Why is American football named so when kicking is not the main part of the sport?

Question

Some suggestions: Holding ball
Feeling balls
Bushball
Hairy ball

starrwoode
Level 6

"i suggest you simply dry up like the sickening pimple you are."

i think someones mad lol

Aphrodite Jones
Level 2

"Football has always been like that. The original English football that evolved into soccer was a ball-handling game, too"


kk thanks very much for a real answer : ) nice one

Answer 1

Now. But it used to be. Originally, American football was more like Rugby, but without the rules. The only "rule" was to get the ball into the end zone. There was alot of kicking the ball around and picking it up when necessary.

Now, it's a much more structured game, but the name remains.

Answer 2

Football has always been like that. The original English football that evolved into soccer was a ball-handling game, too. The whole town involved, with goals at either end of the town. Basically just a big fight.

It was the Victorians that set down rules, including no picking up of the ball, when Association Football was created.

Answer 3

Like everything in the states, the world invents something which is good so the usa copy but change the name. When you look through history not very much has come out of the us, unless it's someone from another country moved across then invented or discovered something. sad but true

Answer 4

Whoa, whoa, whoa. this is America buddy, and naming things without making any sense is what makes this country great. Doing things without making any sense is what makes this country so freaking awesome. Though I do like the name feeling balls, that is freaking hilarious. But it makes too much sense to work in America.

Answer 5

This question is asked daily because the british are still mad that they don`t control us anymore. Thats why they pick on our superior sport!!

Answer 6

i beleive it's called football because the actual ball is a foot long

Answer 7

Limey, who won the American Revolutionary War?

Answer 8

i suggest you simply dry up like the sickening pimple you are.

Answer 9

Welcome to America, we take dumb-*** sports, like so-queer, and turn them into things that intelligent people will watch. Sorry, if no one took the time to change the name. At least they changed the sucky part.

Answer 10

cos if you just called it football - people would confuse it with a proper sport.