Today's Tidbit... 1876 IFA Rule #42: Kickout Procedure

This is #42 in a series covering football's original 61 rules adopted by the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876. We review one rule each Friday.

Last week we reviewed Rule 41, which defined the kickout and when it applied, and football’s later decision to distinguish safeties from touchbacks. We also covered how touchbacks evolved over time. This article addresses the kickout procedure in more detail and then covers the evolution of the safety.

Rule 42: Kick-out must be a drop kick and f...