New-York tribune., 1916-06-19
CODE OF ETHICS
FOR GRIDIRON
WEN ANNOUNCED
Rules Committee Warns
Football Players Against
UnspOrtsmanShip.

Boston. June ia code Of ethics TO
govern the game of football beyond the
point where the rules now stop was
announced tonight by +. K. Hall, Of
Dartmouth, chairman OF the football
rules committee. All the members of
the committee, which comprises four
teen graduate representatives of vari-
Gus colleges in the East and Middle
West. subscribed TO the code. IL is the
frat such formulation of principles TO
be drawn up for any sport in this coun-
try, according TO those who planned 1t.
Summarizing the code, the committee
states: "You may meet players, and
even coaches, who will tell you that 1t
is all right TO violate the rules il you
do rot get caught. This is the code
that obtains among sneak thieves and
pickpockets The crime in their code Is
in getting caught.
"The football code Is different. The
PLAYER who Intentionally violates rule
Is guilty of unfair play and unsports-
manike tactics, and. whether he es-
capes being penalized, he brings dis
credit to the good name Of the game.
The code, as finally promulgated by
the committee, follows:
Both in play and by tradition foot
ball is distinctiyely an academic game
the game of the schools and the col
leges. The friends Of the game must
accordingly rely on the schools and col
leges for the preservation Of its past
traditions and the maintenance Of the
high standards of sportsmsnship in its
play. which are to be expected in a dis
tlnctively academic game.
"In some sports IL is possible 70 at
- l. L. l.. II. -s., i l. al, v,.r,Ir
by the adoption and enforcement of
rules. but that is not true in football.
There are 50 many men engaged in ac-
ton, the action is so rapid and so con-
stantly shifting that it is impossible
for any official to discover every pos
sible infraction of De rules.
"The committee, in the remodelling
Of the rules. that has gradually taken
place in the last ten years, has en-
deavored TO prohibit and suitably pc
nalize all forms of unfair tactics and
practices. II has also endeavored, 50
far as possible, without affecting the
integrity of the game itself, 70 remove
special temptation or opportunity Tor
spOrtsmanlike play.
For the benefit Of those who are
just beginning 20 learn the game, the
Rules Committee has decided TO pub
lsh in the official book of rules the fo.-
lowing suggestions:
Holding is prohibited by the rules
because it does not belong in the game
of football. IL is unfair play. 1t elm
mates skill. The slowest man in the
world could make fortyyard run IN
every play if the rest of his team
mates would hold their opponents long
enough. The game is to advance the
ball by strategy, skill and speed with
out holding your opponent.
Coaching from the side lines is pro-
hibted in the rules because 1t is con-
sidered an unfair practice. The game
I is to be played by the players using
their own muscle and their own brains
If an onlooker, having seen all the
hands in a game of cards, undertook
to tell one Of the players what card
to play, the other players would have
cause to object
Beating the ball" by an unfair use
of a starting signal IS nothing less
than deliberately stealing an advantage
from the other side. An honest start
ing signal is good football, but a start
ing signal which has for It's purpose
starting the team fraction OF sec
ond before the ball is put in play, IN
the nope tnaI lL Will UOL Dt utbtSNNN ~
the officials. is nothing short Of crook
edness. 1t is the same as If sprinter
in hundred-yard dash had secret
arrangement with the starter to give
him a tenth of second warning before
he blew the whistle.
Talking to your opponents, If It fall
short of being abusive or insulting, is
not prohibited by the rules, partly be-
cause it ought not to be necessary and
partly because no rules can make
gentleman out of a mucker No good
sportsman is ever guilty Of cheap talk
20 his opponents.
"When an official imposes penalty
or makes decision he IS simply doing
his duty as he sees 1t. He Is on the
field representing the integrity OF the
game of football, and his decision, even
though he may have made a mistake IN
Judgment, is final and conclusive and
should be so accepted. Even If you
think the decision is a mistaken one,
take your medicine and do not whine
about il. If there Is anything TO be
said. let your captain do the talking.
That's his business. Yours IS TO keep
quiet and play the game"