The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-17
IMPORTANT CHANGES
| IN FOOTBALL RULES
Hcr,drin

New York. March 1.-THE Inter
collegiate Football Rules committee
concluded its session at the Hotel
Eiltmore yesterday, and one OF the I
most important of the many changes |
proposed was the elimination of the /
punt out after the touchdown. In the /
game next fall it practically will mean |
a tally of seven points for every touch |
down, for there will be very little to |
hinder the making OF the extra point
following the scoring OF a touchdown.
The interpretation of the new clause
allows the side making the touchdown
to place the ball anywhere in front
OF the goal posts. Even should the
touchdown be made at the angle OF
sideline the scoring side is at liberty to
bring the ball right in front OF goal
posts and place it at any distance near
or far for the free kick. 1t was decided
that the touchdown score should re-
main equal to six points ms OF yore. ~
There was considerable surprise
when Walter Camp, secretary Of the
committee, announced that a move
had been made to do something for
professional football. f.. K Hall of
Dartmouth was appointed chairman
Of q. committee OF three to draw M
a code of rules which Will be sent to
all the colleges throughout the coun-
try asking whether or not the pro"
game should be given any consider
alton, II The majority favor q recog-
| milton OF the cash element steps will
be taken t, put the sport on the right
| footing.
| Ono OF the most vital changes touch
ing the actual playing rules was with
regard to the protection given to the
| thrower of the forward pass Hereto
| fore he has been open to all sorts of
attacks from the opposing side, but
| the new rule gives him much the
; same protection that the punter is
| awarded in performing a kick. The
I wording ef the now rtifc Is plain
enough when it says There shall be
no roughing a forward passcr after
the pass Is made.
No specific penalty has been drafted
as yet for ofyense against this rule.
but in due course 1t will in all likihood
be the Same as for roughing = kicker.
which is loss OF five yards; or may
be It migh still be more drastic and
may result in a fifteen yard penalty or
a disqualification.
i 1t was expected that something in
the shape Of rule would be forth
coming about the numbering OF play
4 era, but according to Walter Camp the
! question was laid aside. On the out
side it was understood that Harvard.
for some unexplained reason, was
against tho plan. 1t appears that the
objection against the move Is finding
the right sort of numbers. 1t was point
cd out that after one period of play
all numbers look alike after rolling In
the dirt, and the spectators are az
much at sea over the personality Of
them as if they had NO numberA
The rule governing feints by players
to draw opponents offside and the
duties OF the referee was enlarged. In
future II the referee is in doubt that a
player deliberately made false start
he Is empowered to order tho play
made over again. AS to a man getting
into play. the referee and lincanan are
specifically charged to watch out for
such violation.
Scattered here and there throughout
the long list Of pages in the rule book
there were q number Of minor changes
to eiucidate the knotty points for the
benefit OF oflicials and players. One In
particular alludes to the famous old
shift plays, which the committee rules
that a player who shifts must come to
4 stop and have both feet on the
ground.
Rule vi. section 5, met with . slight
Change governing a fair catch. The
clause, advancing toward the barr
was taken out and following substi-
tuted; Prior to attempt to catch the
balr', This will leave the entire section
catching the ball after It haa beer
kicked by ono Of the opponents and
before It touches the ground, or In sim
ilarfty catching tho punt-out, by an.
other Of the catcher's own side, pro-
vided tho player Except in case OF
a punt-out. where the signal II nece4)
, sary) signals his hand clearly above
4 two steps AFTER ma king the catch.
|