FOOTBALL SUGGESTIONS.

It is difficult to pick from the many suggestions made by the Football Rules Committee a related group of changes which would be likely to remove the dangerous elements of the game without radically changing its nature. Inasmuch as all three of the groups contain suggestions on the forward pass, it seems as if this football curiosity would finally be abolished or else developed into a dependable play. In the past this play has been important only in opening the defence, and the actual use made of it is almost negligible. When the number of men eligible to receive the pass is closely limited, it is an easy matter so to cover them that they will be unable to receive the ball. Any further limitation, such as requiring that the pass be back of the line of scrimmage, or that it be received by men who were behind the line when the ball was put in play, would practically preclude the use of the forward pass and would put football back into its old status. If the offence is weakened in this fashion with no compensating addition to its resources, it would be necessary to reduce the distance to be gained in three downs or increase the number of downs allowed for gaining ten yards.

We believe that the salvation of the game lies in making it more open rather than reverting to the old-style football, and in imposing heavier penalties for unnecessarily rough play. Take the forward pass out of its present anomalous condition either by allowing more men to receive it or by allowing the ball to be recovered after it has hit the ground on a forward pass. In either case remove the restriction which requires the forward pass to be made so that the ball crosses the line five yards out from centre. To open the play more, allow the first receiver of the ball to cross the line of scrimmage anywhere. Require seven men to be always in the line on the attack. Protect the receiver of a kick by making all catches "fair catches." In order to avoid dragging and crawling, have the ball "dead" as soon as the man carrying the ball touches the ground with any part of the body except his feet.

Unnecessary roughness should be more strictly defined and more severely punished. The system of punishment which has worked well in hockey, namely the removal of an offending player from the game for a stated period of time, might profitably be applied. This would require very competent, and perhaps more officials, but it would probably be an effective check to rough play.