Below is the text of the playing rules of the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) for the 1906 season, as printed in Spalding's Athletic Library's Official Canadian Foot Ball Guide for 1906. Compare with the 1905 ORFU rules. Note that at the time, the Canadian (CRU), Ontario (ORFU), and Intercollegiate (CIRFU) unions each had their own playing rules; as of 1906, Quebec (QRFU) used the CRU rules. I extracted this text from a PDF scan using OCR software, and while I carefully edited the result it is possible there are errors that I missed or inadvertently introduced. Errors I have noted in the original are marked with [sic].
A diagram of the field is included elsewhere in the Guide without being specifically associated with any of the three sets of rules. Aside from details of internal markings, the diagram is generally applicable to all three unions.
Playing Rules of the Game of the Ontario Rugby Football Union
As Amended December 9, 1905.
I. (a) The game is played by teams of twelve on each side, with a No. 5, match ball and on grounds 110 yards long by 65 yards wide, or as near these dimensions as practicable, with the boundaries distinctly marked by heavy white lines marked upon the grounds. A goal is placed in the middle of each goal line composed of two upright posts exceeding twenty feet in height, placed eighteen feet six inches apart, and with a cross bar ten feet from the ground. Twenty-five yards behind each goal line and parallel thereto is drawn a line which is called the dead ball line. If the natural boundary of the field be less than twenty-five yards behind the goal line, at either end, then such boundary constitutes the dead ball line at that end.
(b) The home team must have the field marked off with white lines every ten yards, parallel to the goal line. Fifteen yards from the touch line on each side of the field, each ten-yard line shall be crossed by a white line, a foot in length, to assist the Referee in judging the distance when the ball is put in play after going into touch. Twenty-five yards from each goal line a white line must be marked across the field. The home team must provide two light poles about six feet in length and connected at the lower ends by a stout cord or chain exactly ten yards long, for measuring the ten yards to be gained in three downs.
MATCH.
II. The length of the game shall be one hour, divided into two halves of thirty minutes each, or four quarters of fifteen minutes each. All games must be played in quarters, unless the Captains otherwise agree. There shall be ten minutes intermission between the two halves or the second and third quarters, but ends shall be changed immediately between the first and second quarters and the third and fourth quarters. In case of a draw, if in the opinion of the referee it is practicable, twenty minutes extra time shall be played, each side playing from the end from which it started the game for ten minutes, and then ends being changed for ten minutes.
NOTE.—Junior and intermediate games may be of shorter duration by mutual agreement between the captains of the competing teams. Such agreements to be made in writing in the presence of the referee and to be signed before the game by the captains of the two teams. This agreement must be forwarded by the referee to the Secretary of the Union with a report of the game.
TIME.
III. Each side shall play an equal time from each goal. Time shall be deducted while the ball is being brought out for a try, kick-out, kick-off or for bringing the ball into play after going into touch, and for all delays. The game shall not be stopped for time, or on account of injury to a player, until the ball is dead or out of play, but in the case of a try or free kick, the kick shall be allowed. No delay from whatever cause shall exceed five minutes.
OFFICIALS.
IV. (a) There shall be only one referee for a match. He shall enforce the rules and penalties, adjudicate upon disputes, or cases unprovided for by the rules; appoint and control an umpire, a linesman, touch and goal judges, and a timekeeper; keep the score and at the conclusion of the match declare the result. The timekeeper shall not be a member of either of the competing teams.
NOTE.—The timekeeper must notify the referee of the time remaining to play not more than five nor less than two minutes before the end of each half, and must remember that time cannot be up until the ball is dead or out of play.
(b) The umpire shall have power to stop the game by sounding a whistle for any infringement of the rules regarding offside, charging, hacking or obstructing, when the ball shall be considered dead. The umpire, after he has sounded his whistle, must inform the referee what rule was infringed and the referee shall inflict the penalty.
(c) Touch judges shall inform the referee how and where the ball goes into touch, and when it is not brought out at right angles to where it went in. Goal judges shall inform the referee when the ball goes over the cross-bar and between the posts (or the posts produced), of the goal.
(d) The ball shall be considered in play until the referee or the umpire (in those cases where authority has been delegated to him under the above rule), stops the game, which either may do at any time, and which must be done at once when any irregularity of play occurs, by sounding a whistle. The decision given shall be final, and not subject to any appeal.
