The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-15

,st thrilling but most danger lay by the football rules com- ate Athletic association, after outh college.
 E. K. Hall, chairman of the committee, said the drastic new rules represented ways which had been found for every materially reducing" the football deaths and injuries that increased so alarm ingly last season. He termed them the most important in % years for making the game safer.
 took 'Em over
 The rules call for:
 l. Abolition of the flying tackle and the flying block.
 2. Lessening of massed inter- ference on kickoff plays by com polling at least five players on the receiving team to line up within Is yards of their opponents; and by permitting choice of placement, punt, or drop kick on the kickoI to allow a higher boot.
 }. Return of player into the game at any time, irrespective of the period, thus making the rule for substitutions identical with that of professional hockey.
 4. HaltIng of play the instant any part of the ball carriers body excepting hands or feet touched the ground, regardless of whether or not an opponent is near.
 ,. Forbidding of players on de- fense to strike opponent on head, neck or face with hand, wrist, forearm or elbow.
 6. Soft padding over third guards, shin guards and braces.
 Public AppIOvai?
 Despite the fact that the new rules eliminate such thrillers as the hying tackle and the flying block, and make it more difficult to forn, an effective flying wedge on kick :, off returns, Chairman Hall said the committee was 'gratified in believ ing that these changes will not in any material degree effect the gen eral style of play or the interest in or fascination of the game"
 Hall further stated that though tho kickOH rules had been changed. the committee found 1t had been falsely assumed that the flying wedge was responsible fer some of the serious injuries of last season. 1
 Another modification made in the kickoff rules will permit the re- ceiving team to make a fair catch, without interference by members of the kicking team.
 The committee act 4 drastic penalty-disqua ilication and loss of half the distance to the offend ing teams goal line--for violations of the new rule forbidding d play CT oh the defense to use his hands on an opponents head. It stipu- lated, however, that the player may use the palms of his hands on the opponents head to ward him off,
 Takes Time
 The penalty for using the flying tackle or block was set at only , five yards Tor the present, on the | grounds that 1t would take con- siderable time for players to rid themselves of the habit. Should the flying tackle be made at q forward passer, however. the pen alty will be enforced from the spot where he is struck.
 Under the new rule, the tackler or blocker may leave his feet only at the instant that he makes con 4 tact with the opponent"
 The new rule on substitutions. whereby a player may go In and cut of the game at any time. pro- v.des that the team making the .iIf flNSfi nj tiIr r.t, -nI tpt h time out" except in the case where q player has been injured, or where time already has been called for some other reason.
 Improvement
 The committee felt that the more liberal rule on substitutions would permit more careful super vision over the condition of players than under the old rules. Thus an exhausted player, ins.eud of being compelled to remain in the game .or fear he will be lost to his team, may come out, rest and return.
 The rule making a ball dead tha minute the carriers body touches ground is calculated to eliminate crawling and the injuries that might result from p.ling on fallen player.
 The new rule on equipment makes it mandatory to cover hard pads of any description with felt. foam rubber, or other soft padding thick. No hard or unyielding knee or elbow pads will be tolerated, and 1t was recommended that all players year soft knee pads.
 In addition to Hall. members of ,he rules committee responsible for the changes are: William J. Bing- ham, district l: W. G. Crowell, dis trict 2; AlonZo A. Stagg, district 3: Fl. j. Stegeman. district 4; Dana x Bible. district 5: Ray Morrison, triesdistrict 6! C. H. Smith, district z; w. 0. Hunter. district 8; and w. $. Langford, member-at- large.
 Coaches on Hand
 Also in attendance at the six sessions held during the three day period was the advisory commit tee appointed by the American Football Coaches association. con sisting of Chairman M. A. Stevens of Yale, Howard Jones of South ern California. Lou Little of Co., lumbia, and William A. Alexander. who took the place of Dan Me- Gugin of Vanderbilt. McGugin was unable to attend.
 The advisory committee of foot ball officials. consisting of Chair man Walter K. Okeson, Dr F. A. and A. w. Palmer. also attended, as did Fielding H. Yost and Ed Thorpe. the latter two by 
 The Stevens committee, the Oke- son committee, Yost and Thorpe in the various discus sions and debates that preceded drafting of the new rules. Ac-