Laying
Down the Law
Graduates of English schools wanted to continue
to play ball-and-goal games so they began
to form clubs. In 1862 some of the grads
drew up the Cambridge Code—10 rules
that allowed the ball to be handled only
to stop it in the air and place it back
on the ground.
On October 26, 1863, representatives
from 11 schools and clubs met at the Freemasons
Tavern to hash out official rules of the
game. One club, Blackheath, eventually withdrew
from the debates after the group voted not
to allow running with the ball or hacking
an opponent. When that decision was made,
the break between the games that would become
soccer and rugby became official. The remaining
10 representatives formed the Football Association
and published the original 14 Laws of the
Game in December 1863.
Remarkably, these first
laws contained no mention of fouls, penalties
or referees. Despite its violent heritage,
soccer at this time was considered a gentlemen’s
sport. No gentlemen, it was thought, would
attempt to foul to gain an advantage. Early
matches were officiated by two umpires,
one provided by each team. In the 1880s,
a referee was added to keep time and settle
disputes. When a disagreement arose, umpires
would refer to this official—hence
the name “referee.” By 1891,
the referee had been moved on to the field
of play and the umpires had become linesmen.
Today, linesmen are called assistant referees.
Today, there are
17 Laws of the Game that determine everything
from the size of the pitch or playing field,
to proper attire for soccer players (see
sidebar), to number of players per side
and the length of the game. The Laws of
the Game are now preserved and modified
when necessary by the International Football
Association Board (IFAB).
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Shoes, Shin
Guards and Caps - A Brief history
of Soccer Attire
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