The Evolution of Football (Soccer) Rules: From Chaos to Standardization

Football (association football) regulations took a while to create. Early versions of this game didn’t have standardized rules; instead, different sets of rules were used based on the location where it was played. In terms of game rules, the game has now gained homogeneity, but it took some time for that to happen. The first conference in the process took place in Cambridge in 1848, but a satisfying set of rules could not be decided upon until a second meeting took place in London 15 years later. The laws however were very different from those in effect now,

In this article, we will take a look at the evolution of football rules over the years.

The Early Days

Prior to the usage of numbers on the players’ jerseys, it was impossible to tell the two teams apart based solely on their uniforms. The playing field’s dimensions and the amount of players engaged could also vary greatly. The rules of the early game varied  depending on which school played it when it originally emerged in England during the first half of the 19th century.

The 1800s

At a meeting in Cambridge in 1848, the first attempt was made to compile a set of guidelines that would apply to all games of the day. The meeting, which included representatives from various British institutions, produced the “Cambridge Rules,” the first attempt to standardize the game’s regulations.But the nature of the game would continue to be a point of contention. It took several additional meetings before it was finally resolved that football should only be played with the feet (a dribbling-kicking game) and not with the hands (a catch-and-run game), differentiating the sport from rugby. In numerous schools, the practice of carrying the ball with the hands persisted until 1863.

The decisions made by some not to adhere to the new code would lead in various directions, such as the unique types of football played by Americans and Australians, aside from the division of association football and rugby. Football would become a less harsh and violent game with the early creation of rules. Some people think the current game is fierce and aggressive, yet it is nothing in comparison to the game’s early years. Before 1863, the game’s “hacking” (kick-downing an opponent) element was a distinguishing characteristic that made it appear to have a manly goal.

The standardization that had been attained in 1863 was still very different from the game that is played today. The following guidelines were in effect:

1. There was no crossbar in use, and the goal was not tailored to a particular height.
2. A player received a free kick if he successfully caught a high ball.
3. The player who originally got the ball received a throw-in if it crossed the sideline.
4. Throw-ins were made with one hand (Scotland did not use this technique, though).

The referee

Before 1871, there were no referees at all. Instead, it fell to the captains of both teams to maintain order. A gentleman’s sport, it was. However, it was decided that if the captains of each club couldn’t agree in 1871, when the FA Cup was established, two referees would make the call. Seven years later, the referee’s whistle was audible to both the players and the spectators for the first time. Before the 2018 FIFA World Cup, it was agreed that cameras will be employed for the first time to aid officials. The so-called video assistant referees may only be utilized to determine goal-scoring opportunities, penalty kick outcomes, and red card situations.

Penalties

The closest thing to a penalty prior to its introduction was the indirect free kick. A penalty was imposed if the referee determined that a connected rule violation had occurred within twelve yards of the goal line because the pitches did not have penalty areas at the time (they were added in 1902). Penalty shootouts were formally adopted in 1970 as a means of settling games that remained tied at the end of regulation play. In the Watney Cup semifinal that year, Hull City and Manchester United went to a penalty shootout. 1982 was the first World Cup penalty shootout (qualifying games not included), which took place in the semi-final between West Germany and France.

Off Side

Offside regulations have existed in a variety of versions during the last century. Offside was once unnecessary because the game’s earlier incarnations simply involved dribbling and no passing at all. Passes had to be made backwards or sideways according to the first rule that resembled offside. Rugby adopted this as the standard, but when the regulation was altered once more in 1866, football took a different turn. This regulation stated that if three opponents’ players were between the ball and the other team’s goal, a player could pass the ball forward.

The rule would lead to a lack of goals, which would result in a number of rule modifications in the early 1900s. The first modification, which took effect in 1907, prohibited players from being offside within their own half. Another rule was established in 1921 to make things simpler for the attackers by prohibiting being offside during a throw-in. The decision to need only two defenders to stand between the ball and the opponent’s goal, as opposed to three, was another move in the attackers’ favor. Offside rule changes would initially lead to more goals, but over time they would tactically alter the game so that more defenders would be utilized.

Extra Time

There wasn’t a single rule governing extra time prior to rule standardization. In a knockout tournament, a game that was tied after 90 minutes could be replayed or extended with additional time. Since the adoption of penalty shootouts in 1970, extra time was not formally recognised and could continue until a goal decided the match. Alternatively, it can continue for hours before the game has to end due to darkness.

Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Football Career: From Passion to Professional Opportunities

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