Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Sheffield Rules" in English language version.
[T]he defending side form down one yard from the centre of the goals by one of their number, called "post", taking up his position in the centre with the ball between his feet, and three or four placing themselves close up behind him, with others called "sides" on either side to support him ... On the attacking side, four players, also called sides, form down against the defenders' bully [scrummage]... two on either side, leaving a small gully in front of post just large enough to admit some four of the attacking side, and these headed by one who is said to run in charge in a compact mass, one close behind the other, against the centre of the opponents' bully, so that when they have closed, the whole is one consolidated mass. If the attacking side is stronger, and the sides do their work properly, the bully of the defenders is sometimes pushed bodily through goals; if, however, the two bullies are equal in weight or strength, the ball eventually breaks loose, and the play continues as originally begun.
It was then formally resolved, ...that the Sheffield Association accept the Clydesdale Amendment and the London Rules"
We have no printed rule at all like your No. 6 [the FA's draft offside law], but I have written in the book a rule which is always played by us.
The laws of the General Association [i.e. the FA], as settled at the last meeting, were in each case taken as the proposition, and the laws of the game, as played at Sheffield, were moved as the amendments
| Sheffield Rules (1858) (first draft) | Rugby School Rules (1851) |
|---|---|
| 1. Kick off from Middle must be a place kick. | i: Kick off from Middle must be a place-kick. |
| 2. Kick out must not be from more than twenty five yards out of goal. | ii: Kick out must not be from more than 25 yards out of goal, nor from more than 10 yards if a place-kick. |
| 3. Fair Catch is a Catch direct from the foot of the opposite side and entitles a free kick. | iii. Fair Catch is a catch direct from the foot. |
| 4. Charging is fair in case of a place kick (with the exception of a kick off) as soon as the player offers to kick, but he may always draw back unless he has actually touched the Ball with his foot. | iv: Charging is fair, in case of a place-kick, as soon as a ball has touched the ground; in case of a kick from a catch, as soon as the player offers to kick, but he may always draw back, unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot. |
| 6. Knocking or pushing on the Ball is altogether disallowed. The side breaking this Rule forfeits a free kick to the opposite side. | vii: Knocking on, as distinguished from throwing on, is altogether disallowed under any circumstances whatsoever.—In case of this rule being broken, a catch from such a knock on, shall be equivalent to a fair catch. |
| 7. No player may be held or pulled over. | xii: No player out of a maul may be held, or pulled over, unless he is himself holding the ball. |
| 8. It is not lawful to take the Ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatever. | viii: It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground, except in touch, either for a kick or throw on. |
| 10. No Goal may be kicked from touch nor by a free kick from a catch. | xx: No goal may be kicked from touch. |
| 11. A ball in touch is dead. Consequently the side that touches it down, must bring it to the edge of the touch, & throw it straight out at least six yards from touch. | xxi: Touch — A ball in touch is dead; consequently the first player on his side must in any case touch it down, bring it to the edge of touch, and throw it straight out. |
| Sheffield Rules (1862) | Eton Field Game (1857) |
|---|---|
| 11. A rouge is obtained by the player who first touches the ball after it has been kicked between the rouge flags, and when a rouge has been obtained one of the defending side must stand post two yards in front of the goal sticks. | 5. A "rouge" is obtained by the player who first touches the ball after it has been kicked behind, or on the line of the goalsticks of the opposite side, provided the kicker has been "bullied" by one of more of the opposite party in the act of kicking. |
| 12. No rouge is obtained when a player who first touches the ball is on the defending side. In that case it is a kick out as specified in law 2. | 7. [...] should the ball be first touched by one of the defending party, no rouge is obtained, and the ball must be placed on a line with the goalsticks, and "kicked off" by one of that party. |
| 13. No player who is behind the line of the goal sticks when the ball is kicked behind, may touch it in any way, either to prevent or obtain a rouge. | 10. No player who is behind the line of the goalsticks, before the ball be kicked behind, may touch it in any way, either to prevent or obtain a rouge. |
| 14. A goal outweighs any number of rouges. Should no goals or an equal number be obtained, the match is decided by rouges. | 25. A goal outweighs any number of rouges, should no goals or an equal number be obtained, the match is decided by rouges. |
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