Football Rules of Charterhouse School (1867)

The Football Rules of Charterhouse School

1. Before the commencement of the game, the captain of each side, or his representative, shall toss up for choice of goals, which shall be changed at the end of each game, and fix the time for leaving off playing.

2. The ball may not be carried or thrown by the hands, or knocked out of the hands of any player who has caught it, either out of the air, or after it has bounded from the ground above his knee.

3. Players shall be allowed to stop the ball with their hands, and also, if necessary, to stoop to do so; but no player may strike the ball with his hand in any way, either when in the air or when upon the ground.

4. In order to win a game, the ball must go between the two flags and underneath the cord of the goal of the opposite side, provided that it be not hit or otherwise impelled through by the hands of any of the side who are not defending the goal; if hit, or in any way impelled through by any of the side who are defending the goal, the game is counted.

5. No player may hold, push with the hands, purposely kick or trip up any player of the opposite side, or in any way push him behind his back.

6. When the ball is kicked out of bounds at the side of the ground, it must immediately be taken in three yards from the place where it left the ground, and thrown or kicked in, at right angles to that side, and along the ground.

7. When the ball is kicked behind the goal, it must be kicked off by the side behind whose goal it went, within six yards from the limit of their goal. The side who thus kick the ball are entitled to a fair kick off in whatever way they please, without any obstruction, the opposite side not being allowed to approach within six yards of the ball.

8. Any player is "off his side," or "behind," when only three or less than three of the opposite side are between him and the opposite goal. Any player off his side is not to stop or kick the ball until it has been kicked or otherwise moved by one of the opposite side. This does not include the case of a player who is fairly following up the ball.

9. If any player violate any clause of the above rules, the side which has not violated the rule may, at its option, consider the ball as dead: in which case it shall be kicked off by that side from the middle of the ground, provided that no player belonging to the side which has not violated the rule has kicked or otherwise touched the ball. And if any disagreement arise concerning any one of the above rules, or any clause therein contained, the matter shall stand over for discussion until the conclusion of the game in which the players are then engaged.