Rules of the McGill University Football Club (1874)

I. Each goal shall consist of two upright posts, 16 feet high and 15 feet apart, with a cross-bar at a distance of 10 feet from the ground. The maximum length of the ground shall be 150 yards; the maximum breadth shall be 75 yards.

II. The number of players on each side shall be not more than twenty, or not less than ten. The definite number to be settled by the Captains before each match.

III. The winners of the toss shall have the option of kick off or choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place kick from the centre of the ground, and the opposite side shall not come within ten yards of the ball.

IV. The ball shall be kicked off (1) at the commencement of the game, (2) after a goal has been obtained, or (3) at the end of each half-hour.

V. After a goal is won ends shall be changed, and the losing side shall kick off. In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either side at the lapse of half an hour, ends shall then be changed.

VI. The ball may be caught on the bounce and carried; the player so carrying the ball may be "tackled" or " shouldered," but not hacked, throttled, or pommelled. No player may be held unless in actual possession of the ball.

VII. In the event of any player holding or running with the ball being tackled, and the ball fairly held, he may at once cry "have it down": he shall be allowed to place it on the ground unmolested; but he need not do so until his own side come up.

VIII. A goal can only be obtained by kicking the ball from the field of play direct (i. e. without touching the dress or person of any player of either side) over the cross-bar of the opponent's goal, whether it touch such cross-bar, or the posts, or not; but if the ball goes directly over either of the goal-posts it is called a poster, and is not a goal. A goal may be obtained by any kind of kick except a punt.

IX. A match shall last for three half-hours; it shall be decided by the majority of goals, or in the event of no goals being obtained by the majority of touch-downs; three touch-downs counting as one goal.

X. Every player is on side, but is put off side if he enters a scrummage from his opponent's side, or being in a scrummage, gets in front of the ball, or when the ball has been kicked, touched, or is being run with by any of his own side behind him (i. e. between himself and his goal line). Every player when off side is out of the game, and shall not touch the ball in any case whatever, or in any way interrupt or obstruct any player, until he is again on side.

XI. A player being off side is put on side when the ball has been kicked by or has touched the dress or person of any player of the opposite side, or when one of his own side has run in front of him either with the ball or having kicked it when behind him.

XII. It is lawful for any player who has the ball to throw it back towards his own goal, or to pass it back to any player of his own side who is at the time behind him, in accordance with the rules of on side.

XIII. If a ball goes into touch, the first player, on his side, who touches it down must bring it to the spot where it crossed the touch line; or if a player, when running with the ball, cross or put any part of either foot across the touch line, he must return with the ball to the spot where the line was so crossed, and then either (1) bound the ball in the field of play, and then run with it, kick it, or throw it back to his own side, or (2) throw it out at right angles to the touch line.

XIV. The goal line is in goal, and the touch line is in touch.

XV. If the ball be sent beyond the side-bounds and yet behind the goal line, it shall be touched down and thrown in from the corner in a diagonal direction by whoever touches it down.

XVI. It is not lawful to take the ball from off the ground for any purpose whatever, unless it be in touch.

XVII. No hacking, or hacking over, or tripping up, shall be allowed under any circumstances. No one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on any part of his boots or shoes, shall be allowed to play in a match.

XVIII. In case of any distinct and wilful violation of these Rules of Play, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite side from the spot where the infringement took place, but in no case shall a goal he scored from such free kick.

XIX. Continued transgression of rules by any player, the side to which he belongs shall lose him.

XX. All disputes to be settled by the umpires, whose decision shall be final.

DEFINITION OF TERMS.

1. A drop kick is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it the very instant it rises.

2. A place kick is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed in a nick made in the ground for the purpose of keeping it at rest

3. A punt is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it before it touches the ground.