# Laws of the Game (1873)

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Laws of association football, adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the Football Association, Freemasons' Tavern, London, February 26th, 1873.

## The Laws of the Game

1. The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards; the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards; the length and breadth shall be marked off with flags; and the goals shall be upright posts, 8 yards apart, with a tape across them, 8 feet from the ground.
2. 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; the other side shall not approach within ten yards of the ball until it is kicked off.
3. 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 the allotted time, ends shall then be changed. After the change of ends at half-time, ends shall not again be changed.
4. A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal posts under the tape, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried. The ball hitting one or other of the goal or boundary posts and rebounding into play, is considered in play.
5. When the ball is in touch, a player of the opposite side to that which has kicked it out shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground, in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, at least six yards, and it shall not be in play until it has touched the ground, and the player throwing it in shall not play it until it has been played by another player.
6. When a player kicks the ball, any one of the same side who, at such moment of kicking, is nearer to the opponents' goal-line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so, until the ball has been played, unless there are at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal-line; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from the goal line.
7. When the ball is kicked behind the goal-line by one of the opposite side, it shall be kicked off by any one of the players behind whose goal line it went, within six yards of the nearest goal post; but if kicked behind by any one of the side whose goal line it is, a player of the opposite side shall kick it from the nearest corner flag-post. In either case no other player shall be allowed within six yards of the ball until kicked off.
8. No player shall carry or knock on the ball; and handling the ball, under any pretence whatever, shall be prohibited, except in the case of the goal-keeper, who shall be allowed to use his hands, but shall not carry the ball. In the event of an infringement of this rule, 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 be scored from such free kick.
9. Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary, nor charge him from behind.
10. No player shall wear any nails, excepting such as have their heads driven in flush with the leather, iron plates, or gutta-percha, on the soles or heels of his boots.
Mem. — Handling is understood to be playing the ball with the hand or arm.

## Definition of Terms

A Place Kick is a kick at the ball while on the ground, in any position which the kicker may choose to place it.
Hacking is kicking an adversary intentionally.
Tripping is throwing an adversary by the use of the legs.
Knocking on is when a player strikes or propels the ball with his hands or arms.
Holding includes the obstruction of a player by the hand or any part of the arm below the elbow.
Touch is that part of the field, on either side of the ground, which is beyond the line of flags.
A Free Kick is a kick at the ball in any way the kicker pleases, when it is lying on the ground; none of the kicker's opponents being allowed within six yards of the ball, but in no case can a player be forced to stand behind his own goal-line.

## Notes

* ↑ Changes from 1872: Law 2: replace "The winners of the toss shall have the choice of goals" with "The winners of the toss shall have the option of kick-off or choice of goals" (proposed by Queen's Park FC). Law 2: omit "by the side losing the toss" (proposed by Queen's Park FC). Law 3: replace "After a goal is won the losing side shall kick off, and goals shall be changed" with "After a goal is won, ends shall be changed, and the losing side shall kick off (proposed by Queen's Park FC). Law 5: replace "the first player who touches it shall throw it" with "a player of the opposite side to that which has kicked it out shall throw it" (proposed by Nottingham Forest FC, as amended). Law 6: replace "any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponents' goal line is out of play" with "any one of the same side who, at such moment of kicking, is nearer to the opponents' goal line is out of play" (proposed by Uxbridge FC). Law 6: replace "unless there are at least three of his opponents between him and their own goal" with "unless there are at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal line" (proposed by Uxbridge FC). Law 6: replace "kicked from behind the goal line" with "kicked from the goal line" (proposed by Uxbridge FC). Law 7: replace "When the ball is kicked over the bar of 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; the opposite side not being allowed to approach within six yards of the ball. When the ball is kicked behind the goal line, a player of the opposite side to that which kicked it out shall kick it from the nearest corner flag. No player to be allowed within six yards of the ball until kicked" with "When the ball is kicked behind the goal-line by one of the opposite side, it shall be kicked off by any one of the players behind whose goal line it went, within six yards of the nearest goal post; but if kicked behind by any one of the side whose goal line it is, a player of the opposite side shall kick it from the nearest corner flag-post. In either case no other player shall be allowed within six yards of the ball until kicked off" (proposed by Great Marlow FC). Law 8: after "who shall be allowed to use his hands" delete "for the protection of his goal" (proposed by D. Allport of Crystal Palace FC). Law 8: after "who shall be allowed to use his hands" insert "but shall not carry the ball" (proposed by Queen's Park FC). Old law 10: delete law "A player shall not throw the ball nor pass it to another" Old law 11: delete law "No player shall take the ball from the ground with his hands while it is in play under any pretence whatever". Old Law 12: renumber to new law 10. Definition of Free Kick: add definition "A Free Kick is a kick at the ball in any way the kicker pleases, when it is lying on the ground; none of the kicker's opponents being allowed within six yards of the ball, but in no case can a player be forced to stand behind his own goal-line." (proposed by Clapton Pilgrims, as amended by F. A. Marindin of Royal Engineers). For more information, see "The Football Association", The Sportsman (London) (1387): 3. (1873-02-27). (Wikisource contributor note)
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1924, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 99 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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