Football Rules Committee

One of the highlights of the Winter season here in Hanover was the meeting of the football rules committee, over which E. K. Hall presides. Hanover teemed with sporting celebrities during the three day sessions and we renewed acquaintance with Lou Little, Howard Jones and Bill Alexander at various points about town.

Howard Jones preferred to talk about the development of hockey on the West Coast, a sport which was coming into its own when we were in Los Angeles in 1930, and Lou Little was still enthusiastic over his Columbia huddle which so baffled Dartmouth just a few months ago. At the Syracuse boxing match, during which Lou yelled himself hoarse rooting for Dartmouth, he vouchsafed the opinion that the Lion basketball team might take Dartmouth into camp.

When the committee's deliberations were over it was apparent that fundamentally the game has not been changed through these Hanover sessions. As far as the spectators are concerned, the game will differ little from the 1931 edition, but as far as the players themselves are concerned the rules have had the most sweeping alterations since 1907.

The kick-off may now be made by a punt, a place kick or a drop kick, and at least five opponents must be within 15 yards of the ball when it is kicked. There will be no more flying tackles or flying blocks. When a man is withdrawn from the game he may enter in any subsequent period rather than the following half, as before. A ball carrier whose body, except his hands and feet, touches the ground, automatically stops the play and the ball is dead. That Stanford boy who fell and scrambled to his feet to run for a touchdown could not do that under the 1932 rules. This rule is obviously to protect the runner, prevent crawling with the ball and piling up.

Equipment has been ruled upon and players must wear protecting felt on hard pads. The whole influence of the rule changes points toward protection, and the final change limits the use of hands, elbows, forearms and wrists on players' heads and necks.

The rules committee had an enjoyable stay in Hanover, and possibly may come back again.

STILL A STRONG CONTENDER The Green basketball team, in spite of its setback by Columbia February 20 in Hanover (after the accompanying article was written) has not yet given up its fight for the League crown. Top Row: Assistant Coach Evans, Bennett, Maxwell, J. Edwards, Stangle, Goss. Middle Row: G. Edwards, Prince, Miller, Kraszewski, Smart, Coach Stark. Front Row: Mackey, Britten, Captain McCall, Kramer, Burch