American Football History

The History Of American Football

There is a widespread, ongoing debate in the United States over where the American sport of football really got its start. No one knows for sure when or where the first game was played, whether those first games were geared more toward what we now call soccer, or the who the first players were. What is generally accepted is that the game of American football is a direct descendent of the British sport of rugby. The similarities between the two sports are indeed striking. You can not use your feet to move the ball in anyone, both games have extensive plays designed to score goals and they are both full contact sports. While rugby players typically use no padding or helmets, American football players are padded extensively, which still does not guarantee any player to go without injury. When, exactly, rugby made its way across the Atlantic to the Northeastern portion of the United States is not confirmed, but most believe it began in the late 1800’s. Yet the etymology of the name of the Americanized sport derives from the fact that the game is played on foot, not that your feet are used to contact the ball.

Development Of American Football

Some say the first game was played in 1869, some claim the first game took place in 1875, but both versions do state that the first match took place between Ivy League schools. After the first game, whenever it may have been, the popularity of the sport grew rapidly. Colleges began regimenting programs to encourage male students to participate and to practice and develop skill in the game. The sport was developed with men dominantly in mind and while there are female leagues in action today, it is still regarded as men-only players allowed. Over the course of several decades, we saw the development of the American Football League or AFL, and the instatement of the National Football League, or NFL. In the early 1970’s however, the two separate leagues merged and became what is still called the NFL.

History Of The American Football

The ball itself used in play has certainly evolved in the past century. Like rugby, the sport began play with a completely round ball, typically made of leather or other varieties of animal skin. Some time in the early 1900’s, the ball took on more of an egg-shape, so designed to provide easier catching ability and a more aerodynamic design. The modern day football can sail much farther than the round balls of old and are made of pigs’ hide, hence the nickname ‘pigskin.’