STL All Sports

1950 - The fair catch abolished. The use of elbows in offensive and defensive blocking curbed. The prohibition of flying blocks and tackles deleted.

1951 - The fair catch restored - Player to signal intention by raising one hand clearly above head and waving it from side to side. The penalty for an illegal shift reduced to 5 yards.
1953 - The free substitution rule dating from 1941 killed, ending the use of the "two-platoon" system that caused so much controversy following its introduction and the use of separate offensive and defensive elevens.
1953 - Jim Thorpe, who in 1950 was voted the greatest football player in the half-century poll of The Associated Press, died.
1955 - Substitution rule liberalized to permit a player who participated in the first down of a period then was withdrawn from the game to return once during that period. The four-minute segments at the end of each half were eliminated. Waving of hand no longer required in signal for fair catch.
1958 - In the first change in scoring values since 1912, a team scoring a touchdown received the option of trying for a 1 or 2-point conversion. A successful place-kick or drop-kick on the conversion attempt was worth 1 point; a successful run or pass 2 points. The conversion attempt, formerly from the 2-yard line, was moved back to the 3. Substitution rule again liberalized to allow a player to enter the game twice each quarter. Offensive blockers restricted to use of "only one arm and that hand" while contacting opponent.
1959 - At its January convention, the RulesCommittee adopted the proposal to widen the goal posts by 4 feet 10 inches to 24 feet. The posts had been 19 feet 2 inches wide.