The Origins of American Football
The beginnings of American Football started in Ancient Greece 2500 years ago. The Ancient Greeks played a game called harpaston which was a very physical and tough game to play. The field size harpaston was played on varied, but the basic goal of the game was to either run with the ball across the other team's goal line, throw the ball to a team mate across the goal line, or kick the ball across the goal line. The other team's job was simple; do not let the other team score by whatever means necessary. The rules end there. The game was so dangerous that it was referred to in literature as a "tough and brutal game". There was no set limit to the number of people on a team or the size of the field so basically it was like a pick up game of football.
While harpaston is an ancient precursor to football, the modern history of the game starts in England with the formation of Rugby in the 19th century. Rugby soon found its way into America and into the colleges. All of the major colleges around 1865 at the end of the Civil War, were experimenting with different versions of ball games like rugby and soccer or a mix of the two. The first intercollegiate football game was between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6th, 1869 and Rutgers won 6 goals to 4. While the game is considered to be the first intercollegiate football game, it was nothing like what football is today.
While harpaston is an ancient precursor to football, the modern history of the game starts in England with the formation of Rugby in the 19th century. Rugby soon found its way into America and into the colleges. All of the major colleges around 1865 at the end of the Civil War, were experimenting with different versions of ball games like rugby and soccer or a mix of the two. The first intercollegiate football game was between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6th, 1869 and Rutgers won 6 goals to 4. While the game is considered to be the first intercollegiate football game, it was nothing like what football is today.
The Father of American Football
Walter Camp (left) is known as "The Father of American Football" for his contributions to the game of football. Walter Camp was a coach at Yale where he added the rules that make football different from other sports.
He is best known for adding the downs system. The downs system is that when the player's knee is down while in possession of the football, the play was over and the player is "down". Originally there were three downs or three tries to get five yards or there is a turnover on downs which means that the teams switch possession of the ball.
Walter Camp also added a smaller field, an eleven man team, and scrimmage to the game of football. Scrimmage is how the team on offense has to hand the ball backwards to start the play.
He is best known for adding the downs system. The downs system is that when the player's knee is down while in possession of the football, the play was over and the player is "down". Originally there were three downs or three tries to get five yards or there is a turnover on downs which means that the teams switch possession of the ball.
Walter Camp also added a smaller field, an eleven man team, and scrimmage to the game of football. Scrimmage is how the team on offense has to hand the ball backwards to start the play.