New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
Forward Pass No Longer
Can Be Used as Strategic
Play for a Punt.
CODE NOW PROVIDES
FOR A FIELD JUDGE
Numbering the Players Strongly
Recommended by Members
of the Committee.

Important but not radical changes
were made in the football code and a
few corrective measures adopted which
may add to the popularity OF the
game, at the meeting OF the rules
committee in the Hotel Bitmore yes
terday.
Walter Camp said that Il was the
sense % the meeting that football was
more popular now than ever before IN
its history. lie declared that larger
numbers OF young men were playing
il, and that the public was becoming
more interested IN each succeeding
year.
Il was not in a desire 70 "let vel
enough alone" that none OF the sew
eral radical changes suggested By
some were not adopted. but rather 10
mould more strongly a growing insti-
tuition. Mr. Camp said that the real
purpose OF the meeting WAS 20 clarity
certain points and make few minor
changes which would work for the
benefit Of the sport
The most important change provides
that a forward pass out Of bounds on
the last down gives the defensive side
possession of the ball at the point
from which the ball was put in play
on the preceding down tinstead Of at
the point at which il crossed the side
lines. On the first, second or third
down a forward pass out Of bounds
shall be regarded a. an lncompleted
pass and be brought back 20 the point
of the preceding down, as in the case
OF the ordinary grounded pass.
This change wa. made in order 20
prevent a team which had penetrated
deep into an opponents territory. only
70 have its advance checked. from hurl-
ing the leather out of bounds on the
two or three yard line. This was done
many times last year, until IL became
quite as much a part OF the tactics on
the game as the punt
The change was suggested by Percy
d. Haughton, of Harvard, as told IN
The Tribune on Friday.
Preference Goes to Attack.
Il also was definitely decided that
when an attacking player and defen-
J sive player make a Simultaneous catch
/ of a forward pass the ball shall
| be awarded TO the former. Further, II.
ball, after being legally passed for
ward, is caught BY player either in
the end zone or near the side lines az
any point Of the field, the position Of
the players feet and not that Of the
ball shall determine whether or not
/. it is properly completed forward
pass. That is to say, If player
whose feet are within the boundary
/ line, catches a ball which may be out
/ side the field Of play at the moment
! it is caught, the pass is legal. II, on
/ the other hand, the ball be inside q
( full yard, but the players feet be out.
/ il is not legal pass.
/ Another change IN the rules govern
/ ing the forward pass which will work
/ for the better was made in the removal
] OF penalty for a player Of the at
! lacking side who had been eligible TO
receive a pass recovering a tumble
made by one of his own team before
I an opponent touched the ball.
A. a case in point: Two ends might
90 down the field, crossing 70 point
over the centre of the line. One, play
ing short, leaps up and touches a ball.
but fails 20 hold it, The other end
RECEIVERS the ball before an opponent
touches il. Under the old rules the
side making this play would be pc
nslized ten yards. Under the new rule
IL would count merely as an incom-
plsted pass. with no penalty other than
the loss of a down.
Field Judge Now Must
At the suggestion OF Walter Camp,
which was supported By Percy D.
Haughton and many others who have
I the interest Of football az heart, the
( field judge was definitely restored.
Last year the choice Of field judge
was made optional Il was proved.
however, that with the many situa-
4 tions arising from the forward pass
and the unlimited possibilities OF the
new game, the referee and umpire
/ and linesman were oyerburdened.
! So the fourth official was ordered
| and 1t will be written in the rules. He
. shall act as assistant TO the referee,
performing such duties as may be as
{ signed 10 him, and, in addition thereto,
/ will keep time. 1t was found that the
/ linesman had enough TO do 20 follow the
course Of the ball without keeping
/ track OF the time, and this applied
especially in the closing minutes OF q
game. when seconds might decide the
issue.
4 Unsportsmanlike conduct, which has
been covered in a loose sort OF way IN
/ the old rules. bet left 20 the discretion
/ OF the officials, is now punishable BY a
/ loss of fifteen yards, in addition 20 the
/ former penalty Ct suspension for the
remainder of a game for aagrant
| violation.
| II was decided that the centre rush
must make his pass in one continuous
motion, and must let the ball go. Many
| teams used play last season IN which
/ the centre moved the ball back, and
/ then held II until lineman raced
around and took u.
/ The rule prohibiting tripping was
amplifed and made broader in ITS
scope, and now the use Of the feet and
! legs in blocking an end IS Denslized by
a loss Of fifteen yards. heretofore
! tripping was construed as obstructlng
q player below the knee with the hand
/ or that part OF the obstructing players
! leg that is below the knee. The laws
/ on holding contain nothing on holding
with the legs. So IL happened that a
halfback in taking out an end could
hook his legs about him and hold him
quite as effectively as though he used
| his arms.
Il was not only 20 discourage this
shaving Of the rules that the COMMITTEES
made this change. Many PLAYERS. espe-
cially those on the secondary defence
and ends, were injured By some player
whirling his legs about in the air high
enough 10 avoid penalty on mere
! tripping.
Rule Against Rough Play.