San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-28
Changes Embodied in
Football Rules Book

A number of important changes are
embodied in the new football rules
| book for the season which is just
, about to blossom out. These changes
are of interest TO coaches, players
and fans.
The changes in the rules as pub.
lished in the Spalding Guide are as
| follows:
In Rule III. Section 2. which relates
to substitution. there has been a slight
Expansion in the wording for the pur-
pose of making the intent of the rule
less likely to misinterpretation, and
the same is true in Section 3.
In Rule ". Section /. paragraph
has been added that provides a pen
atty against the team which deliber-
ately delays the start of a game. The
wording of Section 4 has been altered
in order to make it clear that after
a fair catch made ut the expiration
of n period the kick is allowed and
also the subsequent play resulting
from that lNck, until the ball is de-
clared dead by the referee; and also
that the try-for-point is allowed If the
touchdown is made just as time has
expired.
In Rule VI. Section 1 has been
made little clearer, and the same is
true of Section IL (d) of the same
rule and of Section 16 (b), second
paragraph. relating to safety.
Ball Still In Play.
In Rule VII. Section >. relating
to n kickoff crossing the goal line and
then going out of bounds, the approved
ruling that the ball is still in play
and a touchdown possible. has been
incorporated subject. Of course, TO the
Approved Ground Rules.
In Rule IN. Section 1. third para
graph. the position of players on and
behind the line of scrimmage has been
thoroughly amplifed in the interest
of officials. and the same is true in
Section. 3 Of the same rule relating
TO players in motion.
Changes in wording have been made
in Rule Y (a), (b) and (c), neither
of which, however, alters the accepted
understanding of the play.
Rule XIV, Section /, has been
slightly altered in order TO make clear
that neither side may attempt to ex-
tend the privileges Of "time out" :
Rule Nv, Section 3. has been re-
worded in order to make clear the
rights of both sides when more than
one player signals for fair catch,
and the same is true of Rule NVI.
Section 3 (b). relating to fouls on o.
forward pass.
May Hand" Forward Pass.
In Rule NvII. Sections 1 and 2.
the word "hand" has been inserted
with view to making clear the fact
that ball handed to a player ahead
of the holder is n forward pass. II is
also made clear that the penalty for
an illegal forward pass may he de-
clincd. but that the penalty for an
incompleted forward pass may not be
declined.
In Rule XVIII an important nltera-
ton has been made which eliminates
the last vestige of the "on-side" kick.
No player of the kicker's side. even i'll
he was behind the kicker. may recover
the ball until it touches IN opponent
except in case the ball did not cross
the scrimmage line.
In Rule MI. Section Q. the place
from which the penalty is inflicted is |
the spot of the down. while roughing |
n forward passer inflicts the penalty
from the SPOT of the foul. and clip
ping gives the privilege to the offended
side OF electing whether the penalty
shall be measured from the spot of
tho down or of the foul. I
In Rule XXIII. Section II. the
wording is made clear as TO the in
Fiction of penalties for fouls occurring
after touchdown. touchhnck or safety.
ADproved Rulings.
At the 1923 meeting of the football
rules committee. it was decided to
publish MS supplementary to. but not
IS part of. the football rules them.
selves. an official list Of approved
rulings or decisions. New rulings will