DEFINITIONS.
V. (1) A DROP KICK is made by dropping the ball from the hands to the ground and kicking it with the foot the instant it rises.
(2) A PLACE KICK is made by kicking the ball after it has been placed on the ground.
(3) A PUNT is made by letting the ball fall from the hands and kicking it with the foot before it touches the ground.
(4) A FLYING KICK is made by kicking the ball without touching it with the hands.
(5) A KICK-OFF is a place kick from the centre of the grounds.
The ball shall be kicked more than five yards toward the opponent's goal, and unless it has touched an opponent shall not go out of bounds. In case of infringement the ball shall be kicked off again, but if the ball go twice out of bounds without touching an opponent, it shall be scrimmaged by the side not offending, on the spot where it was kicked.
(b) The opponents shall stand at least ten yards in front of the ball, and shall not advance beyond this restraining line until the ball is kicked. In case of infringement, see Rule V., Section 13.
(c) The ball shall be KICKED OFF:—
- At the commencement of the game by the side making that choice.
- After change of goals by the opposite side.
- After a goal or try has been scored by the side losing the goal or having the try scored against them.
EXCEPTION.—The ball shall not be kicked off after a goal has been scored from the field on a penalty kick or kick from a fair catch.
б. (a) A KICK-OUT is a drop kick from not more than twenty-five yards from the kicker's goal line, and may move any distance toward opponent's goal. The ball shall not go out of bounds unless it has touched an opponent. In case of infringement of this rule the ball shall be kicked out again, but if the ball go twice out of bounds without touching an opponent, it shall be scrimmaged by the side not offending, on the spot where it was last kicked. A player making the kick-out cannot run with the ball unless it has touched an opponent or has been passed after the kick to him by one of his own side. In case of infringement the side not offending shall scrimmage the ball on the 25-yard line.
(b) The opponents shall not interfere with the kicker within twenty-five yards of his own goal line. In case of infringement, see Rule V., Section 13.
(c) The ball shall be kicked out by the side in whose goal it has gone, after a rouge, a touch-in-goal, a safety touch, penalty touch, or a goal from the field on a penalty kick or kick from a fair catch.
(7) When players of opposite sides have hold of the ball, the player who had first hold of, and has not lost the ball, is the POSSESSOR.
(8) The ball is IN TOUCH if it, or a player with it in his possession, or any part of such player, is on or across the touch line. The ball is IN GOAL if it is on or across the goal line. When the ball goes into touch off a player it shall belong to the opposite side; when it is carried into touch it shall belong to the side possessing it.
(9) If the ball is thrown, passed or batted toward the opponent's goal, between the two goal lines, it shall go to the offended side, who shall put it in play by a scrimmage at the spot where the foul was committed.
(10) The ball is DEAD:—
(a) Whenever the referee or umpire blows his whistle.
(b) When the referee has declared that a down, try, goal, safety touch, penalty touch, rouge, or touch-in-goal has been made.
(c) When a fair catch has been marked.
NOTE.—When a player marks a fair catch he must take the kick, place the ball, or the ball must be put in play by a scrimmage where the mark was made.
(d) When it goes out of bounds.
NOTE.—Should the ball strike an official it is not regarded as dead, but play continues.
(11) (a) A FAIR CATCH consists in catching the ball on a forward pass or after it has been kicked by one of the opponents, and before it touches the ground, provided the player, while making the catch, makes a mark with his foot. It is not a fair catch if the ball, after a kick, was touched by another of his side before the catch. Opponents who are off-side shall not come within three yards of nor interfere in any way with a player attempting to make a fair catch, or receiving a bounding ball, but must give him a fair chance to handle the ball. For an infringement of this rule the opposite side shall have, at their option, a free kick where the off-side play occurred or a scrimmage on the spot where the ball was last played by the offending side before such off-side play occurred. If the off-side play occur in goal the free kick shall be taken five yards in front of the goal line, if awarded instead of a scrimmage.
(b) If a side obtains a fair catch the ball must be put in play by a punt, drop kick or place kick, or a scrimmage, and in case of a kick the opponents cannot come within ten yards of the line on which the fair catch was made. A player who has been awarded and takes a free kick by way of fair catch shall himself kick or place the ball, from any point directly behind the mark, but if another of his own side handle the ball before the kick is made, the ball must be put in play by a scrimmage. The ball must be kicked five yards toward the opponent's goal line or touch an opponent, and the kick must be taken from directly behind the mark. In case of infringement the opposite side shall scrimmage the ball where the mark was made.
