Today's Tidbit... 1876 IFA Rule #55: Charge At Once

This is #55 in a series covering football's original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday.

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A free kick occurred when a team could punt or kick the ball while the opposing team was kept behind a restraining line and could not charge until the punter or kicker executed specific actions. Rule 54 prescribed the requirements of the defensive team in those situations. Rule 55 does the opposite by detailing other cases in which the defensive team could charge if the punter or kicker violated the norms of certain situations.