# General Rules for Football at Uppingham School (1871)

Laws of football as played at Uppingham School, 1871
THE FOLLOWING
ARE THE
General Rules
FOR
FOOTBALL,
AT
Uppingham School.
October, 1871.
FOOTBALL RULES.
I.
The game is commenced by one side having a fair kick off at quarter distance.
II.
Off-side. -- A player is put off-side by the ball being touched by a friend, when he is between his enemy's goal and the ball.
He is put on-side again by the ball being touched by a friend or opponent, when he is between his own goal and the ball.
When a player is off-side he is to consider himself out of the game, and is not to kick or touch the ball or in any way interfere with an opponent, but must return behind the ball as soon as possible.
When a player is between the ball and his opponent's goal, he must not charge or wilfully obstruct an opponent.
III.
If any player kicks off-side, the opposite side may claim a fair kick from the place where it was kicked off-side.
IV.
No player being off his side may catch the ball and run.
V.
When the ball is kicked into touch, the player who kicked it in must go after it, and bring it towards play, level with the spot at which it entered touch, and kick it straight into the middle of the game.
VI.
The goal must be 40 ft. wide by 7 ft. high, and midway between quarter-distance and goal a red flag must be placed.
VII.
A goal can only be won in the open field by the ball being kicked under the cross-bar and between the upright poles.
VIII.
If the goal-keeper, or one of his side, kick the ball out between the red flag and his goal, the other side may claim a bully at half-quarter distance.
IX.
But if one of the other side kick the ball out as above (Rule VIII.), there is a fresh kick-off at quarter distance.
X.
If whilst the ball is in a bully any of the players fall down, the bully must be stopped at once, and begin again from the place where the ball is. No kicking is allowed in the bullies.
XI.
The discretion of sending into goal, or giving any other orders, rests with the Heads of sides, or the deputies appointed by them.
XII.
If any player kick the ball behind his own goal, it counts as a goal for the opposite side.
XIII.
Any player who catches the ball in the air, or at first bound, may either kick it as best he can, or run with it towards the enemy's goal: provided that he is liable to be stopped by any means except tripping up: and if stopped or held, he must at once kick or put down the ball.
N.B.—-If the ball touch the ground after a player has touched it, he may not run with it.
XIV.
A player may not, in any case, run with the ball in or through touch.
XV.
No player to be held unless he is himself holding the ball.
XVI.
No use of hands or elbows to stop or otherwise impede players allowed. No tripping up ever allowed.
XVII.
No charging allowed, except when your adversary is running directly at the ball, or to catch one of your own side whilst running with the ball, according to Rule XIII. In this latter case you may not charge, unless you were behind the player when he caught the ball.
XVIII.
No charging allowed when a player is off-side; that is, immediately the ball is behind him.
XIX.
No ball ever to be struck or thrown with the hand, or lifted from the ground. Stopping a ball alone allowed.
XX.
No ball ever to be kicked during play whilst in the air.
XXI.
No player ever to kick except directly at the ball.
XXII.
No player may wear projecting nails or iron plates on the heels or soles of his boots or shoes. No padding allowed.
XXIII.
No kicking with the heel or above the knee is fair.
XXIV.
No player to stand within six paces of the kicker when he is kicking out of touch, or kicking off.
XXV.
No charging with the head down allowed in any case.

## Notes

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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