and read. for instance: Yale Denaltzed
nfteen wards for holding bv No. H." II
tho spectators we're informed Of each
play Is this way, everybody would very
soon BE- familiar with the plays. Just as
they are in baseball.
r Coach Sanford also believes that this
plan would tend to improve tho work OF
the officials Under the present COM
pllcated system. it is difficult to tel
whether an official il justified n in
+ nicting penalties. because II Is often
, impossible to tell why he makes MS
) formed lust why eac h penalty was
made. thev could soon learn whether he
w2s a gocd OF, bad official -,,,,,., 10
present-day officials. and he doesn
. believe 1t is fair for the spectators u
4 criticise an official for infiicting a pen
= atty for what, to them, looked like Z
I certain infringement of the rules
when. in reality. he was intiictinG tn'
e penalty for another violation, aoou
which they knew nothing.
n Other football coaches and official
!, do not agree with Sanford in permit
, ting the rules to rest until the gam
is standardized. They think teat IN
Y rules committee should keep on clari
= tying the code until there can be M
doubt in the minds OF the official
about the ruling on every play. n
| many OF the officials during the las
| season have disagreed on the inter
probation of some of the rulcS, they 5r
Z in favor of having these doubtful de
= tails cleared up.
? One point In question relates to tn
Interpretation of the rule which pro
hibits "roughing" a punter. IT, in tn
= onirior OF the official the puntor i
: "roughed" by a forward and knocke'
= off his feet the penalty is fifteen yards
Some OF the officials think this is sc