New-York tribune., 1916-02-27
No Changes of Importance
Made in Rules After the
Conference Here.
NUMBERING PROBLEM
LEFT UNSETTLED
Some Changes Made in the
Rules Which Govern Various
Phases of Forward Pass.

tcrddy forenoon, Ie1t 'nlnIS III TIC ihN."
pretty much as they were before the
conference OF the football doctors was
called.
The question of numbering the play
ers was officially avoided, according TO
Walter Camp. of Yale, who was elected
secretary of the committee at the meet
ing, and so this matter will be left TO
the discretion Of the colleges them
selves, with the indication that numer-
ais will sooner or later be found on the
jerseys Of all gridiron players.
Mr.. Camp seemed 20 be far more IN
terested in the increasing OF the PEN
alty for interference with the catcher
OF forward pass from ten 70 hfteen
yards than in q discussion Of the num-
bering of the players. The feeling OF
the committee, said Mr.. Camp, was that
the penalty for such an infraction OF
the rules should be made even more
severe, but il was decided finally that
il the punishment was made too great
the officials in a game would be liable
TO err on the side of leniency and only
enforce the penalty in extreme cases.
The rule affecting the forward pass
also received some changing at the
hands of the committee, and when the
teams take up the game again in the
A forward pass made on the first, sec
ond or third down by team near ito
own goal line, which becomes incom-
plete by striking the ground behind the
goal line, is a safety just as a run
ming play II down in that territory
would be a safety, but IL incomplete
on the fourth down, the ball goes 10 the
opposing side at the point where the
scrimmage occurred.
When the side is attacking If for
ward pass on the first, second or third
down strikes the goal posts or cross
bar il becomes a touchback, and on the
/ fourth down, il it strikes the goal posts
/ or crossbar, il goes to the opposing
/ side on the spot of scrimmage.
Baseball Does Interfere.
That managing a National League
baseball team is bound 70 interfere
with a mans football activities was
/ indicated when Mr.. Camp spoke as
though Percy d. Haughton might not
be found mex. season as Harvard's rep
resentative on the rules committee.
The central board OF officials, accord
ing TO Mr.. Camp, will be composed next
year of the same men who acted on 1t
last year. with one, and possibly two,
exceptions. namely. that DR.. W. A. Lam
beth will succeed J. W. Cope on the
board. and Harvard's representative,
whoever he may be, will I'LL the o.her
place in the event that Mr.. Haughton
does not continue as the Harvard del
egate."
] For the specific purpose OF infuenc-
ing schoolboy players to play the game
in sportsmanlike manner, after they
enter the universities, h. X. Hall. OF
Dartmouth, chairman of the commit
tee, will draw up code OF ethics on
the game. This is primarily intended
TO Offset any undesirable practices that
the schoolboy players may have been
taught by their coaches.
Considering the widespread interest
taken by the public that attends the
big games every season in the question
Of numbering the players, the lack Of
definite action by the committee came
somewhat a. a surprise.
Mr.. Camp said the matter had been
discussed in an informal manner, but
that the committee considered it of so
little importance that it had not even
been made formal point in the discus
sion. Rumor had il, however, that the
members of the committee held an in
formal vote, standing to in favor OF
/ letting things take their own course
and leaving the numbering purely
matter Of voltion with each team in
volved.
II is believed that the rules commit
! tee, seeing the almost universal move
on the part of the colleges to place
numerals on the backs of the players,
/ is satisfied 70 let matters take their
! own course, with the feeling that with
/ in a comparatively short time the prac-
1 tice will be in vogue everywhere.
Some Of the plays that were in high
favor last year will be radically af-
/ fected By the rule adopted yesterday
making IL Illegal FOR lineman not on
the end Of the line to receive a forward
pass Where formerly, under Rule 9.
Section I, the guards. tackles or cen
tire could be pulled In back Of the line
Tor any purpose. thus b,ing entitled 20
receive a forward pass. thes" men will
now have 20 stand at the end OF the
line This IS designed to prevent
/ lineman from being used in the inter-
ference. as frequently happened last
year, when the man supposed 70 make
the pass did not have time 20 do so,
and the man called back was able TO
add his weight TO the interference.
Quarterback Is Restricted.
Another amendment adopted at yes
terday's meeting relates to Rule 9. Sec
ton /, under which the formation -
permissible II the ball is snapped TO
a halfback instead of TO the quarter
back, but in this case, II the quarter
back is 10 receive forward pass he
must be az least one yard behind the
line Of scrimmage. This means that IN
the future quarterback Will not be
able 20 shoot through the line and take
a short pass over the line OF scrim-
mage.
In the case Of man attempting TO
make a fair catch with one foot out
sid, the playing field boundaries, who
is interfered with before ne actually
touches the ball, even though the ball
would be called out OF bounds II he
caught il, i, is regarded as interference
with the catch because it could not be
known that the player signalling
would not actually pull in his foot be-
fore making the catch.
Intentional fumbling upon the part
Of teams will probably be less frequent
next season because of rule adopted
yesterday which makes II imperative
that after tumble on the fourth down
there must be an actual attempt 10 get
possession of the ball by the defending
side before recovery by the attacking
side may recover and claim hrst
down.
Among the other rules framed by the
committee at the Biltmore are these:
The referee can call the game on sc-
count Of darkness. A player who is
substituted illegally behind the goal
I line is thereby disqualified. A player
, on a kicked ball when IL becomes a free
t. 81. l. Ior