On November 23, 1876, representatives from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia satisfied on the Massasoit Property lodge in Springfield, Massachusetts to standardize a new code of guidelines depending on the rugby recreation 1st launched to Harvard by McGill College in 1874. The principles have been based mostly mostly about the Rugby Football Union's code from England, however one particular critical variation was the alternative of the kicked aim using a touchdown as the principal implies of scoring (a modify that will later happen in rugby itself, favoring the check out as the most crucial scoring celebration).
A contemporary down indicator box is mounted with a pole and is particularly utilized to mark The existing line of scrimmage. The selection over the marker is improved employing a dial. Officials are accountable for enforcing game rules and checking the clock. All officers have a whistle and use here black-and-white striped shirts and black hats apart from the referee, whose hat is white. Each and every carries a weighted yellow flag which is thrown to the ground to signal that a foul has long been termed.