Expert: Vic Winnek - 5/7/2008

Question
I am writing a novel that takes place in 1939.  What I have read about the substitution rule, for that time, states:  When a player leaves the game, he is not allowed to return until the next quarter."  Others have stated a player leaving the game in the 1st half could not return until the 2nd half, and, a player leaving the game in the 2nd half could not return to the game.  I believe, as an example, that a player exiting the game in the 1st quarter only had to wait until the start of the 2nd quarter to re-enter the game.  Please give me your thoughts on this.  My information comes from a Big Ten quarterback that played in 1939.  Thank you.

Answer
Tom
From 1922 to 1940 all "players withdrawn during the first half may not return until the second half.  Players withdrawn during the second half may not return to the game".  This includes injured players.  The significant rule change in 1939 that still remains in today's rules: is all players were required to wear “head protectors”.   1939 was the first year this rule came into being a mandatory rule.

Foot Ball Rule 5 section 1 governed substitutions in 1939.  A substitute had to report to the UMPIRE  before participating [5 yd. penalty for not reporting]. The substitute was prohibited from communicating with anyone other than the umpire until the ball was snapped. [15 yd. penalty if he communicated with anyone].



SUBSTITUTIONS:
1876--Fifteen players to a team and few if any substitutions.
1882--Replacements for disqualified or injured players.
1897--Substitutes may enter game at any time at discretion of captains.
1922--Players withdrawn during the first half may not return until the second half.  Players withdrawn during the second half may not return to the game.
1941--Players may substitute at any time but may not be withdrawn or the outgoing player returned until at least one play has intervened. "Platoon" football was made possible.  This is one of the affects of WW I and WWII - the military's influence on the game and personnel.
1948--Unlimited substitution on change of team possession.
1953--Two-platoon abolished and players allowed to enter game only once in each quarter
1954-64--Changes each year toward more liberalized substitution and platoon football.
1965--Platoon football returns.  Unlimited substitutions between periods and after a score.
1974--Substitutes must be in for one play and replaced players out for one play.
1993--Players who are bleeding or whose uniforms are saturated with blood must come out of the game until their return has been approved by medical personnel.
  ... et, al.

I hope this assists you in your writing. I'd love to know how your novel turns out and the title when published.  Feel free to call upon me in the future if you have more questions.  Feel free to acknowledge me in the novel too. LOL

Best of luck,


Victor C. Winnek
NCAA Football Official & Rules Historian
Western Collegiate Football Officials Association
 


Other Rule Changes throughout the history of college football that you might find interesting:
THE BALL:
1869--Round, rubber Association Football (soccer ball).
1875--Egg-shaped, rubber covered
Rugby ball.
1896--Prolate spheroid, without specific measurements.
1912--28 to 28 1/2" around ends, 22 1/2 to 23" around middle, weight 14-15 oz
1929--Measurement around middle reduced to 22 to 22 1/2".
1934--Measurement around middle reduced to 21 1/4 to 21 1/2".
1952--Ball may be inclined no more than 45 degrees by snapper.
1956--Rubber covered ball permitted.
  
 
THE FIELD:
 1869--120 yds. by 75 yds., uprights 24' apart.
1871--166 2/3 yds. by 100 yds.
1872--133 1/3 yds. by 83 1/3 yds.
1873--Uprights 25' apart.
1876--110 yds. by 53 1/3 yds., uprights 18 1/2' apart, crossbar 10' high.
1882--Field marked with transverse lines every five yds.; this distance to be gained in three downs to maintain possession.
1912--120 yds. by 53 1/3 yds., including two 10 yd. end zones.
1927--Goal posts moved back 10 yds. to end line.
1957--Team area at 35 yd. lines.
1959--Uprights widened to 23'4".
1966--Pylons placed in corners of end zones and at goal lines.
1991--Uprights moved back to 18'6".
1993--Hash marks moved 6'8" closer to center of field to 60' from each sideline.
 
 
POINTS AND SCORING:
1869--All goals count 1 pt. each.
1883--Safety 1, touchdown 2, goal after TD 4, goal from field 5.
1884--Safety 2, TD 4, goal after TD 2.
1898--Touchdown 5, goal after TD 1.
1904--Goal from field 4.
1909--Goal from field 3.
1912--Touchdown 6.
1922--Try for point after TD from 5 yd. line.
1929--Try for PAT from 2 yd. line.
1958--One and two point conversions from 3 yd. line.
1976--Forfeit score changed from 1-0 to score at time of forfeit if the offended team is ahead at that time.
1984--PAT may be eliminated at end of game if both captains agree.
 
 
PLAYERS:
1869--Each team consisted of 25 players.
1873--20 players to a team.
1876--15 players to a team.
1880--11 players to a team.
1895--Only one man in motion forward before the snap. No more than three players behind the line. One player permitted in motion toward own goal line.
1910--Seven players required on line.
1911--Illegal to conceal ball beneath player's clothing.
1915--Numbering of players recommended.
1937--Numbering front (6" Arabic) and back (10" Arabic) required.
1939--All players must wear head protectors.
1951--Face masks legal.
1966--Mandatory numbering of players on the line 50-79.
1982--Tearaway jerseys made illegal by charging a timeout.
1983--Mandatory white jerseys for visiting teams.
 
