Interpretation of Football Rules

The American Intercollegiate Football. Rules Committee, after a meeting in New York, has issued an interpretation of the new football rules. Under the decision of the Committee, the second umpire may be dispensed with by an agreement of the athletic managements of the two institutions represented.

Considering rule 5, it was voted that in putting the ball in play the centre rush may pass the ball back to one side, and need not necessarily snap it between his legs. In either case the ball must leave his possession while he is on the line of scrimmage, and must go first to a man who is behind the line of scrimmage. Under the same rule it was voted that in case of a punt out, the catcher of the kick need not raise his hand as a signal for a fair catch.

The committee declared that the rule preventing hurdling is intended to apply only to the man carrying the ball, and was passed to prevent a dangerous play. It is intended to allow hurdling in the line, stepping over a prostrate player, even though both feet of the runner be momentarily off the ground at the same time.

The section under rule 11, providing that no players on the side which has the ball shall be in motion at the moment when the ball is put into play, is construed to mean that this will not prevent a player from running backward from the scrimmage line toward his own goal line.

Under the section of rule 11 which provides that none of the five men occupying the middle positions, centre, guard or tackle, may drop back from the line of scrimmage on the offence, the committee declared: "If a captain, during the progress of the game, wishes to change a centre, guard or tackle to a position in the back field, or to the position of end, he may do so by speaking to the referee, but no player thus vacating the position of centre, guard or tackle, shall thereafter during the game go back to any one of those positions."

In discussing rule 14, exception 1, the commission decided: "When a forward pass touches the ground in the field of play, without touching the player at either side, the ball is dead and goes to the opponents on the spot where the pass is made, except in case the ball crosses the goal line without touching a player of either side, when it is a touchback. In both instances, the penalty may be not be refused.

"In all cases of unlawful forward pass where the ball goes to the opponents on the spot where the pass was attempted, the ball is dead."