The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14

has been made. football in 1915. not only
10 the casual but to the well posted
spectator will differ in no material
manner from that Of the last few sea-
sons.
This years meeting, from a purely
football standpoint was indeed
"standpat" affair. There were no
changes OF Importance made in the act
ual playing code but the committee re-
solved to allow general playing con-
dltions TO stand as they were and spent
It's time figuring out few ethical prob
lens, with results that should meet
with general favor II was nearly ten
years ago that the game received a
general overhauling, and recently II
was intmated that the rule makers,
now that the game was saved would
let down n few of the safeguards and
allow some Of the strenuous features
VI the old game to creep back but such
has not proved the case. This years
meeting proved that the committee in
tends to be vigilant always.
\ football meeting would not be
football meeting unless some little tnk-
sriug were done to the forward pass,
but the 1915 repairs did not amount
to much The change that has been
made In forward pass conditions IL
simple enough. being merely that here
after when forward pass Is thrown
beyond the side line limits the ball
shall be returned 20 the spot where II
was put into play, remaining the prop
erty OF the attacking ,eam after
first second or third down, or becom-
ing the property OF the defenders after
a fourth down. Formerly, when the
ball was thrown outside II became the
possession Of the defending team, at
the point where the ball crossed the
side line.
This change was believed necessary
because. last season. there was ten
dency on the part OF many teams to
use the forward pass as n defensive
measure instead of kicking when well
down the field, passes often being aimed
for the side lire 30 as to cross IL
at a point so far down the field that
the opponent when placed on attack
would be at the nearest possible point
from It's, own goal line.
The most Important rulings Of the
committee were those placing 10 yard
penalty for an attacking players rum
ming mo an opponent after the referees
whistle has sounded and 3 yIrd pen
atty against q player for recourse 10
what is known among 10 tbal men as
. Indian" interference bit Of tactics
in which an attacking pl Yer uses his
legs to strike opponent above the knee.
It long has been illegal 10 trip an OPP
posing player but for several seasons
there has been great progress made
a. ng the lines Of Indian" Interference.
This IL an Interference designed orig
nally to brelk up the so-called sec
ondary defence. An alta ck'ng player
who finds himself unable to shoulder the
defence man out OF the way has been
i s.aha 20 h.. IA hn1t kfg
opp. nent. twist himself onto his back
and then Kick up his legs with the in
tcntiun TO spill his man by this means.
And il has been necessary to hit his
opponent above the knees to avoid trip
ping.
The Carlisle Indians hrst used this
/ met cd Of interference, ard many other
: oHcs5s, notably Harvard. have improved
the system, the Cambridge eleven hay
ing . ONE remarkably adept in It's use
so ~iuch so that Harvard's open field
Interference has become the most eftec-
tive In use to-day. The '1nd.an" stun,
however. has been ruled out because the
rule makers believed 1t led to injuries
and would lead to more II the practice
We're allowed to continue. on first
thought the change In the rule perhaps
would seem direct slap at Harvard,
Carlisle, West Point. Penn State and a
few others. but that this Is the case Is
emphatiCally denied by the rules com
mttee, which was unanimous for the
change, 1t being understood that even
Percy Haughton did not OFFER protest.
The change in the rule. however, does
not mean that "Indlanzng" will not be
allowed in the future. Attacking players
still can hold to the practice. but must
be very careful that their own legs, be-
tween the knee ana foot, do not strike
an opponent. The body. from shoulder
. 70 knee, still may be thrown across an
/ opponent for the purpose of putting him
out of the play, but II the defending
player is struck by that part Of the in
terferers leg which is below the knee
the penalty will he / 5 yards, as in the
case OF ordinary tripping
The committee this year has made a
sevs .ble ruling In distinguishing between
unnecessary and uniutentional roughness
in the case when a player, striving 10
block "a kick. runs into the kicker and
knocks him down. Oftentimes IT has
happened that n player making a bona
hde EFFORT to block u kick has unnten-
tioually knocked the kicker over. The
rules heretofore have placed "A very re-
we're penalty on this offence, that of half
the distance TO the goal line and the dis
qualification of the offending player.
Hereafter. and under any circumstances,
when the kicker is upset, there shall be
l5-yard penalty. but the half-the-dis-
lance to-the-Foal penalty will not be
meted out except IN cases Of fragrant
Intentional oughuess-roughness which
I'm the opinion of the officials, is DELHI
crate and aimed to put the kicker out OF
commission.
II may be seen readily that the above
changes in rulings will not affect the
game in any vital manner. but will be
Of help in bringing about cleaner sport
and at the same time viii aid In pre-
venting injuries. Also designating the
field judge rather than the lnesman as
timekccper will tend TO make the teams
have more regard for the rules. The
liuesmau heretofore besides having his
own stake for downs TO carry, has beer
Ia charge OF the stakemon with tn,
chain. has been on the qui vive for OFF
side play and holding and all this II
addition to holding the stop watch WI ict
demands no slight attention. The lines
mans station being opposite the bal
where he can look through the neutra
zone which separates the clevens as they
line up for the scr.mmage, he Is In AZ
excellent position to note offside play
This last duty the rule makers believe
has come 20 be one OF the most impor
tUut for the iincHmnn, mainly, perhaps
. bo..uyr so many Of tho teams use
sorting signal, which In itself bring
D tie charging forwards right up TO tn,