From Then to Now: Evolution of Football Rules Over the Years

Football is an age old sport and it is common thing to wonder about the rules that governed this game. Was it the way it is played now or the changes in rules have been made? Well yes, the latter is true. The football rules over the years have undergone a lot of changes. Previously, the rules were dependent on the location where the match was played. But, the meeting in 1848, held at Cambridge, gave us the ‘Cambridge rules’ which were followed for a very long period of time. The second set of changes occurred after 15 years of the Cambridge meeting at London where the attendees could agree upon a set of rules. A lot of rules are the same since then.

What happened in Early Days

In the start of the Football days, the players wore almost the same shirts and the jerseys did not carry the numbers. The first time when the players were allotted t-shirts with numbers was in 1911. In this year, the Australian teams – HMS Powerful and Sydney Leichardt – entered the turf with players wearing numbered jerseys. This idea was adopted as rule in 1912 and since then, the teams have started giving numbered t-shirts to the players.

Also, the rules of the game depended on the location (or college) where the game was being held. The players had to learn new rules each time they played as per the rules laid down by the venue’s authorities.

13 rules decided in the year 1863

In 1863, a meeting was held at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London. In this meeting, the founding members of the Football Association agreed upon certain rules to play the football game. These rules were:

1. The football ground should be maximum 200 yards in length and 100 yards minimum breadth wise. The boundaries were marked with flags and the goal posts were 8 yards apart from the boundaries.
2. The winner of the toss will choose the goal as per their discretion. The game with a place kick from the center of the ground where the side losing the toss will make first kick and the opposing side will stay 10 yards away from the ball.
3. Goals will be changed after a goal post the losing side’s kick off.
4. The goal will be scored only by passing the ball with feet, between the goal posts and above till any height. The actions of throw, knock or carrying the ball will not amount to scoring a goal.
5. The first throw will be made perpendicular to the boundary line from the point where it left the ground and got touched by a player. The first player who touches the ball will make a throw.
6. The player near to the opponent’s goal line will not touch the ball till it is played; he is also not allowed to restrict others from doing so. All players will remain in play when the ball is kicked from a point behind the goal line.
7. When the ball goes behind the goal line, the player from the goal’s side who touches the ball first wins a free kick for his side from the goal line. In case, the opposing side touches the ball, the free kick can be used but only at the goal. The defending side will stay behind the goal line till the kick is made.
8. The player, in case of a fair catch, wins a free kick if he has made the mark with heel right at the moment. He can go as far back as possible and the opposing side will not move beyond the mark till the kick is complete.
9. No one is allowed to carry the ball
10. The player should not hold or push the adversary in any case; the tripping as well as hacking is also banned.
11. The ball cannot be thrown or passed by hand
12. The player cannot collect the ball with hand from the ground, while it is in play.
13. The heels and soles of the boots should not be made of protruding nails, or gutta percha or iron plates.

Change of rules for FIFA 2023

In FIFA 2023, some changes in rules were introduced. The new rules are:

1. The change in number of substitutes – Maximum of five substitutes were allowed and these were to be established by national associations and FIFA Confederations.
2. Change in penalty shoot toss – the coaching staff is included for sent off through warning during the penalty shoot
3. Preventing goal or a scoring opportunity by hand – If the goal is prevented by using a hand movement, the player is sent off. The goalkeeper is exempted clearly from this rule. The previous law did not clearly define the fate of the goalkeeper in such instances, so new rule has provided the clarification for the same.
4. Indirect kick when foul on external agent: If the player commits a foul on an external agent with the ball in play and leaves the field without the referee’s permission, then an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing side.
5. Goalkeeper’s position while taking maximum penalty: The goal keeper has to have one foot or its part touching the goal line while taking the maximum penalty.
6. Change in the draw for the kick-off: The referee flips the coin and the winning team chooses the side to attack or to face the kick-off.

To sum up, Rules of the football game have changed many times since early years. The aim is to bring more discipline into the game and control players’ unruly behavior and problematic stances. When giving tips, the experts at Football Tipsters consider the rules too. The change in rules is made to clarify the points included in the rulebook. Sometimes, these may work in player’s favor, sometimes they not. The rules also govern the motivational factor which also affects the outcome of the game, and the bet results, too, consequently.