Football as We Know It

In 1910 proponents of forward passing again face strong resistance. Camp continues to resist and the vote is close, but the rules committee approves forward passes if completed within twenty yards of the line of scrimmage. Other 1910 changes: anywhere on the field, the offense must have seven men on the line at snapback; pushing or pulling of a runner by offense is no longer allowed; a fourth down is added, as advocated by Camp, making the downs-and-distance rule “ten yards in four downs.” In 1912 additional basic changes are made: The field is reconfigured to be one hundred yards long between goal lines, with ten-yard-long end zones added beyond the goal lines. Passes can be completed across the goal line in the end zones. The twenty-yard maximum on passes is removed. Specifications are enacted for the ball.