# The Sporting Life/1863/Football Association Meeting

Article describing the meeting of the Football Association in December 1863 at which the Rules of the Game were discussed. Includes a list of the Laws of the Game. Published in The Sporting Life, Wednesday, December 2, 1863. Page 3.
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
The fourth adjourned meeting of this association took place last night, at the Freemasons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Mr. Pember in the chair. The following clubs were represented :-- Blackheath, Blackheath School, Forest School (Leytonstone), Crystal Palace, N. N., Kilburn, War Office, &c. The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting, and upon a proposition being made by the Chairman that the same be confirmed, Mr. Campbell moved an amendment to the effect that that portion of the minutes which referred to the first resolution and the two amendments be not confirmed; but, upon that being put to the vote, the original proposition was carried by a majority of four. The secretary then read the following letters:--
Dear Sir, -- Our committee have read with great interest the late discussions respecting the laws of football, and believing the association now formed likely to promote the game, they are anxious to enrol the club amongst the list of members, and I herewith enclose the amount of the subscription. We think it very desirable a general code of laws should be established, and heartily wish you success in the undertaking. I enclose a copy of our rules, and perhaps you will excuse a few remarks on them. I am very much in favour of a crossbar, without one it is sometimes very difficult for an umpire to decide, and, whatever his decision, he generally displeases some one. In your Rule 5 I think the ball, when thrown or kicked into play, should be not less than six yards. If thrown less, it is very liable to go out again at the first kick. We have no printed rule at all like your No. 6, but I have written in the book a rule, which is always played by us. Nos. 9 and 10, I think, are directly opposed to football, the latter especially being more like wrestling. I cannot see science in taking a run-kick at a player at the risk of laming him for life. Your No. 14 will be altogether new to our players, I suppose the idea is that nails are dangerous. We strictly prohibit spikes, but though it is the general custom in this neighbourhood to wear nails, I never yet heard of an accident resulting from the use of them. I think our No. 15 (which we have only had about two years) a very useful and desirable rule, and worth your consideration. Doubtless, the foregoing are all old arguments, but I thought that perhaps they would not be uninteresting, as showing how the game is played in this neighbourhood. On hearing that we are accepted as members, I shall be glad to appoint representatives to attend your meetings. -- Yours truly, W. CHESTERMAN, Hon. Secretary. Sheffield Football Club, Sheffield, November 30.
Dear Sir -- We should have sent two representatives to the "Football Association" from the commencement but for this reason, that are not an organised club. As most of our men are only here preparing for the army, and do not remain any length of time in Richmond, it is useless our trying to form a regular club. We merely club together during the winter for the sake of playing a few matches. I think you will agree with me that, under these circumstances, it is unnecessary for us to enrol a club like this as a member of the association, which may not last beyond this season. If the rules of the association are decided upon in time for us to use them this winter, we shall no doubt adopt them, whatever they may be, as it will be a great convenience to us whenever we play with other clubs. If we had got a good club in Richmond, I should have been only too glad to have done my best to assist in promoting what I think will be a great benefit to us all. Thanking you for your letter, believe me, dear Sir, yours truly, EDWIN H. ASH., Streatham Lodge, Marsh Gate, Richmond, S. W., November 28.
Mr. Alcock proposed that Rules Nos. 9 and 10 in the printed code should be omitted.
Mr. Morley seconded the resolution, on the ground that men who had arrived at the years of discretion would not play if hacking was allowed, only boys would take part in the game, and observed that if the Blackheath Club could not get three matches in the course of the season, he thought it would be the death-blow to the association if hacking was insisted on.
Mr. Campbell opposed the motion, and said that the rules should be gone into seriatim, and objected to the spirit in which Mr. Alcock had proposed the withdrawal of these rules because he saw they were in a minority. He threatened to withdraw the support of their clubs from the association if those rules were expunged.
The Chairman reprobated the course Mr. Campbell had taken, and said he did not consider it an honest way of proceeding. The Chairman further remarked that he could not allow such an accusation as that made by Mr. Campbell, that certain clubs had purposely put off the consideration of the rules till to-night, without entering his protest against it. The Chairman said he had never seen the Cambridge rules till he came into the room.
A warm discussion then ensued, and Mr. Campbell, by way of putting an end to the matter, proposed as an amendment that this meeting be adjourned to some day in the vacation when many of the schools' representatives might attend. This being seconded, was put from the chair, when there appeared in favour of the amendment, 4; against it, 13. The original motion was then put, and there appeared in its favour 11; against 5. The original motion was then declared to be carried.
The consideration of the rules was next proceeded with, and they were finally settled as follows, awaiting only confirmation at the next meeting:--
I. -- 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 goal shall be defined by two upright posts, eight yards apart, without any tape or bar across them.
II. -- A toss for goals shall take place, and the game shall be commenced 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.
III. -- After a goal is won, the losing side shall be entitled to kick off, and the two sides shall change goals after each goal is won
IV. -- A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts or over the space between goal-posts (at whatever height), not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
V. -- When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point the boundary line where it left the ground, in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and the ball shall not be in play until it has touched the ground.
VI. -- When a player has kicked the ball, anyone of the same side who is nearer to the opponent's goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor any way whatsoever prevent any other player from doing so until he is in play; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked off from behind the goal line.
VII. -- In case the ball goes behind the goal line, if a player on the side to whom the goal belongs first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick from the goal line at the point opposite the place where the ball shall be touched. If a player of the opposite side first touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick at the goal, only a point fifteen yards outside the goal line, opposite the place where the ball is touched, the opposing side standing within the goal line until he has had his kick.
VIII. -- If a player makes a fair catch, he shall be entitled to a free kick, providing he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go as far back as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.
IX. -- No player shall run with the ball.
X. -- Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary.
XI. -- A player shall not be allowed to throw the ball or pass it to another with his hands.
XII. -- No player shall be allowed to take the ball from the ground with his hands under any pretence whatever while it is in play.
XIII. -- No player shall be allowed to wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta percha on the soles or heels of his boots.
DEFINITION OF TERMS.
A PLACE KICK -- Is a kick at the ball while it is on the ground, in any position which the kicker may choose to place it.
A FREE KICK -- Is the privilege of kicking the ball, without obstruction, in such manner as the kicker may think fit.
A FAIR CATCH -- Is when the ball is caught, after it has touched the person of an adversary, or has been kicked or knocked on by an adversary, and before it has touched the ground or one of the side catching it; but if the ball is kicked behind goal-line, a fair catch cannot be made.
HACKING -- Is kicking an adversary.
TRIPPING -- Is throwing an adversary by the use of the legs.
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.
The meeting was then adjourned to Tuesday next, at seven o'clock.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
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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