Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-20

foot ball in the regulations
to govern the game next
Fall, when the season opens and elevens
take the field in actual competition, 1t
is very doubtful If the public generally
will recognize that any changes have
been made. Possibly it will happen at
times, but not frequently, that passing
attention may be called to the fact that
some player who has recovered tumble
is not allowed to run with the ball, but
beyond that the changes effected by the
gridiron solons are likely to have little
effect.
Most of the comment about the rules
changes is centering on that change
which provides defensive player can
not run with the ball If he RECEIVERS it
after the offensive side has fumhled. AS
a matter of fact, in 10 out of every 20
fumbles under the previous rules no at
tempt has ever been made to run with
the ball. Players of both sides have
been taught very consistently not to
take a chance in trying to pick up a
tumble. but to fall on the ball and re-
cover 1t, possession Of the ball being
deemed of far greater value than the
possibility of a run.
Spectacular Plays Hit.
A good deal is remembered at times
and a good deal is written of Spec
tacular plays that have taken place in
past years in which defensive players
have picked up fumbles and run for
touchdown. Such spectacular plays oc-
CURED when White did that very thing
for Princeton, but that was before the
war. Two or three years ago Navy de-
feated Colgate when Lloyd picked up
a tumble and ran almost the length of
the field to give Navy 7-to-6 victory
when just a few seconds before it was
facing a II or Is to 0 defeat. That
was heavy price Colgate paid for
that tumble, and it was to eliminate
such possibility that the rule was
changed. Georgetown beat New York
University last Fall on just such play,
but leaving out these few spectacular
instances. and considering season after
season it will be remembered that on
practically all fumbles the ball has been
downed almost at the spot Of the fun
bic without appreciate gain by either
team.
The new rule, or rather the change
in the old rule, prevents the possibility
Of such a spectacular play as those
mentioned. but the actual occurrences
of such spectacular plays anyway are
so rare that the absolute elimination
Of them takes very little from the game.
win Continue to Kick.
It Is claimed that the placing Of the
ball on the 2-yard instead of the 3-yard
line, another change, will cause teams
to open up a good deal in their method
Of scoring the point after touchdown
and rush the ball instead Of kicking.
It probably will do nothing of the kind,
for the simple reason that the chances
of making that extra point, If team
through dropkicking or placekicking.
For one thing. yard inside the s.
yard line is not so hard to make on a
rushing play, but 2 yards is quite a
different distance as any coach or any
foot ball player well knows.
With any kind Of blocking and any
kind of speed in getting a kickoff 1t is
almost impossible to block an attempt
at dropkicking or placekicking for goal,
where the ends do not have to leave
the line of scrimmage to go down under
the kick to prevent possible runback.
That simply leaves it up to the accuracy
of the kicker, and the / yard closer
to the goal helps out the angle kick
and to that extent will increase ac-
curacy.
Goals will be kicked from the 2-yard
line that never would go over from the
3-yard line. This greater chance to
make the extra point by kicking will
cause teams to adhere to that method
and only occasionally resort to rushing
Change Helps officiaIs.
The rule regarding the screened for
ward pass is simply putting on paper
Just about what has been the tnterpre-
tation of the previous rule. Technically
under the previous regulation many
coaches have held that fullback
could be knocked of his feet before the
ball was passed, thus allowing the Of
fensive players to cross the line OF
scrimmage, eliminate the fullback and
leave that space without any defense
against pass.
The passer in this case was not sup
posed to throw the ball until after the
fullback had been eliminated, and this,
of course, gave occasion for such quick
hairline decisions on timing that it was
virtually impossible for any official to
enforce the rule. The changed rule
makes 1t impossible to eliminate the
defensive player at any time until after
the ball has been touched. This will
put a brake on the development of
the short screened pass and be a big
help to officials. In fact, the chances
are a thousand to one that 1t was the
influence of officials that effected this
change.
Applies to All Kicks.
The other change, heralded as one of
the four main changes made by the
rules committee, will make no appar-
ent difference in the game. It simply
generalizes its application to all kicks
the rule that player of the side that
kicked may not pick up the ball If 1t is
muffed and run with it. That was
true Of punt last Fall, and next Fall
will be true Of all kicks, whether kick
of, punt, free kick or dropkick.
Foot ball has come to be such 9
popular sport Of such great interest
generally, that almost anything concern
ing it is big news for the sports pages
Consequently changes in the rules gov
erning the game cause much comment
but those responsible for such changes
have the good of foot ball at heart and,
recognizing its present sound status
may be depended upon not to do any,
thing radical in connection with the
code that governs it. No change ever
is likely TO be made which will affect
the game TO any extent, and such
changes as may be effected will be only
with the intent of Qualification OF
to make easier the work OF officials.
Coaches Here Unperturbed.
Local foot ball coaches do not seen
to be bothered much one way or the
other about changes. All seem to bt
of the opinion that what has been done
will make little difference in the game
Lou Little of Georgetown has perhap.
little different idea of changes thar
others in that he feels that any changes
that are made at any time should have
the effect Of making it easier for thu
offense, the defense, in his opinion, al.
ready being too strong. Says Little:
1.-THE only possible effect that I SCI
that the change in the rule regarding
fumbleS will have is that it may Gauss
the offense to take more chances il
handling the ball and thus open up NOR
the offensive piay and make the Offensi