Today's Tidbit... 1876 IFA Rule #39: Toss Up

The toss up was a crucial element of early football games and warranted its own rule.

Rule 39: The captains of the respective sides will toss up before the commencement of the match; the winner of the toss shall have the option of the choice of goals or of the kick-off.

The toss up was the 19th-century British term for the coin toss, which is why we call two events of equal likelihood a toss up. Originally, the captains handled the toss up without the aid of the referee. Then, like other elements ...