Fitchburg Leominster Football Rivalry Massachusetts

1894 Football

Playing Surface

330\' x 160\'
110 yards long with 2 goals (endzones)
The field is striped with white lines every 5 yards
Each goal line has a goal centered on the line. The goal has 2 upright posts 20\' in height with a cross-bar 18\'6" in width 10\' from the ground.

Scoring

Field Goal - (5 Points) Kicking the ball from the ground (place kick), a rolling ball or a drop kick between the goal posts or directly over a goal post. If the field goal is missed, the defense takes over at the spot of the missed field goal or opts to take a touch back. In the later case, the defenders must then kick from their 25 yard line unless the field goal attempt was inside the defenders 25 yard line, then the defenders kick from the 10 yard line.

Touching the Ball Down - (4 Points) A “touchdown” results when a player carries the ball across the opponent’s goal and touches it down and cries “down”.

Try a Goal - (2 Points) A place kick from the point at where the ball is carried across the goal line (touchdown). A player from the scoring team brings the ball across the line on to the field of play holding it in his arms. The “try at goal” can be attempted from any distance the kicker desires. The defenders must stay behind their goal line until the ball is placed on the ground (if a placekick is employed) or until the ball is kicked (if a drop-kick is attempted). Once that occurs the defenders can charge the place kick (the kicker can be defended by his line and backs). Defenders must be line up behind the goal line before a charge can be initiated.

Note: If the ball crosses the goal line near the sideline, the scoring team can “punt out” the ball (in an attempt to center the place of the “try”) to one of their teammates for a fair catch from which point the place kick or drop kick can be attempted. The Defenders must be lined up at the goal line and cannot charge until the ball is placed on the ground (placekick) or kicked (drop-kick) by the kicker. If the fair catch is muffed the defenders can charge and recover/advance the ball.

Also: The Defense can advance failed “try at goal” plays and missed field goals except when:

The ball is kicked through the end zone or out of bounds;
The kick is successful; and
The Defenders opt to effect a “touchback”.

Safety - (2 Points) when the opponent carries the ball behind their own goal line.

Clock

There are 2 halves, 35 minutes each of actual play.
Clock to be stopped when ball goes out of bounds, on a penalty, score, injury or timeout (3 per side/each half—not counting injury time outs).
There is a 10 minute intermission between the halves.
The linesman shall notify the captains of time remaining, not more than 10 minutes or less than 5 minutes before the end of each half.

The Game

The game commences with a coin toss essentially consistent with modern practice. The team winning the toss chooses to receive the kick off or defers that election until the second half. The team kicking off chooses which goal it wants to defend in the first half.

Kick Off - The kicking team lines up at the center of the field and the ball is place kicked to the opponents who can come no closer than 10 yards to the ball. (A kick that goes into “touch” (out of bounds) twice before being touched by the receiving team goes over to the receiving team at the center of the field---unless the receiving team deliberately fails to field the ball each time. In the later case the receiving team must then kick-off to their opponents.)

Note: The team who is scored upon is the team that kicks off to the team who scores a touch down or field goal provided in the case of a “touch-down” the “try at goal” is made. If the “try at goal” fails, the scoring team kicks to the team scored upon.

Play from Scrimmage - The ball is put in play from scrimmage by the “snap back” (center) by passing it back to the quarterback who in turn passes it back to another back. Either quarterback nor center can run with the ball before it is touched by another player. The center can kick the ball forward however no member of the offense can touch it until it travels 10 yards unless the ball is stopped by the defense first.)

Note: Defenders will attempt not only to check the advance of the ball carrier but also to strip the ball from his possession. The ball carrier cry “down” giving himself up and thus asking for a quick whistle. (see Fumbles below)

No Forward Pass - Penalty for forward pass and the ball is loss or the ball at the spot of the pass.

Converting First Downs - A team has 3 downs to advance the ball 5 yards. Should the offense not convert the first down it will lose possession of the ball or 20 yards. Therefore, depending on field position, it may be advisable to punt the ball on the third down rather than give the opponent an advantageous position on the field or be backed up toward its goal. If the 20 yard surrender goes into the offense’s “touch” (its own goal) a safety results.

Motion - Up to three backfield players may be in forward motion before the ball is snapped. Unlimited motion backward toward the players own goal, is permitted. (Forward motion would be limited to one step by rule in 1896.)

Interference (Blocking) - The offense cannot use their hands to block or hold (runner can use a straight arm with open hand). Penalty for the offense is loss of the ball or if the penalty is committed by the defense the assessment is 10 yards. Defense can use open hands but cannot hold. Offense must have arms tucked and can not use open hands. Neither team can interlock arms.

Note: The defense may not hold either.

