Who Invented Football

The problem is that the word 'football' is used in more ways than one, to denote very different games. What Americans know as football is known as American football all over the world, while what Americans call soccer, is known as football in the rest of the world. Thus we can see that the word football may refer either to soccer or American football. So to put things in order, let me divide this article into two parts: American football and football (soccer).

The Creation of Football

The first part of this article is about who invented soccer, because, let's face it, soccer came first! So it makes sense to set the article in the chronological order!

It is hard to say which country or which culture came up with soccer first, but evidence suggests that a game similar to football-if not football itself-has been played by the people in various cultures right from China to Europe. The basic framework-if not the exact rules-of the game was largely similar: to shoot a ball into a demarcated area defined by a pair of sticks. So there is no sure-fire answer to the question what country invented football.

The first modern documented evidence of soccer rules can be found in the rules laid down at England's Trinity College at Cambridge in 1848. The rules were known as the 'Cambridge Rules' back in the day. Hence in that sense it is pertinent to state that football was invented by the representatives of various universities across the UK, namely Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Shrewsbury, and Winchester. The first formal association to govern soccer was also born in England, in 1863. In that year, the Football Association (The FA) was formed to govern all the rules and solve any football related disputes arising in the UK. Today, the FA is still the highest authority governing football in England.

The Creation of American Football

The origins of American Football or Gridiron can also be traced to England.

The game known as American Football finds its origin in what is known as Rugby Football. The story of how Rugby was invented has been etched in the footballing memories. It was a simple case where a young rebellious British lad William Webb Ellis, from the Rugby College in England decided that he doesn't really like kicking the ball, so he picked it up in his hands and ran the stretch of the field and deposited the ball into the goal with his hands. Now there is no way we can know if someone thought of this idea before William Webb Ellis, but posterity will continue to credit him for inventing this game.

As the popularity of this game grew, it was exported to other countries like Canada, Australia, Ireland and the US, who made their bit part changes to the rules. Walter Camp is widely regarded as the person who invented football in America. Walter Camp brought in some defining alterations to the traditional game of Rugby in America. American Football's governing body is known as the National Football League (NFL). The popularity of the game has soared to such a scale that the Super Bowl, which is the final game has become the most watched TV event in the United States.

As you can see, it is very hard to say who invented the games and when. While the origins of American football are better documented, the history of football don't quite enjoy the same distinction. But hey, they're both really great games to play!