I have always been intrigued as to why soccer is not called Football in America. I mean, basketball involves a basket and a ball, thus basketball. But American Football does not involve using your feet for the majority of the game. Tackleball would be a more descriptive name. It's just illogical.
2007-01-20 19:25:25 · 20 answers · asked by Badbone 1 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ Other - Football
American football use to be soccer, but back in the late 1800s and these games were often played by colleges that would set the rules before the game. Then rugby rules were introduced in Europe. The Oneida Football Club in 1861 created a hybrid game where players could pick the round ball up and run or just kick the ball to score. Harvard University picked up on the rules.
Harvard University liked the rugby rules so much they were generally isolated from the other Universities that liked the kick only rule.
Finally Harvard played Yale in 1876 and like I said before, the two sides drew the rules before the game as was tradition. This game's rules featured touchdowns and field goals.
Between 1880 and 1883, the Yale coach reduced the number of players to 11, the down rule was introduced, along with the offensive line, the quarterback, the running back and the fullback.
In 1892 the flying wedge (where teammates literally ran holding hands/interlocking arms as a form as a form of screeing) was introduced which caused major injuries and death. Also players with the ball were literally dragged by teammates.
In 1905, 18 players were killed around the country and threats of outlawing the game were introduced by the Universities and the U.S. government. The 1905-1906 rules to make it safer introduced the forward pass.
The new rules didn't help as in 1908, 33 players were killed. Plays involved holding hands/interlocking arms was forbidden in 1910, which decreased the death rate.
1912 rule set generally created the general rules we see today although every year there is a chance for new rules and there has been. For instance, the ban on excessive celebrations is only like 10 years old and I think the 2 point conversion in the NFL is only like 4 years old.
2007-01-20 20:30:25 · answer #1 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It is called football in England and soccer most other places in the English speaking world at least.. Certainly in Ireland it is called soccer. Also what about Australia where 'footie' is Aussie Rules football ?
2007-01-20 19:53:35 · answer #2 · answered by john d 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Apparently you all have it in for Americans. Wow! I like football, American or any other. I like soccer too. After all it is the same thing. I don't care what they call it as long as I can watch sport. Who cares what they call it. Are there 22 players kicking a ball? Do you enjoy watching it? If the answer is yes, Why do you bother on a petty thing like "it is not called soccer....Americans don't know.....they use miles instead of kms......Americans Steal from the English....." What are you two years old?????
Thumbs up for Americans playing soccer, thumbs up for Europeans playing football, thumbs up for the Aussies playing footie. Lets enjoy the game please!!!
P.S. I am not an American
2007-01-20 19:57:18 · answer #3 · answered by jamidami 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The term Soccer came from England where they had two games. Rugby Football and Soccer Football. The British dropped the term "Football" from Rugby whereas Americans dropped "Football" from Soccer.
2016-03-14 08:58:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no long story to this other than the fact "football" in the US starts with the ball being kicked off, hence the name Football. That's how it starts.
There's nothing illogical about it. People that don't have but one sport in their country often have this problem. I would suggest expanding your horizons.
If you really want to ask about a game ask why they named a sport after a bug? Cricket? What could possibly be more ridiculous?
2007-01-20 19:40:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Football is football all over the world and its the most popular sport in the world. Thats why i think the american's named the NFL what it is so people from different countries will think its their football, but when tuning in they will realize that its really handball they will have to be redirected to soccer. Asking why "soccer"? American football should be soccer because all they do is sock each other all day. And give back football to its true form.
2007-01-20 19:42:54 · answer #6 · answered by sparky 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Football in america and new zealand refers to rugby not soccer, so soccer has a different name...thus the name soccer
2007-01-20 19:34:23 · answer #7 · answered by ♪ Rachel ♫ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The oldest known football game was cuju, played in China in the the 2nd century BC.
2007-01-20 19:47:04 · answer #8 · answered by Adonis 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there is 2 kinds of football in America first is football and second is soccer. the reason is that when they tried to set football rules some of the men in the conference were thought that it will be more beautiful if use of the hand be permitted to. at last they left the conference and designed a diff rent game called football .and so that kind of football that you know must be called diff rent and soccer preferred.as you understood my English is very bad.
2007-01-20 20:08:46 · answer #9 · answered by mahyar 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Because they have no idea what football is. They suck in football so when we say america suck in football they say no we are the best and they mean american football. And yes america not the USA or US everyone says america even arabic and japanese but america say we are usa
2015-09-23 15:27:37 · answer #10 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