This is #49 in a series covering football's original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday. Rule 49 is another instance in which rugby and football rule makers seemed to list the rules randomly at times. Rule 29 described the puntout by indicating that it occurred from behind the goal line, with the ball being kicked to a player on the playing field. It did not tell us where along or behind the goal line the puntout should occur or what the defensive team was permitted to do during a puntout. Between Rule 29 and 49, there were a few rules related to the puntout, so when I covered Rule 29, I described the entire puntout process, including the portion covered in Rule 49.
Today's Tidbit... 1876 IFA Rule #49: Puntout Spot
Bring back the puntout!