Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-17
CHANGES MADE IN
FLOOR GAME RULES
Revisions Give Centers Chance
to Get Into Play at Start
of the Game.
o. X, ON PERSONAL FOUL
By KARL LEE.

nevertheless important, change this
year. The rules governing the So
called Jump ball' have been revised
to eliminate the reversals that are
said by many to have intcrfered with
the progress of many good centers on
local teams. The present rules permit
the pivot man to face any direction,
provided both feet are inside his
own half Of the center circle
Atop Of this change it is ruled that
the jumper may catch the ball after
it has been tapped by either himself
or his opposite. The old rule making
it foul for either OF the jumpers TO
catch the ball or even touch it until
II has later been touched by other of
the ten players has caused great
confusion. The instinct of the player
is to drive into the game with all
possible speed as soon as the ball is
in action and this restriction checked
the speed and alacrity of at least two
men Tor the moment.
The rules otherwise are practically
the same as last year. The national
committees of the three great divi-
siops of the game-collegiate, ANA
teur Athletic union, and the Young
Mems Christian association have
decided that the game has about
reached perfection. A QUESTIONABLE
has been sent about the country to
the officials and coaches offering fur
ther suggestions, the principal one be-
ing that the ball should be put in
play from the side lines rather than
thrown up at center, but it is probable
that this will not prove popular
o. X. Personal Foul.
The personal foul was sanctioned
by majority OF the officials, coaches
and players quizzed in national
questions Immediately after the last
season closed. 1t was the con
census OF opinion that any player,
young or old, who persisted in
"roughing it" to the extent of COM
hitting four personal fouls should
be ruled out Of the contest for good.
One other minor change effected
by the committee is the refusal to
recognize a player who has been dis
missed from the game by the coach
earlier in the fray. The player can
not again obtain admittance to the
play. Captains of the teams were
given increased powers of arbitration
with officials and authority over the
men engaged in the play.
Play started generally throughout
the state in the last week. Norfolk
and Fremont both have entered town
leagues OF eight teams each and have
started we'll on the way to success
full season. In Lincoln the City
league is again in full swing, with
Temple, Lincoln, Havelock and
University Place high schools all en-
tering the first rounds. The local
Tri-City league has started, and, with
the dropping of the Brandeis quintet,
should leave a big hole open for the
championship to the Central squad.
Central Looks Good.
Coach Mulligan has a champ squad
practically made to order. The SPLEEN
did coaching of the last season will
show we'll this year and looking over
the schedule there is little chance for
the team to go stale. South High
school will come much stronger than
anticipated. Coach Patton has two
splendid fighting men in Etter and
Hunter, two new recruits from the
foot ball field. Commerce High
school will also have fast team in
the field. Coach Drummond has
about the same men TO work with as
he had last year. The team will prob
ably gain entrance into the second
division at the state tournament this
year. Last year it was listed in the
third and played we'll up into the
semi-hnals.
The schedules of the three local
teams include about every team OF
prominence or ability in the state.
The South schedule is especially
promising, bringing to Omaha most
OF the fast teams in the state. Cen
trail claims the cream of games in the
Missouri valley, and Commerce High
intends to clean up some of the hefty
Iowa hves, so Omaha will hardly be
left out of the swim.
Second teams will be recognized
about Omaha this year A league of
second-class teams has been started
in Council Bluffs, which will include
the South High seconds, Papillion,
the. School for the Deaf, Creighton,
high schools, the Bellevue academy
and others. The league will begin
business the first week after the
| Christmas vacation.
IT,