The purpose of passing is to keep possession of the ball by maneuvering it on the ground between different players with the objective of advancing it up the playing field.
[1] Passing brings an advantage in that the team secures possession of the ball, without allowing the opposition an opportunity to attack.
It is used in many instances to create an attack or to build up a play [2][3] The aim of a long pass is to switch players or find a teammate in space.
It is usually used to run in behind the defenders and also to create goal-scoring opportunities In 1581 Richard Mulcaster is the first to describe "foteball" teams consisting of players using different positions ("standings"), although passing is not stated explicitly.
Similarly, in 1650 English puritan Richard Baxter in his book Everlasting Rest: "like a Football in the midst of a crowd of Boys, tost about in contention from one to another".
The earliest evidence of an offside rule resembling modern rules and permitting the forward pass comes in 1847 from Eton College: This stated that "A player is considered 'sneaking' [an old, and probably more logical, word for being offside] when only three or less than three of the opposite side are before him and the ball behind him, and in such a case, he may not kick the ball.
[12] During FA meetings to discuss the development of the rules of soccer before 1867 there is evidence that representatives of Charterhouse and Westminster School (whose football games did not involve handling) were advocates of the forward pass.
[14] The original Football Association rules of 1863 state that, "A player shall not be allowed to throw the ball or pass it to another with his hands".
For example, a contemporary match report clearly shows that by 1870, ball passing was a feature of the Engineers style: "Lieut.
[19] For example, In January 1872 the following account is given against Derby: "W. Orton, by a specimen of careful play, running the ball up in close proximity to the goal, from which it was returned to J. Marsh, who by a fine straight shot kicked it through"[20] This play taking place "in close proximity to the goal" suggests a short pass and the "return" of the ball to Marsh suggests that this was the second of two passes.
The Graphic, a London-based weekly newspaper, specifically states, Individual skill was generally on England's side, the dribbling of Kirke Smith, Brockbank, and Ottaway being very fine, while Welch, half-back, showed himself a safe and good kick.