NCAA Changes Both Substitution, Conversion Rules

In a move designed to take the foot out of football, the omnipotent Football Rules Committee of the NCAA Voted unanimously yesterday in favor of awarding two points for conversions after touchdowns if they are scored by a run or pass, rather than kicked.

Ostensibly this first change in scoring rules since 1906 is designed to add drama to the dull conversion play, for if a team still prefers to kick the extra point, it will be awarded only one point for the successful conversion.

In another radical change, the committee of ten voted to allow every player to re-enter a game during each quarter. During the past three seasons of limited substitution ball, only the 11 players who started a quarter were allowed to re-enter. Substitutes could enter the game only once each quarter.

Conversion Distance

The committee added another hardship for the proponents of FOOTball, by changing the distance for conversion from two yards to three yards. At the same time, they rejected proposals to move the goalposts back to the goal line, as in professional football, or to authorize any changes in the construction of the goalposts which would put a premium on kicking ability.

Also, the committee voted to reduce the number of free time-outs allowed to each team from five to four, therefore allowing one less opportunity to make substitutions without drawing a penalty for delaying the game.

The group voted to change the penalty for out-of-bound kickoffs; to permit ineligible receivers to move downfield as soon as the ball is thrown; to make the existing rule against the defensive team "jamming" opponents' offensive signals more stringent; and to limit players to making contact with only one arm and hand in their blocking assignments.