CHANGES IN FOOTBALL RULES

Although a slight revision of the rules was voted at the recent meeting of the football rules committees, no radical changes in the game will be seen next season. One change is evidently directed at side line coaching. According to the new rule "No person shall be allowed to walk up and down the side lines. All persons within the playing enclosure must be seated."

Another change inflicts a penalty of ten yards for passing the ball forward to the ground when tackled too soon-to make the forward pass intended. Under the old rule the only penalty for this was the loss of a down.

The position of field judge is restored with the general duties assigned of assistant to the umpire and referee.

In one of the games last fall, a safety was made by a player who carried the ball back of the goal after it had hit the post on the kick-off, and bounded on to the field of play. The possibility of this is now obviated by a rule which requires that on the kickoff, if the ball strikes the goal post and rebounds to the field of play, it shall be called a touch-back.

Another change requires that after a touch-back or safety the ball must be put in scrimmage. For several years the team having the ball has had the option of a kick-out or a scrimmage.

A few other rules of minor importance were passed and about as many more proposed and finally rejected. The central board of officials for the coming year is to be: Dr. James A. Babbitt, chairman, Walter Camp, H. G. Cope, Parke H. Davis, E. K. Hall '92, Percy Haughton, Dr. C. W. Savage, and A. A. Stagg.