THE FORMATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
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- Tripping shall not be allowed except when running with the ball.
- A player may be held when running with the ball.
- Hands shall not be used against an adversary except when he is running with the ball.
- A fair catch is to be when the ball is caught coming directly oflf an adversary's foot or body. A catch from behind goal or out of touch is not a fair catch.
- Any player is to be allowed to charge another, provided they are both in active play.
- No one wearing projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha on the soles or heels of his boots be allowed to play.
- A player may pass the ball to another player if he makes a fair catch or takes the ball on the first bound.
- A knock-on is from the hand only.
- A fair catch is to entitle a player to a free kicky provided he makes a mark with his heel at once, and in order to take such kick, the player may go as far back as he pleases.
- A goal is to be scored when the ball passes over the space between the goal-posts at whatever height, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
A glance at this experimental code will show, as I have already said, that there was, at the inception of the Association, an honest intention on both sides to secure, if possible, a fusion of the two games in the general interest of the game. The chief provisions of the rules in forc^ at Rugby were inserted with a view to a probable compromise. The goal was that in use at Harrow, without any cross-bar; but there was a clause to admit of a free kick (place or drop) in the event of a touch-down by the attacking side, as well as one to allow a fair catch. Further than this.
