The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-12-28
DRASTIC GRID
RULECHAKCES
NOT now Seen
National Rules Committee
Expected to Act Con-
servatively
By ERNEST BARCELLA
United Press Staff Correspondent

CHICAGO, Dec. %. (uP).-
Football will get a breathing
spell" from major rule changes,
according To information volun-
tecred last night by Coach Lou
Little of Columbia, on the eve OF
a meeting of the rules committee
of the National Football Coaches
association i'll session here.
Little, who heads the committee
that recommends changes in the
Gridiron code governing intercOl-
legiate and secondary school com
petition, said no radical rule re-
{, ision was anticipated for 1889.
AT least, We aren't planning TO
recommend any drastic changes,
Little asserted. THE trend IS
away from that idea. Coaches are
being more conservative about
radical revision of the code. Most
of us feel that football needs to
catch up with the rules.
Little observed that the rules
had become more standardized
and that there is pretty happy
balance" between offense and de-
Tense.
I'VE need TO stabilize and
clarity the present rules so that
they can be placed on an under
standable basis" he said. I'VE
NAV recommend minor changes
which would improve the game,
but which could not affect 1t
drastically."
Little listed three proposed
changes that would be discussed
before his group but indicated
that nothing would be done about
the suggestions. They are:
(l) Eliminate the point after
touchdown; :,
(2) Move the goal posts back
TO the goal lines;
81 Adopt the professional
passing rule which permits pass
ing from. any point behind the
line of scrimmage- IS
4 There is no great agitation
for eliminating the point, after
touchdown" he said THE idea
ofsmoving. the goal posts back
probably will be forgotten, and /
don't think much will. be done
about adopting the pro pass rule.
Little indicated, however, that
at least three other suggestions
would be discussed at length.
, One of these, sponsored by
Coach Pat Hanley of Boston uni
versity, concerns protection for
the forward passer. Hanley has
proposed a safety zone" for pass
ers. Under his suggestion, a de-
fensive Mayer would be- penalized
IS yards if he "roughed" the
passer after the latter had thrown
the ball and still was standing in
the safety zone" The safety
zone" would be approximately
three yards laterally and three
yards backwards. g..
"We need. something like that"
Hanley, explained, ste prevent the
passer from getting banged up
Just after hejhas thrown the ball"
Two other suggestions would
reduce the, drastic nature, of GER
tain penalties. i :. -.
One Of these concerns the ae-
eidental hitting of an Ineligible
receiver by a forward pass. In
fraction of the present rule re-
suits in loss of the ball at the
point where the play originated.
Little said it had been suggested
that in a play of this nature the
pass be declared incomplete and
the penalty merely be loss OF a
down. - t.,
The other concerns the commits.
sion of a foul by an offensive
player while painted ball is free:
The present rule calls for loss iof
the ball to the opposing team at
the point where the play origihat-
ed. ,<...-s ; 49, :. ~ 49,. -. -
Losing the ball seems too dras-
tic a penalty" Little said. May
be- something will he worked out
to correct this.