Rules of Football as played at Shrewsbury School (1874)

1. The length and breadth of the ground shall be at the discretion of the players, and shall be marked off with flags, and the goals by upright posts ten yards apart.

2. The winners of the toss shall have the choice of goals. The game shall commence by a place kick from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss; the other side shall not approach within ten yards of the ball until it is kicked off.

3. No one, who is “in goal,” is allowed to kick, or touch, or move the ball, or to advance towards his opponents’ goal line, or in any way to impede players on the opposite side; when this or any other rule is infringed, the opposite side can claim a fair place kick; but that kick cannot obtain a goal; nor can a goal be claimed until one of the opposite side has touched the ball.

4. No one is allowed to stand wilfully between the ball and his opponents' goal.

5. When the ball is kicked beyond the limits of the side boundary line, a scrimmage is formed, and the ball is thrown in from that point on the boundary line where it left the ground, in a direction at right angles with that line, and the player throwing it in shall not touch it, until it has been kicked by another player.

6. If any one kick the ball behind or against his adversaries' goal line, one of the opposite side may take a fair kick five yards directly in advance of the point on the boundary line where it left the ground, and his adversaries shall not approach within five yards of the ball so placed, until it has been kicked.

7. If any one catch the ball kicked by one of the opposite side, or by his own side (provided that he is not at the time "in goal"), he may take a fair kick, but only as a hoist or drop kick.

8. It is never lawful to touch the ball with the hand, except in catching it, nor to run along with it in the hand.

9. A player shall not throw the ball, nor pass it to another.

10. A goal shall be won when the ball passes through or above the space between the goal-posts, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried, and provided the ball flies wholly between the limits of the posts, without touching them in its flight.

11. After a goal is won, ends are changed, and the winning side kicks off. In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either side at the lapse of half the allotted time, ends shall then be changed.

12. A match is said to be won by that side which kicks most goals in the allotted time.

13. A ball shall never be caught in a scrimmage, neither are players allowed to work backwards through a scrimmage.

14. No tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary, nor may he charge from behind, nor may he charge at all unless close to the ball, nor may the ball be kicked with the heel.

15. No player shall wear spikes, projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha upon his boots.

DEFINITIONS.

1. All players are "in goal" when the ball has last been kicked or moved by one of their own side (unless a goal-keeper), who, at the time, was nearer than themselves to their own goal line. They cease to be in goal when the ball has been moved a distance of five yards by one of the opposite side.

2. A hoist consists in throwing the ball into the air, and kicking it before it reaches the ground.