Why dont they call american football throwball instead. they must only kick the ball a few times a game.?

Answer 1

Summary: American Football descended from the developments of football and rugby in the UK. Gridiron is known as football n the US because it is how football or soccer developed within the US.

Detail:

Both American football and soccer have their origins in varieties of football played in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century, and American football is directly descended from rugby football.

Rugby was first introduced to North America in Canada, brought by the British Army garrison in Montreal which played a series of games with McGill University. (See Comparison of American football and rugby.)

Both Canadian and American football evolved from this point. For an in-depth overview of the differences and similarities of Canadian football and American football see: Comparison of Canadian and American football.

American colleges spearheaded the growth of football. The first inter-collegiate football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton Universities on November 6, 1869. The game was won by Rutgers (6-4) although "The game, which bore little resemblance to its modern-day counterpart, was played with two teams of 25 men each under rugby-like rules, but like modern football, it was 'replete with surprise, strategy, prodigies of determination, and physical prowess,' to use the words of one of the Rutgers players." - Rutgers Football

American football in its current form grew out of a series of three games between Harvard University and McGill University of Montreal in 1874. McGill played rugby football while Harvard played the Boston Game, which was closer to soccer. As often happened in those days of far from universal rules, the teams alternated rules so that both would have a fair chance. The Harvard players liked having the opportunity to run with the ball, and in 1875 persuaded Yale University to adopt rugby rules for their annual game. In 1876 Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, which used the rugby code, except for a slight difference in scoring.

In 1880 Walter Camp introduced the scrimmage in place of the rugby scrum. In 1882 the system of downs was introduced to thwart Princeton's and Yale's strategy of controlling the ball without trying to score. In 1883 the number of players was reduced, at Camp's urging, to eleven, and Camp introduced the soon standard arrangement of a seven-man offensive line with a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback.

On September 3, 1895 the first professional football game was played, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, between the Latrobe YMCA and the Jeannette Athletic Club. (Latrobe won the contest 12-0.).

By the 1890s interlocking offensive formations such as the flying wedge and the practice of teammates physically dragging ball-carrying players forward had made the game extremely dangerous. Despite restrictions on the flying wedge and other precautions, in 1905 eighteen players were killed in games. President Theodore Roosevelt informed the universities that the game must be made safer. To force them to respond to his concerns, he threatened to pressure Congress to make playing football a federal crime.

In 1906, two rival organizing bodies, the Intercollegiate Rules Committee and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, met in New York; eventually they agreed on several new rules intended to make the game safer, among them the addition of a neutral zone between the scrimmage lines and a requirement that at least six players from each team line up on them. The most far-reaching innovation they considered, though, was the legalization of the forward pass. This was very controversial at the time, much derided by purists. As an alternative means of opening out the play, Walter Camp would have preferred widening the field; but representatives from Harvard pointed to recently constructed Harvard Stadium, which could not be widened, and the forward pass was adopted; it has come to shape the whole history of American football, as opposed to its cousins around the world.

In 1910, after further deaths, interlocking formations were finally outlawed; and in 1912 the field was changed to its current size, the value of a touchdown increased to 6 points, and a fourth down added to each possession. The game had achieved its modern form.

Answer 2

Because the game has evolved considerably since it's inception in the mid-1800's. Originally the game was played more like Rugby. The advent of the forward pass changed the game drastically but, the name stuck. Now, can you explain why you call your version of baseball cricket. Also, what's with the week long games?

Answer 3

you know what the better question would be? when will people stop asking this stupid question honestly it is asked at least 5 times a week,whats next why is a parkway called a parkway when you drive in it and why is a driveway called a driveway when you park in it??? or what hurts more getting kicked in the nuts or going through labor??? (personally that one is answered to getting kicked in the nuts) but i guess america didn't expect people to ask so many questions!

Answer 4

Me and my friends like watching it and love real football (soccer) to tell the difference we call it Yanksball, because its quicker than american football.

Answer 5

A splendid query. I might even suggest it be called "Carryball" since they carry it more than they throw it.

But then, why is Rugby called Rugby?

There are no rugs or insects in the game at all.

Answer 6

because it is the real football....you must have fast footspeed and kicking the ball can make or break the game....Europeans should fallow in suite and just call thier football soccer....

Answer 7

Throwball, in your terms, would be baseball.

Answer 8

throwball?

Dumb, but I must admit its unique.

Answer 9

cos americans are thick
Evidence..........George W Bush
i rest my case

rugby is named after Rugby school where the game was first played
doh

Answer 10

Helmet handball - that's what they should call it! I totally agree with you football is what people call soccer,