Safety - The team who suffers the safety must make a kick out either by place kick, punt or drop kick from the 25 yard line. The kickout described above is a “free kick”.

Touchback - The team touching the ball down in its own goal must kick out (place kick, punt or drop kick) the ball to the opponents. If the ball goes out of bounds twice without touching an opponent during a kickoff the receiving team obtains the ball at center field. (See Kickoff above.) The kick out described above is a “free kick”.

Note: If the touchback results from a drop kick at the goal (field goal attempt) inside the 25 yard line the kick out must be from the 10 yard line.

Fair Catch - A “fair catch” is made when the receiving player makes a heel mark on the ground before catching the ball. The team whose player makes the “fair catch” can put the ball in play by scrimmage or a free kick.

Onside Kick Prohibited - A kick off must travel 10 yards and the kicking team cannot touch the ball until it is touched by the receiving team or the kicker runs past the point of the ball’s furthest travel from initial kicking impetus.

Place Kicking - The ball may be placed in a hole in the ground (divot) or held by another teammate.

Punt - The team in possession must give their opponents “a fair and equal chance” to obtain possession of the ball. This means the punt must go beyond the line of scrimmage (unless blocked by the opponent) before each team has the right to recovery. No offensive player may release until the ball is kicked. The kicking team may only recover the ball if the player recovering is onsides. A player is onsides only when the kicker has advanced beyond that player.

Note: FAIR CATCH OF A PUNT WILL BE PERMITTED.

Lineman - At least 5 players must be on the line of scrimmage.

Backfield - If there are 5 players in the backfield, not including the quarterback, then two must all be at least 5 yards from the line of scrimmage unless two backs are outside the ends of the players on the life of scrimmage.

Fumbles - If the progress of the ball carrier is fairly stopped, the defenders can cry held at which time the ball carrier will be prohibited from passing the ball laterally or handing it off to another teammate. Given the size of the ball, a held player may be at a disadvantage regarding fumbles. In that regard, a held player whose progress has been stopped may cry down, even before the defender cries held, in which case the whistle will blow and play will stop.

Penalties

Offsides - The offense is penalized by a loss of the ball which is placed at the spot of the foul. (If the offense commits the penalty at or closer than the 10yard line the defenders are entitled to a touchback and the ball is kicked as described below under the heading “Touchback”.) The defense is penalized 10 yards. (NOTE: If the offsides player returns onside before the snap there is no penalty. In Addition the umpire should not penalize a team for offsides if the offending player gives himself up by not participating in the play.)

Unnecessary Roughness, Hacking or Striking With a Fist - This offense is penalized with a disqualification from the game or the offending player who can be replaced but may not return. (Only distance penalties result in first downs.)

Disturbing the Snap Back (Center) - Penalty - 5 yards.

Throwing, Tripping, Tackling or Blocking below the Knees - Tackling below the waist shall be prohibited in this recreation game to promote safety. However, unintentional blocking or tackling below the knees will be waived. Penalty - 15 yards.

Piling on the Downed Ball Carrier - Penalty - 15 yards.

Interference With a Fair Catch - Penalty - 15 yards.

Charging the Kicker - Is prohibited before a place kicked ball (which is not a free kick-kickoff is put on the ground. Charging is also prohibited against the punter unless and until he crosses the line of scrimmage.

Note: For all penalties, half the distance to the goal rules apply as in modern football. Penalties can be declined. However, if the play is accomplished on the penalty of yards or the plays are limited to 15.

Officials

The officials of the game shall be an umpire, a referee, and a linesman.

Umpire - Is the judge of the conduct of the players, and his decision is final regarding fouls and unfair tactics, except in the cases mentioned in (d). The umpire may appeal to both the referee and linesman for testimony in all cases of fouls seen by them, and it shall be their duty to volunteer their testimony in all cases prescribed in 30(a); but they cannot be appealed to upon these points by the captains or players.

Referee - Shall see that the ball is put in play properly, and he shall be judge of its position and progress. He is also the judge of forward passes, and of running with the ball by the quarter-back. His decision is final in all points not covered by the umpire.

Linesman - shall, under the supervision of the referee, mark the distance gained or lost in the progress of the play, and he shall give testimony as prescribed above. He shall also, under direction of the referee, keep the time, and shall use a stop-watch for so doing.

Note: The umpire shall permit no coaching, either by substitutes, coaches, or any one inside the ropes. If such coaching occurs, he shall warn the offender, and upon the second offense must have him sent behind the ropes for the remainder of the game.

Note: The referee may appeal to both the umpire and linesman for testimony upon all points within his jurisdiction.

Note: Both umpire and referee shall use whistles to indicate the cessation of play on fouls and downs.

Note: Only one official representative for each side shall come upon the field of play in case of an accident to a player.