Evening star., 1915-02-07
FEW RULES CHANGED
Foot Ball Committee Makes
No Radical Alterations.
RESTRICTS FORWARD PASS
Officials Are Increased to Four-Re-
substition Regulation Is
Amended.

Special Dispatch 10 Inc star
NEW YORK, February 6.-As was
generally expected, the foot ball rules
committee which was in session TO-DAY
at the Biltmore, made no radical
changes in the playing code. The opin-
ion prevailed that the present game
had been brought to the point where
there should be no more tampering
with the essential points. except in SO
far as it was necessary to counteract
any tendency that might prevail to-
ward a reversion to the old style OF
play.
The most important points taken up
at the session had to do with the pro-
posal of Percy D. Haughton to elm
mate the forward pass out of bounds,
and the recommendation that in future
the players be numbered There also
was a provision passed that in future
there should be four officials, the posi-
ton of field judge having again been
brought into the game. II also was
voted to add to the foot ball guide a
list of approved rulings covering points
which had been decided in games and
which We're not included in the actual
rules. Most Of the other changes had
to do with a general Qualification. the
spirit of the rules not being altered,
X
being made. There were many fresh
menda tions before the committee
which came from all parts of the coun-
try, but they did not lind any favor.
DistarEe Gaining Stunt Barred.
The new provision with regard
to the forward pass has to do with
passing out of bounds as method of
gaining distance when the defense
presented is too strong. The custom
was very prevalent during the past
sea son, and it was thought that it
worked a measure of injury against
the opposing eleven. The pass could
be maze with Il fair degree of ac
curacy, with the result that the ball
went to the opposing eleven some
times under its own goal posts. There
was no opportunity to overcome the
advantage OF the play except by inter
ception, and that was remote possi
biiity. 1t was argued that a kick was
less certain OF accomplishment than
the pass, and il il dlu not go ri ight and
landed on the gridiron the opposing
eleven would have the opportunity OF
running it back. Under the new ar
rangement the pass IN such an in
rule provinces that any forward pass
which goes out OF bounds shall be
considered an imcompleted forward pass,
whether it strikes a player or not and
ball shall go to the opponents at the
position OF the last line OF scrim-
mage. Under the old rule the ball was
brought back into the playing field at
the point where 1t crossed the side
line
The question Of numbering players,
which mas been advocated during the
past two seasons, received favora BILE
action from the committee, but il was
not made mandatory. 1t lakes the
form of accommodation, which, OF
course, the colleges can accept or ig-
more. but it is likely that with the
scheme having the official approval of
the rules committee it Will be general
ly adopted. The committee considered
that il could not place such a condi-
ton as part of the playing rules of the
game, it would be a difficult thing to
define its limits
II it had been made a part OF the
rules there undoubtedly would have
had to be definite stipulation of the
size of the numbers and perhaps of
the method of numbering. and it was
numbering would cause less confus-
ion, letting each college follow its de-
sires.
Another question which was consid-
cred By the committee was that of send
ing substitutes into the game armed
with Instructions from the coaches. II
was realized that this was an evil which
it would be hard to combat and that a
dehn1te rule would be difficult to enforce
"A resolution was passed, however
deprecating such a method of gaining an
advantage.
Restrict Resubstitution.
In the future no resubstitution of play
ers will be permitted except at the be-
ginning Of period. Under the old rule
this held true for the first three periods
of a game but in the fourth period men
could be sent in at any time. The new
rule eliminates this feature. 1t was the
working of the old rule which practi-
cally enabled Yale to win over Prince
ION. fdr the veterans who had been
taken out were sent back during the
fourth period when the Tigers rallied.
A new rule distinguishes between rum
ming into the fullback when he is punt
ing and roughing the fullback. The
first provides for 15-yard penalty.
but the second brings the penalty and
disqualification. Another change il PEN
alties is made in the rule relating to
unsportsmanlike conduct. In the past
there was only one alternative if the
referee would inflict a penalty and that
was disqualification. This was such