(c) If a player who has marked a fair catch is thrown to the ground, even by a player on-side, unless he has advanced beyond his mark, his side shall have the choice of putting the ball in play by a kick fifteen yards in advance of the spot where the foul occurred, or a scrimmage on the spot where the ball was last played by an opponent. In no case can the scrimmage be given within the opponent's ten-yard line.
(12) When a FREE KICK BY WAY OF PENALTY is awarded, the referee shall mark the spot, and any player of the side entitled to the kick may set the ball in motion with his foot in any direction and for any distance. The opponents cannot come within ten yards of the line on which the referee awarded the penalty kick.
(13) (a) CHARGING. In all kicks where there is a restraining line, if any of the opponents advance beyond the line restraining them before the kick is made, they shall be moved toward their own goal-line five yards for the first offence. For the second and each subsequent offence on such occasion, they shall be again moved back five yards, and the side in possession of the ball shall advance five yards, the kick being taken from the new mark. When the player of the side having the free kick advances beyond his restraining line or mark with the ball in his possession and fails to kick the ball before passing such line or mark, then the opponents may line up at the kicker's mark. In that case the side having the free kick must kick the ball from some point directly behind the mark if the free kick resulted from a fair catch, and in other cases from behind the new restraining line.
(b) In all kicks, if the kicker's side be ahead of the ball when it is kicked, the opposite side shall be given a scrimmage on the spot from where the kick should have been taken.
(14) A DOWN is when a player, having possession of the ball, stops it so that it is dead.
(15) (a) A TRY is when:—(1) The ball in possession of a player is declared dead by the referee, any part of it being on, over or behind the opponent's goal-line. (2) A player having crossed his opponent's goal-line with the ball in his possession goes without losing it into touch-in-goal, or is on, or across, his opponent's dead ball line.
(b) When a side has obtained a try, except in touch-in-goal, one of its players shall bring the ball straight up to the goal-line, and thence out into the grounds, not more in front of the goal than where it was touched down, or fairly held, and there place it for one of his side to kick.
(c) When a side has obtained a try, except [sic?] in touch-in-goal, one of its players shall bring the ball out on the nearer touch-line and then place it for one of his side to kick.
(d) The kicker's side shall not be in front of the ball when it is kicked, and no player of his side except the placer shall touch the ball until it is kicked, and in case of infringement a goal cannot be scored from such try. The goal shall not be disallowed because of the placer being off-side or in touch.
(e) In case of a try at goal the opponents may charge from the goal-line as soon as the ball is kicked or touches the ground. If an opponent charges or interferes when he has no right to do so, the kicker shall have his kick over again if he claims it.
(1б) A ROUGE is:—
(a) When a player getting possession of the ball in his own goal, makes a down, marks a catch, or is fairly held there.
(b) When the ball, or a player of the defending side having possession of it, is in touch-in-goal.
(c) When the ball, or a player with it in his possession, touches, or is on, or across, his dead ball line.
(17) (a) A SAFETY TOUCH is when a player kicks, carries or passes the ball from the grounds over his own goal line, and he, or one of his side, rouges it.
(b) A PENALTY TOUCH is when a player of the defending side makes a forward pass, behind the goal line.
(18) A match shall be decided by a majority of points. A try shall score five points; a goal from a try, one point; a goal from a drop kick, four points; any other goal, two points; a rouge, one point; a safety touch, two points; a penalty touch, two points.
(19) When the ball is kicked (except by a punt, kick-off, or kick-out) from the grounds without touching the grounds, over the cross-bar and between the posts (or the posts produced), of the opponent's goal, it shall be a goal.
NOTE.—If the ball, after being kicked, strikes an opponent, and then passes over the cross-bar, it still counts a goal.
(20) A FOUL is the violation of any rule. Whenever a foul is committed, which, in the opinion of the referee, did not affect the play, the offended side may decline the penalty.
VI. (a) If the player having the ball is tackled, and the movement of the ball stopped, or if the player having the ball cries "held," the referee shall blow his whistle, and the side having possession of the ball shall put it down for a scrimmage.
(b) There shall be no piling up on the player after the referee has declared the ball dead. In case of piling up on a player after the referee has declared the ball dead, the offended side shall receive fifteen yards.
