The Detroit times., 1916-03-08
Minor Innovations the
Gridders Must
Remember

Some of the minor changes made
in the football rules this winter may
be summed up as follows:
II a foul Is committed behind the
goal line when the ball Is in poe
session OF neither side and the foul
deprives an opponent Of the oppor.
tunity To get possession of the ball,
IL will be counted as touchdown,
provided the side Of the player on
whom the foul Is made would have
been in a position to make a touch
down had there been no foul.
II. however, the ball Is In the air,
as from q kick, when the foul is
made, II will bc counted as q safety.
This means that on a tumble be-
hind the goal line the committee is
aiming to stamp out unnecessary
roughness.
So too when a player attempting
to make fair catch has one foot
outside the field Of play. which, II
he actually caught the ball, would
result In its being called out of
bounds, and he is interfered with
before touching the ball. II is to be
regarded as interference with the
catch, because 1t cenld not be ascer-
tanned that the player signalling
would not actually pull in his foot
before making the catch.
\ Another ruling which strikes at
plays which had wide use last sea-
son makes II Illegal for a lineman
not on the end of the line to receive
n forwa ard pass. Under the old
wording Of rule 8. section 4, guards,
tackles or the centers might drop
back for any purpose and would
thereby become eligible to receive
the forward pass.
II often happened that when one
Of these players dropped back for
this purpose the man who was TO
make the pass was hurried and
abandoned his pass, thereby making
the lineman who had been drawn
back ali additional interferer. Now
10 receive a forward pass, according
tc the amendment, the lineman
eligible must be en- the end Of the
line Of scrimmagc.
Under rule 9. section /, II was de-
cidcd that the formation was not
illegal VI the hall is snapped TO a
halfback instead Of to quarter
back, but IL the quarterback is TO
take a forward pass he must be at
least one yard back OF the line of
scrimmage. This prevents a quar-
terback's knitting his way through
the line and getting short pass
over the forwards.
The referee can call the game of
account of darkness.
A player who Is substituted illegal
~ behind the goal line is thereby
disqualified.
A player on kicked ball when 1t
becomes q free ball may push an
other player in order TO get II.
II side Is late IN appearing for
the second ha.s and is penalized. the
OucuutuS siuc hub 'hc NhoiNV VI
goals.
The ball Is out Of bounds when a
man with a foot outside OF the side
line touches a forward pass and the
ball comes back into the field OF
play.
IL player on the defensive side
viciously strikes an opponent In the
face with the heel OF the hand Il Is
unnecessary roushness. (Rule 30,
section 1.)
There shall be no striking with
locked hands On the defense at any
time. No one. not even physi-
clan, may come or the field of play
without the consent of the officials.
tRule -, sections 3 and 4
when the receiver of forward
pass jumps On the back of another
player of the same side to receive
the ball, II Is illegal unless the
other player take a step. and thus
aid the receiver
When the kick-off goes over the
goal line and an extension of the
line OF scrimmase and Is recovered
by the kickers side. It is q touch
down.
After a tumble on the fourth down
there must be All actual attempt to
get possession by the defending side
before recovery by the attacking
eide may recover and claim . nrst