Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-27
NO GREAT CHANGES
Foot Ball Rules Committee
MakessTechnicaI Alterations.
ONE PENALTY INCREASED
Interference With Receiver Of For
ward Pass Means Loss Of Fiji
teen Yards.

NEW YORK. February 2s.-No
radical changes will be incorporated in
the foot ball code for 1916 as the re-
suit of the two-day conference of the
intercollegiate foot ball rules commit
tee, which closed here today. The sug-
sestion to make mandatory rule re-
/ quiring all players to wear numbers
in each game was only casually dis
cussed, and no formal vote was taken
on the proposition. according to Walter
Camp, secretary of the committee.
Opposition to the scheme from a
number of the larger eastern and mid
die western university coaches Is I'M
derstood to have developed. The claim
was made that to number the players
would destroy the stra1egical value of
leges could easily solve the compli-
Gated offensive and defensive moves
built around certain players II the
chief factors were plainly ldent1hed by
numbers.
The rules in general. however. were
gone over carefully and a number OF
changes made both in phraseology and
in substance. Among the more important
was the changing from ten to hfteen-
yard penalty for foul committed
catch of a forward pass. The committee
also ruled that where a team Is late In
appearing for the second half OF the
game the offended side shall have choice
of goals; made it allowable to bat ball on
punt out as well as forward pass, but
decided that an opponent may not run
into the catcher except in bona fide at
tempt to catch or bat ball.
Other Changes Made.
The task of codifying rules to meet
conditions in certain restricted playing
fields was left to the editor Of the rules
book following certain general lines laid
down by the committee. 1t also was de-
cided that leaping back Of a teammate
in order to receive a forward pass was
legitimate, provided the man with his
feet on the ground did not aid the catcher
by advancing. Another change makes it
allowable for a player to push an oppo-
nent out of the way in order to obtain a
kicked ball which by fumbling has be-
come a free ball.
1t was further ruled that guard, CEN
ter or tackle to be eligible to receive Q
forward pass must be at the end Of the
line of scrimmase when the ball is put
into play. In the case of receiver Of
such a pass standing with one foot ON
or over the side line and touching the
ball which then bounds into the field of
play, the ball is ruled out of bounds.
Penalty Of Touchdown.
1t was decided that foul committed
by defending side behind its own goal
line which deprives opponent Of an oppor-
tunity to secure a free ball shall result
in touchdown for the offended team.
If. however, the foul is committed while
q hal 10 IN, he fp fhA .I.cr
be safety. ~
Where the defending side makes an
uncompleted forward pass from behind
it's own goal line on the first, second or
third down which is grounded behind
the line or hits goal posts or bar. it
shall count as safety; on the fourth
down it goes to the opponents at the
point of scrimmage. A forward pass
| made by attacking team on first, sec
| ond or third down hitting goal posts
| or bar becomes touchback; on fourth
down goes to opposing eleven at point
of scrimmage.