SCRIMMAGE.
VII. (1) A SCRIMMAGE takes place when the holder of the ball places it upon the ground and puts it in play by kicking it forward, or snapping it back. The ball is always put into play from a scrimmage, except in cases where other specific provision is made by the rules.
NOTE.—Snapping the ball means putting it back by means of hand, by one quick continuous motion from its position on the ground.
(2) If, after the snapper back has taken his position he should voluntarily move the ball or make any motion as if to snap it, whether he withholds it altogether or only momentarily, the ball is in play.
(3) When snapping the ball back, the player so doing must be on-side, the hand used in snapping the ball excepted. In case of infringement the ball shall go to the opponents.
(4) The snapper back is entitled to full and undisturbed possession of the ball. The opponents must neither interfere with the snapper back nor touch the ball until it is actually in play. In the case of interference of any kind with putting the ball into play, the offended side shall be advanced ten yards.
(5) The man who snaps the ball back and the man opposite him in the scrimmage cannot afterwards touch the ball until it has touched some other player than these two. In case of infringement of this section of the rule, the ball goes to the offended side.
(6) If the man who puts the ball in play in a scrimmage kicks it forward, no player of his side can touch it until it has gone ten yards into the opponent's territory unless it be touched by an opponent; any player doing so will be considered off-side and the ball goes to the offended side.
(7) The man who first receives the ball when it is snapped back shall not carry the ball forward beyond the line of scrimmage, unless he has regained it after it has been actually passed to and has touched another player. If he does so the ball shall go to the opponents on the spot.
(8) Before the ball is put in play no player shall lay his hands upon, nor by the use of his hands or arms, interfere with an opponent in such a way as to delay putting the ball in play. For an infringement of this rule the offended side shall be advanced ten yards.
(9) After the ball is put in play, the players on the line of scrimmage of the side that has possession of the ball shall not lock their hands or arms, but only while on the line of scrimmage, may obstruct the opponents with the body only. For an infringement of this rule the offended side shall be given the ball. The player running with the ball may use his hands or arms.
(10) The players of the side not having the ball may use their hands and arms, but only to get their opponents out of the way in order to reach the ball or stop the player. For an infringement of this rule the offended side shall be advanced ten yards.
(11) (a) At the instant the ball is put in play in a scrimmage, the players of the side in possession of the ball must be absolutely motionless. One man of the side having the ball may be in motion towards his own goal without coming to a stop, before the ball is put in play. In case of unlawful starting before the ball is put in play in a scrimmage, the ball shall be immediately given to the opponents.
(b) When the ball is put in play by a scrimmage, at least six players of the side having the ball must be on the line of scrimmage. For an infringement of this rule the opposite side shall be given the ball.
By LINE OF SCRIMMAGE is meant within one yard of a line passing through the centre of the ball and parallel to the goal-line.
(12) (a) If, in three consecutive downs (unless the ball crosses the goal-line) a team has neither advanced the ball ten yards nor taken it back twenty yards, it shall go to the opponents on the spot of the third down.
EXCEPTION: A team may not retain possession of the ball by taking it back twenty yards a second time, unless the ball in the meantime has been in possession of the opponents.
(b) "CONSECUTIVE" means without going out of the possession of the side holding it, except by having kicked the ball they have given their opponents fair and equal chance of gaining possession of it. No kick, however, provided it is not stopped by an opponent, is regarded as giving the opponents fair and equal chance of possession, unless the ball goes beyond the line of scrimmage.
(c) In measuring in downs, the forward point of the ball, and not its centre, shall be taken as the determining point.
(d) When a distance penalty is given, the ensuing down shall be counted the first down, unless this should result to the advantage of the offending side, when the down and the distance to be gained shall remain the same as before the penalty.
(13) There shall be no unnecessary delay in putting the ball in play in a scrimmage. For the first offence on each down the penalty shall be a loss of five yards, and for the second offence on the same down, the loss of the ball.
EXPLANATION.—The intention of this rule is that there should be no dragging of the game, but that teams should put the ball in play at once. It is suggested that signals be given as soon as the referee has declared the ball dead and before the players have lined up. It is considered that an unnecessary delay in putting the ball in play is anything over 20 seconds.
OFF-SIDE.
