Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-09-09
Changes Made in Grid
Code Are Explained
EckersaIl Approves New Rules Cow
erning the Use Of For
Ward Pass
BIZ WAITED EcKERsALL

>
about football, so many inquiries hAv
been received regarding changes
the rules, those pertaining to the foI
ward pass particularly, it may
well TO explain the alteration
A five yard penslty has been at
tached to the second incompleted for
ward pass in addition TO the loss o
down. The rule governing the pla,
is plain and reads as follows: ssI
there already has been one or NOR
incomplete passes in series Of Soul
downs in which the pass occurs, tn.
side which made the pass shall put
the ball in play five yards back Of
the spot Of the preceding down and
the play shall count as down. The
point TO be gained shall remain the
same. b
1t, therefore, will be seen that one
forward pass may be completed with
out the five yards penalty, but the
old penalty Of a loss of a down win
be inflicted. II such an incompIeted
forward pass is made on the fourth
down, the ball shall go to the op-
ponents at the spot Of the preceding
down as IN former years.
Curb on Wild Passing
The five yard penalty will tend to
discourage indiscriminate tossing of
the ball in midfield or in the early
stages Of the games. It will not dis
courage forward passing by teams
which are behind and which need
points to win or tie in the closing
minutes Of play. Under such con-
ditions. the five yard penalty is a
trivial matter.
While many coaches do not favor
the five yard penalty for incompieted
forward passes, it should not change
the style of attack to any great de-
gree. The coach who devises plays
with plenty Of power in front of the
man with the ball, does not have to
resort to the forward pass. These
coaches use the play as a decoy in
most instances. An occasional att
tempted forward pass drives the sec
ondary defense deeper into it's ter
rtory so that running or line attacks
will gain ground.
Some middle west and far western
coaches say that the five yard pen,
Atty was suggested by the eastern
.eachers of the game who have been
with the forward pass.
The westerners contend that it is
more to eliminate tho forward pass
md bring back the old style game
which the east has long played with
uccess. A years experience will
rove the value or folly of the change
This Change Lessons Injury
Another rule, which this writer has
should have been adopted
ears ago, is the playing Of games
inside the four lines of the gridiron.
n past years there has been scramb
ng for fumbled balls among band
iembers and substitutes on the side
mes. Players have beer injured by
llling on or against the yard mark
RS on the sidelines or the concrete i
oles of running tracks he=new
lie will eliminate this and the con
squent wrangling over possession
the ball.
In the future the ball will belong
the team whose player last touched
in the field Of play. A blocked
ok which goes out Of bounds will
, to the blocking team at the point L
here the oval crossed the sideIine A
case Of a blocked kick rolling ove-
ie end line, safety will result re- N
lrdless of which team RECEIVERS. II N
blocked kick crosses the sidelines M
tween the goal line and end line m
safety viii be given to the blocking st
am. W
Intentional safeties were given K
It by rule which made IL impera- M
re for the team upon which the to
tety was scored to put the ball in lis
y by kick from its twenty-yard be
e THIS kick must be made on the Ia
st down. The defending eleven on
lst line up on the 80 yard line and
; same provisions win prevail as
the free kick after fair catch. Nj
e Kicking team Is onside and NAV Al
'ovtr the ball providing it goes ten Ra
rds.
Definitions Of crawling and piling
have been clarified and will be -
idly enforced by officials. Rule 81 I
!. /. has been broadened and now
'hibits players on defense from
king an opponent in the face with