Evening star., 1916-09-13
BY II. c. BYRD.

u. Ss . L xt0s
The style and general Characters
tics of foot ball this fall remain the
same While there have been some Few
in the rules, no changes
vitally affecting the sport are in evil
dence. Practically every alteration has
tionable points and the establishment
of we'll defined interpretations.
One of the main points cleared up
is that relating to the making OF a
safety by throwing the man with the
ball back across the goal line. Last
year the rules provided that the oaii
was down where it's forward progress
ceased, but another section allowed the
ball to be down behind the goal line II
man was tackled two yards from
the line and thrown back across: rms
was inconsistent with the rule IN ell
feet in other places on the heid. IT Was
pointed out on numerous occasions tnat
if the point where the progress OF tne
ball stopped was the place where the
ball should be declared dead. then two
yards from the goal line was no on
ferent from other places on the held.
The rules committee took up this dues-
ton, and eliminated altogether the par
agraph allowing a safety when man
is thrown back across the goal. holding
that the ball is dead anywhere tnat
it's forward progress might cease. ,
When one. team delays unnecessarily
during intermission the offended SIDE
besides receiving the penalty of TWEEN.
ty-five yards. shall have the choice OF
goal. This choice of goal was not given
in the rules last season.
Any foul committed behind the goa!
line which would deprive the offended
side of an opportunity to recover the
ball and make touchdown shall couht
as a touchdown for the offended team
This does not hold good in the case
of punt, a safety being allowed then
For instance, if a team is puntIng from
behind it's own goal and one or its
players holds an opponent Whlle the
ball is in the air, or the ball toucheS
a member of the kicking side behlnd
the goal before coming in contact with
a member of the opposing eleven, a
safety shall be declared in favor OF the
team not defending the goal. In the
event the ball is fumbled behind the
goal line and a player of the side de-
Tending the goal kicks it out of the
reach of an opponent, Notwithstanding
that he may thereafter fall on 1t nm
self, a touchdown shall be declared
for the other side. This would naturai,
ly be the case. as when loose ball
is kicked anywhere in the field 1t goes
to the opposing team at the spot where
the foul was committed.
Any Backfeld Formation Legal.
provision in the rules last season
was such that backfleld man would
have to be either on the line of scrim-
mage or at least one yard behind it
This was seldom enforced because il
was realized that the quarterback
would never be a yard back of the line
of scrimmage when taking the pall
from center and it was not intended
that he should be- even when the ball
was passed direct to somebody else
This year that provision is eliminated
except that quarterback must pc az
least one yard behind the line to be
eligible to receive a forward pass.
In past years players have not both
cred about running into the man catch
ing the ball on n punt-out. but tins IS
provided against especially NO man
not of the kicker's side may now touch
the catcher of the ball except in
genuine attempt to bat the ball.
There has always been provision in
the rules that linemen, when breaking
through, could not strike with their
locked hands. This has been altered
that it is illegal for any players at any
time to use locked hands.
Last season, in several big games,
points were brought up by officials over
which disagfeements occurred. In
stances are recorded where officials OF
repute ruled exactly opposite on some
part Of the code. which was slightly am
biguous. In the rule book this season
the majority Of these debf table points
are classified and approved rulings
given. They simply hold to the reason
able and fair-play side of each ques-
ton.
II a forward pass is caught stimuli
taneously by the man eligible to make
the catch and a member of the defen-
sive team, the ball shall belong to the
man of the side making the pass.
1t has often been customary for a team
to stop play when one of it's members was
touched by a punted ball before it hit the
of the defensive eleven, thinking the ball
dead under the provision that 1t belonged
to the other side. This is not the case
and the ball is always in play. player
of the opposing side could pick up the
ball. run for a touchdown and then de-
cline the penalty. 1t was also made
known that the position of the feet of
the player determines whether or not the
ball is out of bounds, either in the end
zone or along the side lines. II player
eligible to receive a forward pass stands
with one foot in the field of play and
the other out and touches a forward pass
and the ball then falls In the field of
play it shall be ruled out of bounds.
Peculiar Play Ruled On.
Last year a small college team in West
backfield man climbed on the shoulders
Of giant tackle and. sitting there, re-
ceived a forward pass. being well out of
the reach Of any defensive man. The
tackle stepped across the Wine and a