The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-14
The new RULES
Complete List of Changes in
Football Playing Code.
Important Alterations in For
ward Pass Regulations.

Below will be found the complete
changes in the football rules, as MADE
by the rules committee at its recent
meeting in New York. After its meet
ing the committee refused to give out
the changes that had been made, ana
this is the first time they nave been
published in Topeka The changes
follow
An illegal substitution made by a
side wi n behind its own goal line IS
penalized by the disqualification of the
player so substituted, only
referee may arbitrarily terminate
a game on account of darkness.
If one side is late appearing for the
beginning Of the second half, and the
penalty is inflicted, the offending slde
also loses the choice of goals.
If 4 player signals for a fair catch
but in attempting to make the catch
the ball is fumbled and bounds, with
out touching the ground, into the
arms of another player of his OWL
side, this second man may not run
with The ball; if, however, the ball
upon being fumbled, touches the
ground and thereupon it is recovered
by another player of that side TINS
second man may run with the ball.
If a player has one foot on or out
side the side-line while making fair
catch and while his foot is in this po-
sition he either makes the catch or
touches the ball, the play shall go as
a "Kick Out of Bounds
-r-If the ball is fumbled and the
player fumbling RECEIVERS it out OF
bounds, it is his ball If he is inter-
Tered with while making or attempt
ing to make the catch with his foot on
or outside the side-line, it shall be
ruled as interference, for the player
otherwise might at the last moment
step inside the line and thus make the
catch fair.
If a player catches the ball from d
kick but as he heels it for fair catch,
Falls to the ground and the ball
touches the ground although still in
the arms of the catcher, it cannot be
ruled fair catch.
Unnecessary Roughness-
After the whistle blows, but before
the kick is actually made, If a
player of the defensive side charges
forward into an opponent it is unnec-
essary roughness.
Upon the kickoff if the ball crosses
the goal-line, but either before or
after touching the ground also crosses
either side-line extended, the ball is
a free ball. If recovered by the de-
fensive side it is a touchback; if re-
covered by the kicking side it is a
touchdown.
In many instances heretofore the
quarterback has lined up directly be-
hind the center, or occasionally at his
side, or even partly in front of the
center, and the ball thereupon would
be passed directly to another back. AS
the rule PROVIDES lndI All DdCh-Ilelu
men, except the player who first re-
ceives the ball from the snapper-back,
must be at least one yard behind the
line, the foregoing formation has been
Illegal but has been permitted. The
rules committee now has legalized the
formation.
The guards or center may run with
the ball if received from a second man,
provided that they are eligible to take
the pass by being at the time on the
end of the line.
In the eleventh line of Rule Is. Sec
ton =. page 119. change the word
point to distance Thus a penalty
for taking time out under the condi-
lions stated in this para graph no long
er will give the side with the ball d
first down, which has heretofore
made the penalty too severe.
Rule Rcvisions.
Page 100. Rule XVI, Section 9, par
agraph b.
On punt-out players on the defen-
-sive side in attempting to prevent the
fair catch must play the ball that is
they may not ignore the bali and in
terfere directly with the player at
tempting to make the catch. Being or
side these defensive players as here
fofore may make the catch themselves
or may try TO make it and any inter
ference on such an attempt would moi
count against them, but they may no
eh,,y the man wholly.
a player attempting to block pun
0at, also may bat the ball forward.
On kicked ball. which has become
a free ball. players of either side may
..se their hands and arms to push op.
ponents out of the way in order to ge
the ball.
j. The penalty for interfering with {
player attempting to receive for
ward pass has been increased from II
to 1 ) yards.
"A forward pass made by a team
from behind i4s own goal-line. on this