Today's Tidbit… 1876 IFA Rule #8: Dead Ball

This is #8 in a series covering football’s original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday.

---

(1905 Army Yearbook)

Rule 8: The ball is dead when it rests absolutely motionless on the ground.

Although Rule #8 pertains to a kicked or dropped ball that comes to rest, its more important application comes in defining touchdowns and downs. As we will see in upcoming rules, a touchdown requires touching and holding the ball to the ground behind the goal line. Likewise, once tackled, the ball carrier must be held to the ground before acknowledging the situation by yelling, “Down.”

In future years, football outlawed crawling by ball carriers and piling on by defenders. The concept of forward progress entered the game, followed by “down by contact”

---

For previous stories in the series, click Intro | Rules #1 Drop Kick | #2 Place Kick | #3 Punt | #4 Goal Posts | #5 Goal | #6 Goal ≠ Punt | #7: Scoring

---

Celebrate the seasons with one of my books. More here.

Subscribe for free and never miss a story. If you are a regular reader, consider a paid subscription to support my work.