Evening star., 1923-06-10

One of the most important points
developed under the rule changes re-
lateS 10 what a man may or may not
do when he is offside. relative to
touching the ball. In 1922 if a punt
went down the field and am 'offSide
man going down under it touched it
before it had touched an opponent,
the ball not only went to the op-
ponents but there was a fve-yard
penalty for this offside act. Further
under a kick of this kind thus touch
ed the ball after it was within the
1nyard line of the opponents goal
the ball went to the opponents as IL
touchbajk. and they could bring 1t
out to the 2Oyard line for kick
out
Opportunity for Action.
In the rules as adopted this spring
the 5-yard penalty for touching the
ball outside the l0-yard line has been
taken off. and the rule giving the
ball to the opponents for a touchback
if touched within the l0-yard line has
been abrogated.
Certainly there will he great oDpor-
tunlty for lively action and quick
thinking on the part of an end under
tho new conditions. One can gather
something Of the value of fast
thinking end by assuming that the
kick has been sent down the field,
that il is rolling toward the oppo-
GentS' goal line, and the clever ofrside
end drops on it just one yard outside
the goal line. The ball then would
20 to the opponents for a Scrimmage
Al this point, and they would be in
the extremely uncomfortable position
of having to pass the ball deep be-
hind their goal line for Il punt.
While the broad rule provides that
no man of the kicller's side may re-
II, 1g,tN tod III
scrmmage line, the kicker himself
may recover a kicked ball which does
not go beyond the line of scrimmage.
and also anybody who is behind the
kicker may recover a ball so kicked.
In other words. it sometimes hap
pens that the punter may be hurried
and almost miss the ball or just hook
il with his foot so that il not only
does not cross the scrimmage line
and yet falls to the ground, although
not blocked by an opponent. Such a
ball may be recovered by the kicker
himself or any player of his side be-
hind him when he kicked IL.
Clipping May BE Costly.
Another change in the rules which
is going to make difference is the
scN"rity Of the penalty for clipping.
This year this penalty will be infiict-
ed either at the point of the foul or
where the ball was put in play, ac-
choose.
\ premium will be put on quick
thinking by the fact that now the
penalty for an Illegal forward pass
may be declined This does not ap-
ply to an incompleted pass but to
may be gathered from the following
illustration: Formerly if a backfield
man on the side i'll possession of
tho ball made a forward pass when
n
the line of Scrimmage. it was an il
legal forward pass and the ball was
brought back. no matter what hap
peucd to it on the other side of the
srrimmage line. Now if an opponent
should intercept such an illegal
pass and run with it-and there is
pftcn an opportu !ty for this play
he could, by dc :ilninG the penalty,
get the whole benefit of his run
even if he carrie the ball over for
z touchdown.
: The onside kick ia = been entirely
eliminated. That is, man standing
behind the kicker no longer may
sun down the field and recover the
ball. Teams, however, are likely to
become mixed on this rule.
catch. or on any kick where the
kickcr's side is restrained by rule
from being in advance of the ball.
any player of the kickers side may
fecoVcr the Dali. Whether II mas Deen
touched by an opponent or not.
Clear Up Try for Point.
The new rules have been instru-
mental in clearing up the matter of
the new play brought in last year
of try for point after a touch
down. \ team may cry for this
point either by field kick or by
forward pass or by a running play
There was great discussion last year
as 10 whether. if the team trying
for point elected to kick and the
ball was blocked. the kickers side
might pick up the ball and run with
i and win the extra point in this