The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-15
RULES COMMITTEE
TAKES COGN|zANCE.
Of YOUNG PLAYERS
lnstiIs Fundamentals in Minds
Of Youngsters and Specifies
lnfracti0ns to Avoid.
By BRYAN MORSE.

The football season Is here. Despite
the report of frost at Cumberland and
the preliminary practice dates an
nounced. the real season starts today
with the arrival of the Spalding OFF,
cial Football Guide.
Practically all Of the big colleges are
getting under way the first week in
September. but players and coaches
will have plenty of food for thought
from, today on. as the blue books will
form the basis for deal OF study and
thought.
Besides the usual records Of teams.
schedules for the year. lists OF off,
cials, compilations of long kicks and
runs. and the football code there Is an
interesting foreword by the rules COM
mittee.
For the first time In the history of
the game; those Instrumental In taking
at the root Of the matter in taking into
starting In to play the game.
Discovering that football Is not essen
TALLY a college game. but rather a
scholastic proposition where the funda-
mentals are learned and practiced to
insure success in college later, the rules
committee discourages holding. side
line coaching. talking to opponents.
beating the ball. and talking to officials.
1.-THE football player who intention
ally violates rule is guilty Of unfair
play and unsportsmanlike tactics, and
lied. he brings discredit to the good Of
the game which is his duty as player
to uphold" says the rules committee.
This with clearer definition OF some
of the knotty problems Of last season
and the fact that the rules are un-
changed Is a far step toward achieving
the perfect code. .-.. ....
The principal alterations In the rules
were made rather for the purpose Of
clearing up debatable points than In
any way to alter the style or character
istics of play. An added penalty In de-
lay of game at intermfssion Is imposed.
The fact that a player can be forced
back for a safety is specifically defined
by striking this out of the code. Fouls
committed by players behind their goal
down.
Restrictions on a player back Of the
line OF scrimmage. the quarterback In
particular. are such that the player cam
not receive the forward pass unless he
fuli yard back. Officials winked at
legal passes were received and convert
ed into good gains In this manner. A
guard or tackle must be dropped a full
eve yards back in order to either throw
the pass or act as interference or to re-
ceive the pass.
A player catching the punt<out can
not be intefered with unless an<attempt
has been made to catch or bat the ball
while in flight. 1t is not illegal for line.
men to strike with locked hands in the
act of breaking through.
set OF approved ground rules has
been appended to the rules this year
which will go far toward Strengthening
out knotty problems of the past.
Washington will have plenty Of first
class football this season. For the FRS
time In a decade there will be NV,
teams in action. counting the Maryland
State College OF Agriculture. formerl,
and Familiarity known as the Maryland
Aggies.
Georgetown will have pretentiou
schedule. starting the 23d of next month
and running into December contes
with Tulane University at New Orleans
Georgetown opens with Randolph-Ma
con on September %. Catholic Uni
versity'open up the next Saturday will
Eastern College, of Manassas, Va,
There will be no footballess Satur
DAYS here, for one of the Ave colleges
Georgetown, Catholic University. Georg
Washington University Maryland State
and Gallaudet will have a game or tw,
on tap II these are insufficient tn
Navy Is playing good. strong eleven
every Saturday at Annapolis.