Evening star., 1921-11-02


And while the rules state that a
3nan shall not be tackled below the
knees. and the tackler shall not make
8 flying tackle-shall have one foot at
Seast on the ground while making
Srstsad Of penalizing such "a play prob
&bly observes to himself that 1t was
Beautifully executed, and gives the
player credit for having done some
&hing worth while.
II q Weak Section.
Z Probably the weakest section of the
Soot ball rules book Is that which
Seals with interference with the Sec
Every coach knows and every official
knows there is q certain type of for
9vard pass which Is designed with in
ferference with the secondary de-
tense as q very important part Of its
Forward pass over the center OF the
line, with the forwards dribbhpg
Through and cupping the close sec
$ndary backs or completely smother
I Coaches viii claim for this play.
4ndary defense is not interfered with
while the ball Is In the air, and that
oil Interference with the secondary
Snen occurs prior to the passing OF
4he ball. That is the claim, but every
body knows that the secondary de-
6ense continually is interfered with
slntil after the ball is passed. How.
eyer. the official 10 put to Q hard test
% call the play; he must, for the
4econd or two while the ball is In the
Enough to see whether or not a de.
6ensive back is being bothered, and
Chen he must get his eyes back on
&he ball to see whether or not the
ball has been caught.
I AZ one official said to the writer
tome time ago while discussing the
pass: How are you going to call 1t. as
u defy any official to find sufficient
&ime to watch the ball as it leaves
4he passer's hand, then look for and
lind interference before the ball fs
caught by somebody or grounded.
have tried time after time and simply
fannot do it." The writer concurred
with the official.
Example Given Here.
A recent example 81 such forward
passing took place In the v. p. l.
Park. Practically every one Of the
short passes made by v. P. I. was
illegal. but the illegality Of the play
took place during such a short inter-
val Of time that 1t was almost i'm
possible, to detect It; George Wash
years ago washinEtan aad Lee, With
a comparatively weak eleven. came
near beating one Of GeorEetown's
great teams with, Just such a play.
Washington and Jefferson defeated
Yale several years ago with the play.
nence at that school while Folwell
A = matter Of fact, the forward
pass play is one with which officials
are having and will continue to have
most trouble until some different
regulations to govern 1t are adopted.
Tho pass must be made from . point
at least five yards behind the line of
sorimmage. 30 the rules provide, yet
how many Umcials in this day Of
quick. sharp passing over the line and
to the side determine whether or not
q man is four. four and q half or five
yards back? How many officials
pleted, know exactly whether or not
the man who caught it was on the
end Of the line of scrimmage or at
least one yard back?
Easily Avoid Code.
shall not be Intentionally grounded,
yet what ofncial Is sharp-eyeds enough
to tell when q pass 10 grounded In,
tsntionally. Some players easily can
ground pass at any time when there
is chance Of losing ground by, doing
II without any official being able to
charge him with having done it in
tentonally.
In brief. the forward pass IL at
present governed by rules which
practically are Impossible Of enforce
ment And until changes in the for
ward pass rules are made which will
give Il more definite limitations or
DraotiGally remove from II most. NJ
the present restrictions, 1t is going to
be q continuous aource of trouhla tn