VIII. (1) A player is OFF-SIDE:—
(a) If, during a scrimmage, any part of him is ahead of the ball when it is put in play. For an infringement of this rule the penalty for the side in possession of the ball is the loss of the ball; for the side not in possession, a loss of ten yards.
EXCEPTION: The hand of the snapper back may be ahead of the ball, as provided for in Rule VI., Section 3.
NOTE.—Ahead of the ball means between the opponent's goal and a line parallel to the goal-line, and passing through the centre of the ball.
(b) If the ball in play has been last touched by any of his own side behind him. A player cannot be off-side behind his own goal-line, but the off-side rule applies to an opponent from his own goal-line to his opponent's dead ball line.
(2) If a player, being off-side, touches the ball or comes within three yards of the place where an opponent touches the ball, or obstructs or annoys an opponent attempting to handle the ball, the opposite side shall have, at their option, a free kick where the off-side play occurred or a scrimmage on the spot where the ball was last played by the offending side, before such off-side play occurred, unless such spot was behind the goal-line, in which case a free kick only shall be allowed. If the off-side play occur in goal, the free kick shall be taken five yards in front of the goal-line, if awarded instead of a scrimmage.
(3) If, when the ball is in play, any player of the side having possession of the ball, being off-side, is charged by players of his own side, and forced to advance towards his opponent's goal, it shall be considered off-side interference, and the penalty shall be the loss of the ball.
(4) An off-side player is placed on-side:
(a) When the ball touches an opponent.
(b) When one of his own side has run in front of him with the ball.
(c) When one of his own side has run in front of him, having been the last player to kick the ball when behind him.
(5) No player shall interfere in any way by blocking or tackling an opponent following the ball on a kick-off, kick-out, free kick by way of penalty, or free kick from a mark. For an infringement of this rule the offended shall be given a scrimmage ten yards in advance of the spot where the offence was committed. In no case can the scrimmage be given closer than the defending side's ten-yard line.
(6) OFF-SIDE INTERFERENCE.—No player of the side in possession of the ball, being ahead of the ball (except as provided for in Rule VI., Section 9), shall hinder or obstruct in any way an opponent running at the player carrying the ball. For an infringement of this rule, the offended side shall be given the ball.
IX. (a) If the ball goes out of bounds, whether it bounds or is blown back, a player of the side to which it belongs must bring it to the spot where the line was crossed, and then walk out with it at right angles to the side line, any distance not less than five yards nor more than fifteen, and then put it down for a scrimmage, first declaring to the referee how far he intends walking. In case of infringement, the opposite side shall immediately bring it into play.
(b) In case the ball is carried out of bounds, the distance to be gained and the number of downs remaining shall be reckoned as if the ball had been declared dead in the field of play.
X. (a) A player may obstruct, interfere with, or hold an opponent who has the ball.
(b) No player shall hack, trip, scragg, or tackle an opponent below the knee, under penalty of a free kick. In case of any infringement of this rule behind the goal line, if claimed, the offended side shall be given a free kick five yards out from the goal-line, at right angles to the spot where the foul occurred. No one shall play in a match wearing projecting metal or gutta percha on any part of his clothing.
XI. If a player makes any unfair or rough play, uses foul language or disputes any decision of the referee or umpire or other officials, the referee may rule him off for the remainder of the game, or for such time as he may deem expedient, and no substitute shall be allowed.
XII. Whenever the rules provide for a distance penalty, if the distance prescribed would carry the ball nearer the goal-line than the ten-yard line, then the ball shall be down on the ten-yard line. If, however, the foul is committed inside the ten-yard line, half the distance to the goal shall be given.
XIII. If a team on the defence commits fouls when so near its own goal that these fouls are punishable only by the halving of the distance to the line (Rule XII.), the object being, in the opinion of the referee, to delay the game, the offending side shall be regarded as refusing to allow the game to proceed. The referee may, in such case, warn the offending side once, and if the offence is repeated, may declare the game forfeited to the opponents.
XIV. In the case of injury to a player, if in the opinion of the referee such player is unable to continue the game, a substitute shall be allowed in the first half; in the second half, unless there is an agreement to the contrary, made before the game in the presence of the referee, substitutes shall not be allowed, and in case of injury to players, the opposing side shall drop man for man.
XV. There shall be no unnecessary delay of the game by either team. The penalty for an infringement of this rule shall be the loss of the ball.