Evening journal., 1915-08-23
minor CHANCES IN
FOOTBALL RULES
Amendments Seek Elimina-
ton of Rough Play
From Sport
TO NUMBER PLAYERS;
HAVE THREE OFFICIALS

lOOLUdllt
changes in the rules which take ef-
feet this season has to do with the
elimination of rough play. Further
more the committee has taken half
step in the direction of numbering all
players on the field by recommending
numbers be worn. The success which
numbering players in college basket
ball games and in the few games in
which numbers we're used by football
teams last fall has achieved, brought
the rules committee around to the new
way of thinking II is probable that
the next revision will see the step
fully taken and numbers made neces-
sary for all players.
The presence of a field Judge on
the gridiron has been made obligatory
This means that henceforth there Will
be three officials on the field of play
and the head linesman on the side
lines. II is from the linesman that
most of the duties of the leld judge
have been taken, the object being to
leave the former free 10 observe the
particular province Of the game
which he is detailed to watch, par
ticularly offside play.
The field Judge will be little more
than timekeeper-in-ch chief, for his main
duties will be TO time the play, start
ing his watch not with the signal of
the referee but with the swapping OF
the hall into play. This is a little re-
6nement of the rules which will pre-
vent a team from causing an unneces-
sary delay between the signal ana
putting the ball into play, because
there can be no delay until the ball Is
actually set in motion.
There will be an end to the rough
Ing up of opposing players after the
whistle has blown by the new rules,
which bars interferers from knocking
down the secondary defense after the
whistle has been footed. and also pre-
vents a defensive player from running
into an opponent when the ball is
dead. This rule will do much to elm
mate from the game some of its worst
features. because a backheld man OF
defense will be immune from, con-
stantly repeated battering designed
70 discount his effectiveness.
Greater protection is afforded the
fullback than ever before. Hereafter
here will be a differentiation between
running into the full-back and rough
ing the full-back. For r unning into
him there is a penalty of Is yards. but
Tor roughing him there is a penalty OF
is yards and disqualification Of the
offending player in addition.
Another change that aims at what
war characterized as an unauthorized
means Of advancing the ball rules a
forward pass as incomplete in which
the ball passes out of bounds on the
fy. whether it has touched a man or
not. This will put an end to the prac-
tice of passing out of bounds as a
substitute for a kick.
In an effort to put an end to whole
sale resubstitution the rules have been
amended whereby a man once taken
out of the game can be resubstituted
only at the beginning of a period.
Stopping the practice of sending in
substitutes with the purpose of con-
veying information is deprecated by
the Rules Committee. but it could
see no clear way to stamp out the evil.
Drastic Penalties for Offenders.
More rigorous punishment is to be
meted out for unsportsmanlike con-
duct, too Not only must the referee
fix a penalty of Is yards, but it is also
discretionary in him to disqualify the
offending player or players. BY un-
sportsmanlike conduct the rule is de-
fined TO include the use of abusive or
insulting language to the officials or
opponents, concealing the ball under
meath the clothing, substituting an
article other than the ball and hiding
on the sidelines.
In swapping the ball into play. once
the centre has begun the motion, play
starts, and he must go through with
It and let the ball go. This prevents a
trick play devised by some genius OF
the gridiron whereby the centre ap-
peared to pass the ball and in reality
held onto it until another player slip
ped in behind him and took it from his
hands.
Blocking and interfering by throw
ing ones legs in the air is taboo. and
such play if detected brings down a
15-yard penalty. Throwing up ones
legs and striking an opponent above
the knee merits 15-yard loss. and
striking the opponent similarly below
the knee is the same as tripping.
Where a second eligible player
touches a forward pass after it has
been touched by an eligible player
It is an incompleted pass, according
to the rules, and counts as one down
Unless the captain designates other
wise. the referee will bring the ball
out is yards from the side line where
1t has gone out of bounds.
These approved rulings are also
promulgated by the committee as Of.
ncial and supplementary to the
guide:
A forward pass IS caught simultsne.
ously by a member OF the passer's
SIDE and by an opponent Ruled
POSSESSION Of the ball belongs to the
side putting the ball into play.
A member Of side kicking ball is
touched by ball when offside. Ruled
The ball is not automatically dead
play may ensue and penalty may bt
The ball is kicked off. soes Ice.
than ten yards and is then kickef
again. Ruled: AS kicking a loose
ball. -9'
Rule 6. Section 1Sa, should he fol.
lowed strictly. That wherever ths
ball is advanced. too, at that point
the whistle should be blown. that he.
ing the point where ball is dead
Rule is, Section 5-Two men sis
nal for fair catch: one touches tbs
ball and the other gets II still an tbs
ny. NO run allowed and ball Is dead
An offside play by opponents ant
an incompleted forward pass. or hold
Ing in the line by opponents. ana ar
incompleted forward pass. The frsi