NFL Rules Question - Substitution

[Rupert Patrick]

After searching the forum on the topic of pre-World War II substitution, and also searching online, I was unable to find definitive rules concerning substitution in the one-platoon era. I know that teams could make substitutions in the middle of a quarter, but the player who left the game could not return until the start of the next period, correct? Also, you could not make more than three substitutions at any one time, correct? Lastly, I know you could make substitutions at the beginning of a quarter, but if you wanted to make a substitution in the middle of a period, did you have to call time out, or wait for a change of possession, or did you have to wait until the play ended and inform the referee? I'm sorry about these questions, but I am writing about 1930's football, which I am not all that familiar with, and I want to make sure I have the rules straight, and there is no website or book that really covers the evolution of rules. Thanks.

[65 toss power trap]

In 1932, the rules were changed to allow an outgoing player to return at any clock stoppage in a subsequent quarter -- except that on an injury timeout, only the injured player could be substituted (unless stopped for another reason). Incoming substitutes could not communicate with teammates for one play, which was lifted in 1934.

In 1938, the quarter restriction was relaxed slightly, and they allowed 2 players who left the game in the fourth quarter to be able to substitute back in.

Free substitution was adopted (incrementally at first) in 1943.

[65 toss power trap]

I have a chronology gap between 1920 and 1931, but here is the excerpt of the 1920 rulebook (Rule 2-2):

SECTION 2. A player may be substituted for another at any time, but before engaging in play he must report to the Referee or Umpire. After a player has reported to the proper official and the change has been made, the substitution shall be considered as completed. An incoming substitute shall not communicate in any way with any of the players upon the field until after the ball has been put in play. In case any change in the position of players is rendered necessary by the substitution, the substitute going in may give that information only through the Referee. In case the substitute sent in is to take the place of the man who had regularly been giving signals previous to his removal from the game, the man sent in may give the signal, but without consultation with the players until after the ball has been put in play. If the man who has been giving signals is not removed from the game when a new player comes in for the purpose of giving signals, the former must give the signal on the play following. A player who has been withdrawn from the game may return once, at the beginning of a subsequent period. A player disqualified or suspended may not return to the game.

PENALTY (Referee, Umpire)
For not reporting—Loss of 5 yards. If in the opinion of the Referee the incoming substitute has had no opportunity to report to the official, and he does not in any way interfere with the play or communicate with the players, the Referee need not inflict the penalty.

For incoming substitute communicating with players on field before ball is put in play—Loss of 15 yards.

For illegal return—The player shall be suspended from the game and his team shall be penalized half the distance to the goal line from the spot of the down during which the illegal substitution was made. If play shall have intervened between the illegal substitution and its discovery, the penalty shall be enforced from the spot where the illegal substitution was discovered.

NOTE. —The Committee deprecates putting in of substitutes for the purpose of conveying information.