The thundering clashes on the gridiron, the soaring spirals through the air, and the strategic use of hands to catch, throw, and carry – it’s a spectacle undeniably known as American football. But for many outside the United States, and even some within, a perplexing question arises: Why Is Football Called Football In America when feet seem to play a secondary role to hands in the sport?
This query is far from simple, diving deep into the historical roots of various ball games and the fascinating evolution of sport itself. To understand why American football carries the “football” moniker, we need to journey back to 19th-century Britain, where the seeds of modern football codes were sown.
The Ancestry of Football: From Soccer to Rugby and Beyond
To grasp the naming puzzle, it’s crucial to understand that “football” wasn’t initially exclusive to the sport we now know as soccer (or association football). In fact, the term “football” has a much broader historical application, referring to a family of games played on foot, as opposed to equestrian sports like polo.
A vintage illustration depicting early forms of football, highlighting the blend of kicking and carrying the ball.
In its earliest forms, what was simply called “football” in Britain was a chaotic and loosely defined activity in villages and schools. These games involved a mix of kicking, carrying, and handling the ball, with rules varying wildly from place to place. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that efforts to standardize and codify these games began, leading to the divergence into distinct sports.
One of the first codified forms became known as Association Football, emphasizing rules that largely restricted the use of hands, focusing primarily on footwork to move the ball. The term “football” was natural here, highlighting the primary method of play. Over time, and particularly in North America, Association Football became known as soccer, a slang shortening derived from “Association.”
Rugby Football: The Forerunner to American Football
Simultaneously, another branch of football was taking shape – Rugby Football. Rugby, originating at Rugby School in England, retained more of the handling and carrying aspects of the earlier forms of football. While kicking was still important, players were allowed to run with the ball in their hands, creating a more dynamic and physical game. Crucially, Rugby was also considered a form of “football” because it was played on foot.
It’s from Rugby Football that American football directly descends. In the late 19th century, rugby began to be played in American universities. However, American college football gradually evolved, diverging from rugby through rule changes introduced primarily by Walter Camp, considered the “father of American Football.” These changes, including the introduction of the line of scrimmage, downs, and the forward pass, progressively distinguished American football from its rugby parent.
The Legacy of “Football” in America
Despite these significant rule changes that emphasized hand-based plays, American football retained the “football” name inherited from its rugby and, more distantly, soccer origins. The historical context is key: the sport evolved from games universally known as “football,” and even with the shift in gameplay, the foundational name stuck.
Therefore, the answer to “why is American football called football?” lies in its historical lineage. It’s a “football” because it originated within the broader family of football games, specifically evolving from Rugby Football, which itself was a codified form of the original, more broadly defined “football.” While the emphasis on hands might seem contradictory to the name today, it’s a testament to the historical evolution of sports terminology. The name is a relic, echoing the sport’s ancestry in the diverse and fascinating history of football games.
