Depending on which part of the world you’re in, the word “football” can mean two things. If you’re in America or Canada, it probably means American football. But if you’re in Europe, it means a different thing— soccer. While soccer is more popular and widely played globally, American football is primarily limited to America and Canada.
Soccer is popularly referred to as the “beautiful game.” However, soccer isn’t the only beautiful game in the world. There are other beautiful games you can play on Zamsino.com.
So, how did these similar yet different sports come about? Isn’t football supposed to be known as football everywhere? Why then did they decide to call a sport American football?
This article will explore the history of soccer and football. We’ll also learn about its differences.
The History of Soccer/Association Football
No one can say for sure where soccer originated. Some say it originated in China, some say Greece, while others swear it started in Rome. As much as sports involving balls were played in these places, football as we know it today, originated in England.
It’s difficult to say precisely where and how modern football started in England. One clear thing is that the sport was made popular in England by schoolboys of public schools who adopted it as a winter sport in the nineteenth century.
The British laid down the rules of the game and formed a body to oversee the sport. As early as 1843, Cambridge University attempted to establish universal rules of play. The rules were known as the “Cambridge rules.”
However, it was not until 1863 that the soccer rules were printed, and the Football Association was formed. By 1870, touching the ball by other players apart from the goalkeeper was banned.
As the sport’s popularity continued to grow, more rules were introduced. Penalty kicks were introduced in 1891, and yellow or red cards were not used until the 1970 world cup finals.
IFAB (International Football Association Board) was formed in 1886, while the international governing body of soccer, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), was formed in 1904. IFAB is the body that determines the rules of soccer. FIFA’s main job is to organize major international soccer tournaments.
The History of American Football
American football, also known as “gridiron football,” started in North American colleges in the late nineteenth century. The inspiration for the sport was drawn from rugby and soccer/association football. After many unofficial games took place on college campuses, the first documented game was played in 1869.
Earlier versions of the game were violent. There weren’t any generally accepted rules. However, all that changed when Walter Camp came into the picture. He is often referred to as the father of American football. He initiated reform in the game and brought about the adoption of many rules that govern the game today.
The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920. It changed its name to the National Football League. More reforms were made as a result of the deaths and serious injuries the game caused. Helmets were made mandatory in college football in 1939, and 1943 for the NFL.
A rival competition to the NFL, the American Football League (AFL), sprang up in 1960. The AFL competed seriously with the NFL for supremacy and usually lured promising players with incentives of higher salaries.
Finally, after six years of unhealthy competition, the two leagues agreed to merge. The winners of the two leagues would play each other at the end of the season in a game initially known as the AFL-NFL World Championship. This annual game was later renamed the Super Bowl.
Why Is It Called American Football?
American football was formed by merging two sports— rugby and soccer. American football and rugby share some similarities. Rugby originated from soccer/association football and was formerly known as rugby football. So the pioneers of the sport decided to call it American football— after all, it is America’s own version of football.
Major Differences Between Soccer and Football
Here are the major differences between soccer and football:
- Soccer is played with the feet, while football is played with the hands
- In soccer, substitutions are limited, while in football, they’re unlimited
- Soccer has two forty-five minutes halves. Football has four fifteen-minute quarters
- Soccer players wear jerseys and boots, while football players wear uniforms, helmets, and shoulder pads
Conclusion
American football indeed originated from soccer, but they’re very different games. Although there are a few similarities, the differences far outweigh them. All in all, both are beautiful games and are delightful to watch.
The next time you hear American football, remember that the game has its roots in soccer and is the American version of European football, hence the name.
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