1912 Olympic Games Official Report Part 2

Rules of the Game.1. Field of Play. The distance between the goals shall not exceed 30yards nor be less than 19 yards (27 met.—17 m.); the width shall not be morethan 20 yards (18 m.), and shall be of even width throughout the field of play.The two yard and four yard (met.) penalty lines and the half-distance, shall be clearlymarked on both sides of the field of play.2. Depth. The water shall not be shallower than 3 feet (I*/% m.).3. Goals. Goal posts shall be fixed at each end of the field of play. Thesemust be at least I foot (30 cm.) from the end of the bath or from any obstruction.The width between the posts to be 10 feet (3 m.), and the cross bar to be 3 feet(go cm.) above the surface, when the water is 5 feet (i I/, m.) or more in depth;when the water is less than 5 feet in depth, the cross bar to be 8 feet (2.44 m.)from the bottom. Nets must be attached to the goal-posts in such a way as toenclose the whole goal area, and hang below the surface of the water. The backof the net must be at least 1 foot (30 cm.) behind the goal line and hung from theheight of the cross bar.4. The Ball. The ball, which will be provided by the Swimming Committee,shall be leather-covered and must be round and fully inflated, and shall measurenot less than 27 inches and not more than 28 inches (711 mm.—686 mm.) incircumference. It shall be waterproof, with no strapped seams outside, and nogrease or other objectionable substance on the surface.5. Flags. The necessary flags, etc., for officials will be supplied by the SwimmingCommittee.6. Officials. The officials shall consist of a referee, a timekeeper and twogoal scorers.7. Referee. The duties of the referee shall be:a) to start the game,b) to stop all unfair play,c) to decide all cases of dispute,d) to declare fouls and, generally, see that the rules are observed,e) to decide upon all goals, corner throws and goal throws, whether signifiedby the goal scorer or not.f) Goals, fouls, and other stoppages of the game shall be signified by whistle.The referee’s decision on questions of fact is final, and must be unconditionallycarried out during the game.Note. A referee may alter his decision, providing such alteration be notifiedbefore the ball is again in play. A referee has power to stop play atany period of the game if, in his opinion, the behaviour of the playersor spectators, or other exceptional circumstances, prevent the match fromcoming to a proper conclusion.8. Goal Scorers. The goal scorers, having tossed for choice of ends, shallstand at the side and in a line with the front of each goal, and when they considerthat the entire ball has passed through the goal posts, or over the goal line,at their respective ends only, they shall signify the same to the referee, a redflag denoting a corner; a white flag denoting a goal throw; and both flags todenote a goal. The goal scorers shall not change ends, and shall keep the scoreof goals of each team at their respective ends.9. Timekeeeper. The timekeeper must be provided with an ordinary stop watchand a whistle, which will be provided by the Swimming Committee. He shallnotify half-time and time by a whistle, and the signal shall take immediate effect.10. Time. The duration of a match shall be not more than 14 minutes; 7 minuteseach way. 3 minutes shall be allowed at half-time for change of ends. When the ballcrosses the goal line, whether it be a goal, comer throw or goal throw, it shallbe dead until the restart of the game, or until it leaves the hand of the playertaking the throw, and all such time shall be deducted. Time occupied by disputesor fouls, or when the ball is thrown from the field of play, or lodges on an obstruction,as per Rule 21, shall not be reckoned as in the time of play.11. Teams. Each side shall consist of 7 players, who shall wear drawers,or costumes, with drawers underneath the costumes. No oil or grease or otherobjectionable substance may be rubbed on the body.68 Fifth Olympiad1073