Laws of the Game (1883)

by the Football Association

For works with similar titles, see Laws of the Game.

The Laws of the Game

1. The limits of the ground shall be, maximum length, 200 yards; minimum length, 100 yards; maximum breadth, 100 yards, minimum breadth, 50 yards. The length and breadth shall be marked off with flags and touch line; and the goals shall be upright posts, 8 yards apart, with a bar across them 8 feet from the ground. The average circumference of the Association ball shall be not less than twenty-seven inches and not more than twenty-eight inches

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 in the direction of the opposite goal-line; the other side shall not approach within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked off, nor shall any player on either side pass the centre of the ground in the direction of his opponents' goal until the ball is kicked off.

3. Ends shall only be changed at half-time. After a goal is won the losing side shall kick-off, but after the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked-off by the opposite side from that which originally did so; and always as provided in Law 2.

4. A goal shall be won when the ball has passed between the goal-posts under the bar, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried by any one of the attacking side. The ball hitting the goal, or boundary-posts, or goal-bar, and rebounding into play, is considered in play.

5. When the ball is in touch, a player of the opposite side to that which kicked it out shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground. The thrower, facing the field of play, shall hold the ball above his head and throw it with both hands in any direction, and it shall be in play when thrown in. The player throwing it shall not play it until it has been played by another player.

6. When a player kicks the ball, or throws it in from touch, any one of the same side who, at such moment of kicking or throwing, 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 such moment of kicking or throwing at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal line; but no player is out of play in the case of a corner-kick or when the ball is kicked from the goal line, or when it has been last played by an opponent.

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 within one yard of the nearest corner flag-post. In either case no other player shall be allowed within six yards of the ball until it is kicked off.

8. No player shall carry, knock on, or handle the ball under any pretence whatever, except in the case of the goal-keeper, who shall be allowed to use his hands in defence of his goal, either by knocking on or throwing, but not carrying the ball. The goal-keeper may be changed during the game, but not more than one player shall act as goal-keeper at the same time; and no second player shall step in and act during any period in which the regular goal-keeper may have vacated his position.

9. In no case shall a goal be scored from any free kick, nor shall the ball be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. The kick-off and corner-flag kick shall be free kicks within the meaning of this rule.

10. Neither tripping, hacking, nor jumping at a player, shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary, or charge him from behind. A player with his back towards his opponents' goal cannot claim the protection of this rule when charged from behind, provided, in the opinion of the umpires or referee, he, in that position, is wilfully impeding his opponent.

11. No player shall wear any nails, except such as have their heads driven in flush with the leather, or iron plates, or gutta-percha on the soles or heels of his boots, or on his shin-guards. Any player discovered infringing this rule shall be prohibited from taking any further part in the game.

12. In the event of any infringement of rules 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, a free kick shall be forfeited to the opposite side, from the spot where the infringement took place.

13. In the event of an appeal for any supposed infringement of the rules, the ball shall be in play until a decision has been given.

14. Each of the competing clubs shall be entitled to appoint an umpire, whose duties shall be to decide all disputed points when appealed to; and by mutual arrangement a referee may be chosen to decide in all cases of difference between the umpires.

15. The referee shall have power to stop the game in the event of spectators interfering with the game.

Definition of Terms

A Place Kick is a kick at the ball while on the ground, in any position in which the kicker may choose to place it.

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.

Hacking is kicking an adversary intentionally.

Tripping is throwing an adversary by the use of the leg, or by stooping in front of him.

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 extended from the body.

Handling is understood to be playing the ball with the hand or arm.

Touch is that part of the field, on either side of the ground, which is beyond the line of play.

Carrying is taking more than two steps when holding the ball.

Notes

1. This thoroughgoing revision of the laws incorporated recommendations from an International Conference of the Scottish, English, Welsh, and Irish Associations held in Manchester on December 6th, 1882. The recommendations of this International Conference had been provisionally approved by a Special General Meeting of the Football Association, Freemason's Tavern, London, January 8th 1883.
   
