The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-02
Football Rules Changes
Will Mean Cleaner Sport

Y Op6U u0lu 1utCi A0k 0ACS Ia 49, os~AAA~ -
day. West Point and Penn State also
made effective use of the play. How
ever. when the matter was considered
from all angles, and the evident pos
sibility of injuries considered, it was
| felt by all, even some of the coaches
who employed the play. that It would
be better for football to eliminate the
play In all likelihood the heady
coaches viii still use this play In the
revised form that the rules permit. It
will take more care and considerable
more coaching. as the attacking play
er must not only strike his opponent
above the knees, but also must use
, only the leg above the knees in doing
so. otherwise the play IS regarded as
tripping.
The officials viii have to use keen
eyes and considerable discretion this
year in the handling of the problem OF
Intentional or unintentional roughtng
OF the kicker. This has been point
of discussion ever since football be-
gan. and probably will continue so in
the future. A couple of years ago
roughing of the kicker had become So:
fragrant an act In many big games that
the rules committee decided to heav-
lily penalize the act So the offending
player was disqualified and the de-
Tending team penalized half the dis
tance to the goal line. This was APP
piled strictly to every case OF rough
ing the kicker. but during the 1914
season It was found that this ruling
was unnecessarily harsh. Many play
ers OF the finest type had been dis
qualified and their teams penalfzed
when it was apparent that there was
no intention OF roughing. but rather
the act was the result of precipitate
rush to block the kick. which the
blocking player was unable to check
in time to prevent the splitting and
'roughing OF the kicker.
Sport VIII Be Cleaner.
Now, under the new regulation
penalty of fifteen yards Is always as
sessed against the offending player
who even spills the kicker. if the OIL
cials believe, 1t unintentioual. but the
half the distance to the goal line PEN
atty win only be placed in ffagrant
cases OF intentional rotghness which.
in the opinion Of the officials. is aim
ed to put the kicker out OF commits
sion 1t can be seen from the above.
that the method of piayin< the game
will not be materially altered. but the
sport will be cleaner. and the chances
of injury considerably less. This year
will also see the return OF four OH
Gals to the football field. the rules
committee having decided that three
were not sufficient to properly handle
the many details that are required IN
modern football
It was found last season that the
.yr,Ss - - 4 - -
piling up too RAPIDLY and that he was
all In addition to carrying his own
marking stake for the position Of the
ball, and directing the work OF the
two assistant ifnesmen with the rods,
he was also delegates to watch for
orside plays. an unusually important
work. and also handfethe stop watch
one mans task in itself. The Held
Judge has been returned to the field
and in addition to assuming some Of
his Old duties and relieving the ref.
cree and umpire. he win also take the
timing Of the hands OF the head lines
man The latter VIII have q very
hard task to take its place.
Used Starting Signal.
| In the past year many OF the teams
have been using starting signal for
their plays. thus enabling them 60 get
the Jump on their opponents. and ac-
tuafly be a BIT offside when the play
starts. as they have been able to
charge across the neutral zone Just as
the BAH IS started back from the CEN
ter. II the ltnesman has no other
task TO distract him he can soon nut
an end to this practice. It now seems
to be the feeling all over the country
that football has been brought around
TO a wonderful position again. and
that unless something unforeseen de
tvefops IN the next few years the game
win be in for run OF popularity and
success for a long period. It IS TO be
hoped that it win not become the OBJ
i ject OF attack Of Impractical football
/ men IN the next decade.
-0oiTar Day, Sept 49,
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