Football in America

by Jeannie Ray

SPM/210 - SOCIO-CULTURAL ELMNTS OF SPORT: PLAYING WELL W/OTHERS

DR DION DALY

August 6, 2011

Football In America

American football has a long legacy in American History. It can be traced back centuries to

early European cutures, influenced through the years by multiple people, changed the rules

and has become a National phenomenon for Americans. American football is over 100 years

old and still going strong. It has inspired songs, movies and motivated individuals to great

heights in their careers and lives.

American football originated with its earlier form of play that derived from a variation of

the sport Rugby in 1892. There are mentions of Native Americans playing ball games but,

modern American football originates in traditional ball games played at villages and schools in

Europe dating many centuries before America was settled by Europeans. Reports of early

settlers at Jamestown, Virginia playing games with inflated balls in the early 17th century

have been noted in history also. American football is the result of several major divergences

from its earlier form of rugby. The introduction of the line of scrimmage and down-and-

distance are among the first major changes of the game Rugby to its conversion to American

football by Walter Camp. Walter Camp is considered as the father of football. The changes

that he incorporated into collegiate football became dominant in the United States for the first

half of the 20th century. As a result of its growing popularity its name was changed to the

National Football League was developed in 1920. Two years later it became the major league

of American Football.

This was a sport primarily supported by Midwestern industrial towns and eventually

became a national phenomenon. Its popularity can be traced to 1958 when