 
 PASSING GAME:
1906--One forward pass legalized behind the line if made five yards to the right or left of center.  Ball went to opponent if it failed to touch a player of either side before touching the ground.  Either team could recover a pass touched by an opponent.  Limit one pass each scrimmage down.
1910--Pass interference does not apply 20 yds. beyond the line of scrimmage. Passer must be 5 yds. behind line of scrimmage.  One forward pass permitted during each down.
1914--Roughing the passer penalty added.
1923--Handing ball forward considered an illegal forward pass and receivers going out of bounds and returning prohibited.
1934--Three changes encourage use of forward pass: 1) First forward pass in series of downs can be incomplete in end zone without loss of ball except on fourth down; 2) Circumference of ball reduced, making it easier to throw; 3) Previous 5 yd. penalty for more than one forward pass in a series of downs eliminated.
1941--Fourth down pass incomplete in end zone changed from touchback to change of possession at previous spot.
1945--Forward pass may be thrown from anywhere behind the line, encouraging use of modern T-formation.
1968--Compulsory numbering system makes only players numbered other than 50-79 eligible forward pass receivers.
1976--Offensive blocking changed to permit half extension of arms to assist pass blocking.
1980--Retreat blocking added with full arm extension to assist pass blocking, and illegal use of hands reduced to 5 yd. penalty.
1982--Pass interference only on catchable forward pass.  Forward pass intentionally grounded to conserve time permitted.
1983--First down added to roughing the passer.
1985--Retreat block deleted and open hands and extended arms permitted anywhere on field.
 
 
    GENERAL CHANGES:
1876--Holding and carrying the ball permitted.
1880--Eleven players to a side and a scrimmage line established.
1882--Downs and yards to gain enter rules.
1883--Scoring system established.
1906--Forward passes permitted; Ten yards for first down.
1920--Clipping defined.
1922--Try for point introduced.  Ball brought out five yds. from goal line for scrimmage, allowing try for extra point by place kick, drop kick, run, or forward pass.
1925--Kickoff at 40 yard line.  Clipping made a violation, originally a 25yd. penalty.
1927--One-second pause imposed on shift.  Thirty seconds allowed for putting ball in play. Huddle limited to 15 seconds. To encourage use of lateral pass, missed backward pass other than from center snap   declared dead ball when it hits the ground and cannot be recovered   by opponents.
1929--All fumbles ruled dead at point of recovery.
1932--Most far-reaching changes in a quarter of a century set up safeguards against hazards of game: 1) Ball declared dead when any portion of a player other than hands or feet touch the ground; 2) Use of flying block and flying tackle barred under penalty of 5 yds.; 3) Players on defense forbidden to strike opponents on head, neck, or face; 4) Hard or dangerous equipment must be covered with padding.
1937--Numerals on front and back of jerseys required.
1941--Legal to hand ball forward behind neutral zone.
1948--One-inch kicking tees permitted.
1949--Blockers required to keep hands against chest.
1951--Fair catch restored.
1952--Penalty for striking with forearm, elbow, or locked hands, or for flagrantly rough play or unsportsmanlike conduct, changed from 15 yds. to 15 yds. and mandatory suspension.
1957--Penalty for grabbing face mask.
1959--Distance penalties limited to one-half distance to offending team's goalline.
1965--Two-inch kicking tees permitted.
1967--Coaching from sideline permitted.
1971--Crack back block (blocking below the waist) made illegal.
1972--Freshman eligibility restored.
1977--Clock started on snap after a penalty.
1978--Unsuccessful field goal returned to previous spot.
1983--Offensive encroachment redefined.  No offensive player permitted in or beyond the neutral zone after snapper touches ball.
1985--One or both feet on ground required for blocking below the waist foul.
1986--Kickoff from 35 yd. line.
1988--Defensive team allowed to score two points on return of blocked extra point kick or interception of extra-point pass.
1989--Kicking tees eliminated for extra point and field goal attempts.
1990--Defense allowed to advance fumbles that occur beyond the neutral zone.
1991--Width between goal post uprights reduced from 23'4" to 18'6".
Kickoff out of bounds allows receiving team to take ball 30 yds.    beyond yard line where kickoff occurred.
1992--Defense allowed to advance fumbles regardless of where they occur.
1993--Guard-around or "fumblerooski" play ruled illegal.
1996--Overtime introduced to break ties.
2002--Penalty for not giving a kick receiver enough room (halo) increased from 5 to 10 yards.
[I credit the following for my research:
P. Dunn Ohio State University -  pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu;  NCAA Rules History;
Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide, Official Foot Ball Rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 1927-1944]