Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-19
LEADING REVISION
REGARDS TUMBLE
Ball Dead When Defenders
Recover-Extra-P Point Mark
Moved to 2-Yard Line.
JEW YORK, February ls.--Ador

n YEW YORK, February l9.--Adop-
ton of a radical new gridiron
rule making fumbled balls dead
4 Y at the point of recovery when
recovered by the defensive
team was announced yesterday by the
national foot ball rules committee,
through the Associated Press, as the
chief result of three-day secret ses-
sion
The committees decision, which ap-
proves recommendation having the
widespread support of foot ball coaches,
was made public by w. S. Langford,
The new rule" said formal state
ment, will not apply in case of for
ward passing nor to backward passes
which are intercepted before striking
the ground, nor will 1t apply to blocked
kicks, which viii be played as hereto
fore"
Three other important changes were
announced by the committee, effective
for the 1929 season.
The former rule restricting the kick
ing side from advancing the ball in case
of subsequently legally recovering it has
been extended to cover free kicks and
kick-offs. Formerly it applied only to
punts.
Try for Point Mark Shifted.
In the hope of having the try for
point after touchdown constitute more
of a triple threat play, the rules max
ers moved the point from which the try
is to be made from the 3 to the yard
line.
The rule to restrict the use of the
screen pass, not regarded as altogether
effective last year, was amplified to pro-
vide that mo player of the side in pos
session of the ball shall interfere with
an opponent until the ball has been
touched, except in the case of an actual
attempt to catch the ball" Further
more, except on passes completed be-
hind the line of scrimmage, such play
ers as are ineligible shall he penalized
for interference If they obstruct the
right of way of defensive players.
In announcing the change in the
fumbled-ball rule the committee stated
it took into consideration 1.-THE fact that
in the great majority of cases the actual
tumble of the ball is the error of
single player and not the fault of the
team as whole; also the fact that loss
of the ball by reason of a tumble is
generally considered to be equivalent to
the loss of about 40 yards namely, the
distance lost by the tumble itself plus
the average distance of a punt--say 35
yards, the opportunity for which has
been lost by reason of the tumble"
All Fumbles Are Dead.
OF the four rules changed, all i'm
portant, which were announced as the
result of secret session of the grid
iron legislators in the seaside secluSion
end Sunday, one barred the door against
some of the sad consequences of fun
bled kick. Whereas the rules of 1928
provided ths. when a player fumbles in
the act OF receiving punt, the ball Is
dead at this point of recovery by the
opposing team, the revised code lists all
linds of booted balls In the same cate
sery-kick-off placements and drop
kicks as well as piints,
Deciding That restrictions upon the
use of the screened forward pass were
not sufficient, the committee amplifies
the rule to provide that no player OF
side attempting a forward pass who
has crossed the line of scrimmage shall,
either before or after the pass had been
made, interfere with an opponent until
the ball has been touched except in an
actual attempt to catch the ball. Ex-
cept on passes completed behind the
line of scrimmage, such players as are
ineligible shall be penalized for inter-
ference, If they In any way obstruct the
right of way of defensive players"
In case of doubt as to such inter-
ference" the rule adds parenthetically,
"the penalty shall be inflicted"
The only other legislation was adop-
ton of provision under which second
airy schools may be permitted "a more
liberal practice in the matter of Substi-
buttons than that allowed under the
standard rules" by mutual agreement
of the teams.
Other Suggestions Dropped.
On the many other possible rule
changes suggested in various quarters
the gridiron legislators took no action.
The proposal for eliminating the
second Kickoff, which has been advo-
Gated on the ground that one game,
but two in the guiSe of one, are now
being played, did not come up at all.
A suggestion that points be scored for
first downs made was not considered.
Moving the goal posts back 10 yards
to their old position was discussed, but
found no warm advocate.
In addition to the members Of the
rules committee, of which E. K Hall
Of New York, Dartmouth graduate, Is
chairman, seven others were present by
invitation. Knute Rockne, Notre Dame;
Bill Alexander, Georgia Tech; Hugo
Bezdek, Penn State; Pop Warner, STAN
ford, represented the foot ball coaches;
Waiter r. Okeson, Lehigh; F. A. Lam
bert, Ohio State, and A. w. Palmer,
Colhv the officials