Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-29
Little Change in
Football Rules
| Probable Next Year

C0lle81ASe 10otoail rules cofnmattee u
guided to any extent in its annual
meeting which I'LL begin Monday by
the advice and counsel of the foot
ball oficials, there will be no radt-
cal changes In football for q year
at least.
In the annual meeting of the East
ernS football o6icials, which began at
the Hotel Aston today. 1t was urged
that there be no radical changes in
the methods Of playing football; that
the forward pass ruling remain un-
changed; and that the kickoff be
made from the 4O-yard line instead
of the midfieid. The general tenor
Of the meeting was that things are
quite satisfactory. except for a few
very minor point which the officials
would like to have clarified.
Forty I'm Attendance
Forty Eastern football ohicials at
tended the annual gathering of the
association today and behind closed
doors thrashed out the knots which
the season just passed had tied. The
meeting was directed by w. r. Oke-
son OF Lehtgh, and the following Of.
ficsrs were elected: President. w. r.
Okeson; secretary, Ed Thorpe: vice.
president. w. J. Crowell. The exec
utive committee. consisting of Harry
Fisher. Dave Fultz and w. j. Crow.
ley of New York district; A. w.
Palmer, +. /. Offender and A. c. Ty-
Ter. Of Philadelphia district. and
Hugh McGrath, DIR. e. J. O'Brien
and ID. J. Kelley OF Boston. was re.
elected, except in the case of the
last mentioned, who was inserted to
take the place Of G. N. Bankart, who
cinco Pho Ia az rnaoffnD has rrnvad
out Of his district.
The decision to recommend re-
moval of the kickoff point from the
30 yard line to the 40 yard stripe
was as well received as 1t was OBJ
vious. Throughout the season just
passed the ball invariably was kick
ed over the goal line at the opening
of each half and necessitated bring
ing 1t out on the 20 yard line. Thus,
the defending team was denied the
opportunity of broken field running
and was Immediately thrown into
scrimmage work. The kickoff was
moved forward 10 yards last year by
the rules committee in order to make
up for the handicap brought on by
the elimination of the kicking tee.
It was found that this elimination
was not the handicap as the COM
mittee believed 1t would be. The Of
ficials, therefore, will recommend
that the point OF kickoff be moved
back to where 1t was originally. al
though no mention was made Of the
kicking tee.
Pass Up To Coaches
Although no mention was made by
Mr.. Okeson of the forward pass
when going over the details Of the
L. ~, ~<H
Gals considered that question one for
football coaches and left 1t out of
the discussions entirely. The stu
of Mr.. Dkeson to the rules commit
tee that no radical changes be
made.
In rule Is, section three OF the
intercollegiate Football Guide. it is
declared that when the ball Is kick
ed from behind the line of scrim-
mage the offensive players may
touch the ball providing 1t has not
passed the scrimmage line. In 9TH
. err words, If the kicked ball hap
pens to hit one Of the offensive
players and bounces back, the play
err or any one OF the team may re-
cover the spheroid. IT the ball
should bounce on over the line OF
scrimmage. however, the stricken
player may not recover. This ruling.
Mr.. Okeson declared, the officials
desire to have clarified in order that
the offensive side be prevented from
recovering such disdirected ball.
since the situation Is the result OF a
poor kick and that the defending
side should be given ample oppor-
tunity to destroy any gAan that
might follow.
New Toucllback
In regard to coping with the same
situation. Mr.. Okeson declared that
the officials will recommend to the
rules committee that, should such a
situation occur. the offended team
be given the advantages of touch
back. 1. e., the ball to be put In play
en- the 20 yard line IL the situation
should occur within the 10 yard line.
These two recommendations how
ever, deal with situation which
was considered settled many years
ago. 1t Is only in recent years that
officials have been asking complete
cIarification OF this particular rule
in order to obviate room for dis
pute which the decree in its present
state allows.
The football officials adjourned
this evening at 6 O'Clock for dinner,
returning to the Laurel room at the
Astor at 7.30. Throughout the even
ing minor details of the annual
gathering were discussed and the
meeting was brought to close.