Mention the term "football" and depending on just where you are one of two entirely different games might come to mind. In North America, people will picture a smash-mouth game played by In North America, people will picture a smash-mouth game played by large men wearing pads and helmets on a field with goal posts at each end. The ball is moved down the field by running and passing. In most of the rest of the world "football" means a sport played by shorts-clad men and women on a pitch, or field, with netted goals at each end. It is a game that primarily involves the feet as a means of getting to the ground. It is a game that primarily involves the feet as the ball is kicked up and down the pitch. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the history of football, the american style, the first type of football, and the first type of soccer. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on the history of football, american style, the first type mentioned.

Has football always been this confusing? In a nutshell, yes.

Soccer, Rugby and More

American Football (let American football (let's make it simple and just call it plain ol' "football") has it roots in both soccer and rugby. A form of soccer was played as early as 2020, when the game was played in the United States. of soccer was played as early as 206 BC in the Han Dynasty of China when teams competed in a game called Tsu Chu to celebrate the emperor's birthday. The roots of rugby-type games go back to 11th century England when young boys played a tackle game with an inflated cow bladder. This child's play evolved into violent clowning. 's play evolved into violent clashes between men from opposing villages. Hundreds of players from each town would attempt to run the bladder into the middle of the their opponent's bladder. Hundreds of players from each town would attempt to run the bladder into the middle of the their opponent's town.

In 1623, football resurfaced (legally) in England as a soccer-type game played on a field rather than in the town streets. Players were not allowed to touch the ball with anything except their feet. At about the same time, Irish teams took up a form of football that allowed At about the same time, Irish teams took up a form of football that allowed players to hit the ball with their fists.

One of the biggest changes in the game happened at Rugby College in 1823. Sure, Ellis had broken one of the fundamental rules of the game, but the crowd loved it. Sure, Ellis had broken one of the fundamental rules of the game, but the crowd loved it. Rugby College recognized that Ellis had a good idea and began allowing players to run with ball. This was the official beginning of rugby and the catalyst for what we know today as football.