Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-04
YOST THINKS GAME
BETTER THAN EVER
Feels That 1t Has Reached
Point Where 1t Should
Be Left Alone.
BY FIELDING III. YOST
(Written for the Associated Press.)
GfrhtootN

A mn ARBOR, Mich, October
~ 4.-For 40 years changing
1 \ the rules of foot ball has
fascinated coaches and Of
ficialS. But after the game has
BEEN kneaded these four decades
it now has assumed shape In
which the rules committee init
mates it should remain for a
number of years.
I consider the game Of today a
better one to play and to watch
than ever before. It's keynote Is
one of "openness." The style
makes necessary more boys Of
speed and alertness. The 150-
pound lad has more chance than
ever before ito make the team"
An "anti-fumble" rule has eliminated
f1uke touchdowns, encouraging double
passing, known generally as lateral
passing, triple passing: in short, there
now Is a greater reliance placed on
plays where skill and speed bring added
yardage.
The last process in the evolution
that has resulted In this modern game
came about through the codifcation of
the % rules of previous years. They
have been consolidated into Is divisions,
each presenting a distinct department
of the game.
Plenty 10 Think About.
The new arrangement and wording
have made learning the game and In
Structive teaching of foot bali much
easier. But the manifold things that
can happen on a foot ball field stili
leave a thorough knowledge of the
game the reward of hard study only.
AS long ago as 1905 I wrote a book
that had some bearing on the impor-
tant work of clarifying the foot ball
rules. used little black corner head
ings to introduce each rule, and pre-
sented the penalty for violation inne-
diately following. The system was used
later in many rule bookA I think 1t
was distinct aid to the study of the
games regulations.
-fourths of foot ball rules are
made for administration OF the game.
Consequently these are of little i'm
portance to the run-of-mine specta-
tor. The thing that counts with him
are the spirit and zest, the readiness
of the Autumn air, the running, passing.
KICKING, DlOCkulS. bdCklIlB. 4hCAI IlACkS
is that intangible something present
in any meeting of young men in games.
Here follow some of the chenges
from previous regulations in the new
codified rules:
/. Permission to mark the field In
some color other than white. The
concession was made to allow for colors
that offer better possibilities OF con-
trast in night games.
2. A stop after shift or huddle Is
made more certain. The referees are
now instructed to time the stop in
! terval-that Is, after the shift and be-
fore the ball is snapped-by counting
rapidly 1-2-3-4-5-6.
| 8. Possibility of field goals is In
creased by a stipulation that after .
| free kick on a fair catch the defense
may not charge until the ball has been
kicked The former regulation permit
ted the charge when the ball touched
the ground.
4. Emphasis Is placed on former
rules against ineligible interference 70
defenders against a forward pass.
None Of these changes, 1t Is obvious,
curtails the openness of the game.
Nor do favor any that might. But
in the last analysis, the kind, type and
spirit of play and of the game are In
the hands of the coaches and players.
The codif1ed rules give both q better
opportunity.