User:Grover cleveland/History of the laws of the game/1872

Source
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18720203/135/0006

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18720302/137/0006

Changes from 1871 Laws

 * PROPOSED BY WANDERERS FC: 3: ADD: After the call of half-time ends shall not again be changed. APPROVED.
 * PROPOSED BY WANDERERS FC: 4: ADD: The ball hitting one or other of the goal or boundary posts and rebounding into play is considered in play, and not as having passed behind the goal line. APPROVED
 * PROPOSED BY SHEFFIELD FA: 7: REPLACE WITH: 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. APPROVED.
 * PROPOSED BY HARROW CHEQUERS: 8: ADD: 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. APPROVED.
 * PROPOSED BY GREAT MARLOW FC: 12: REPLACE "projecting nails" with "any nails excepting such as have their heads driven in flush with the leather". APPROVED.

Note
Rule 7 is an exact copy of the Sheffield FA rule (hence strange reference to the "bar" rather than "tape").

Rejected proposed changes

 * PROPOSED BY NOTTINGHAM FC: 6: REPLACE WITH: Any player nearer the opponents' goal that the player of his own side who last played the ball without having followed him, shall be off-side and out of play until the ball has been played by an opponent
 * PROPOSED BY SHEFFIELD FA: 6: REPLACE WITH: Any player between an opponents' goal and goal-keeper (unless he has followed the ball there) is off-side, and out of play. The goal-keeper is that player on the defending side who for the time being is nearest to his own goal.
 * PROPOSED BY HARROW CHEQUERS: 7: ADD: In the event of one of the defending side kicking the ball behind his own goal-line, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite party from the point where the ball passed behind the goal-line
 * PROPOSED BY GREAT MARLOW FC: 8: REPLACE WITH: The goal-keeper shall be allowed to handle the ball in any way he pleases, for the protection of his goal, but no other player shall be allowed to handle the ball further than merely stopping it with the hand or arm, all carrying and knocking on being strictly prohibited, and provided always that no goal shall be allowed when the ball has gone in off the hand or arm.

LAW 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, eight yards apart, with a tape across them, eight feet from the ground.

LAW 2
The winner of the toss shall have the choice of goals. 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.

LAW 3
After a goal is won the losing side shall kick off, and goals shall be changed. In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either party at the lapse of half the allotted time, ends shall then be changed. After the call of half-time ends shall not again be changed.

LAW 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, and not as having passed behind the goal line.

LAW 5
When the ball is in touch, the first player who touches it 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, to a distance of at least six yards, and it shall not be in play until it shall have touched the ground, and the player throwing it in shall not play it until it has been played by another player.

LAW 6
When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who 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 between him and their own goal; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from behind the goal line.

LAW 7
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.

LAW 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 for the protection of his goal. 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.

LAW 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.

LAW 10
A player shall not throw the ball or pass it to another.

LAW 11
No player shall take the ball from the ground with his hands while it is in play under any pretence whatever.

LAW 12
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.