   Changes from 1882:
   • Law 1: replace "marked off with flags" with "marked off with flags and touch line" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 1: replace "bar or tape" with "bar" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 1: append "The average circumference of the Association ball shall be not less than 27 inches and not more than 28 inches" (proposed by C. W. Alcock of Wanderers FC; seconded by N. L. Jackson of Finchley FC).
   • Law 2: after "place kick from the centre of the ground" add "in the direction of the opposite goal-line" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 4: replace "tape or bar" with "bar" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 4: replace "goal bar or tape" with "goal bar" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 4: remove "When any player, other than the goal-keeper, wilfully stops a ball in the vicinity of his own goal by using his hands when, in the opinion of the umpires or referee, the ball would have passed through the goal, a goal shall be scored to his opponents" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 5: replace "in any direction the thrower may choose. The ball must be thrown in at least six yards, and shall be in play when thrown in, but the player throwing it in shall not play it until it has been played by another player" with "The thrower, facing the field of play, shall hold the ball above his head and throw it with both hands in any direction, and it shall be in play when thrown in. The player throwing it shall not play it until it has been played by another player" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 6: replace "it is thrown out from touch" with "throws it in from touch" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 6: replace "nor" with "or" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 6: replace "throwing in" with "throwing" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 6: replace "no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from the goal-line" with "no player is out of play in the case of a corner kick, or when the ball is kicked from the goal-line" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 8: replace "No player shall carry or knock on the ball; and handling the ball, under any pretence whatever, shall be prohibited" with "No player shall carry, knock on, or handle the ball under any pretence whatever" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 8: replace "but shall not carry the ball" with "but not carrying the ball" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 12: renumbered to law 9 (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 9: renumbered to law 10. (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 10 (old law 9): replace "Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed" with "Neither tripping, hacking, nor jumping at a player, shall be allowed"
   • New law 10 (old law 9): replace "A player with his back towards his opponents' goal cannot claim the privilege of Rule 9 when charged behind" with "A player with his back towards his opponents' goal cannot claim the protection of this rule when charged from behind, provided, in the opinion of the umpires or referee, he, in that position, is wilfully impeding his opponent" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 10: renumbered to law 11 (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 11 (old law 10): append "Any player discovered infringing this rule shall be prohibited from taking any further part in the game" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 11: renumbered to law 12 (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 12 (old law 11): replace "5, 6, 8, or 9, 12, or 14" with "5, 6, 8, 9, or 10" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 13: replace "In the event of a supposed infringement of Rules 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, or 14, the ball shall be in play until the decision of the umpires or referee, on his being appealed to, shall have been given" with "In the event of an appeal for any supposed infringement of the rules, the ball shall be in play until a decision has been given" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Old law 14: law deleted "No player shall charge his opponent by leaping upon him" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Old law 15: renumbered to new law 14 (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 14 (old law 15): replace "By mutual arrangement of the competing clubs in matches a referee shall be appointed, whose duties will be to decide in all cases of dispute between the umpires" with "Each of the competing clubs shall be entitled to appoint an umpire, whose duties shall be to decide all disputed points when appealed to; and by mutual arrangement a referee may be chosen to decide in all cases of difference between the umpires" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 14 (old law 15): delete "He shall also keep a record of the game, and act as timekeeper, and in the event of ungentlemanly behaviour on the part of any of the contestants, the offender or offenders shall, in the presence of the umpires, be cautioned, and in the case of violent conduct, the referee shall have power to rule the offending player or players out of play, and to order him or them off the ground, transmitting name or names to the committee of the Association under whose rules the game was played, and in whom shall be solely vested the right of accepting an apology" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Law 16: renumbered to law 15 (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • New law 15 (old law 16): replace "spectators interfering with the play" with "spectators interfering with the game" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Definition of Free Kick: place definition of free kick second (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Definition of Tripping: append "or by stooping in front of him" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Definition of Touch: replace "line of flags" with "line of play" (recommendation of the International Conference).
   • Definition of Carrying: add new definition "Carrying is taking more than two steps when holding the ball" (proposed by Blackburn Rovers FC; seconded by Accrington FC).
   For more information, see:
   • "National Football Conference in Manchester", The Glasgow Herald (vol. 100 no. 292): 5 (1882-12-07).
   • "Lancastrian", "The Football Association Conference", The Athletic News and Cyclist's Journal (vol. vii no. 38.3):5 (1882-12-13).
   • "The Football Association", The Sporting Life (2686):4 (1883-01-09).
   • "The Football Association". The Sporting Life (2704): 4. 1883-02-08. 
   • "The Football Association", Bell's Life in London (3269):4 (1883-02-24).
   (Wikisource contributor note)