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__NOTOC__ __NOTOC__[[File:4cfa9dfc804a63675b92e458ea0e9d1c.jpeg|thumbnail|300px|left|Figure 1. Depiction of <i>Episkyros</i>]]It is almost impossible to pick a date when American Football was invented. The invention of American football was incredibly gradual. Even though American football, while is a relatively young sport, it has slowly developed and evolved over a long history of development and evolutiontime. While we tend to think of it as a uniquely American sport, its origin and history demonstrate that it is complex and variedan evolution of sports that have been played since ancient times.

Additionally, already the idea of using ==Which games inspired American Football?==Ball games or games involving an air-filled ball had developed. Later in the Middle Ages, in Europe, object a type of ball game developed that had towns player possesses while others try to tackle or cities competing with one anotherwrestle have a long history. In this gameWe know of games such as <i>Harpastum</i>, which likely had different rules in various places, teams would form and was a Roman ball would be used where the goals were likely game probably similar to a Greek ball game called <i>HarpastumEpiskyros</i>. This was a type of mob ball or mob football, where towns would try to have bragging rights by beating their rival towns. A few images from the Medieval period show it was a type of team activity(Figure 1).<ref>For more on Medieval ball these early Greco-Roman games, see: CurryNardo, Graham, and Eric DunningDon. 20151999. <i>Association Football: A Study in Figurational SociologyGreek and Roman Sport. World History Series.</i> Routledge Research in Sports History. New YorkSan Diego, CA: RoutledgeLucent Books.</ref>We do not know the exact rules for each of these games but it seemed to involve a ball where two teams would try to score or place the ball in a position that would register the game's points while the other team would tackle and try to prevent the other team from scoring. In essence, the basic concept is the same as sports such as rugby and American football. During this time period, the idea of using an air-filled ball developed.

==Later DevelopmentsWhen was American Football Invented?==[[File:1895 Auburn - Georgia football game at Piedmont Park in Atlanta Georgia.jpg|left|350px|thumbnail|Figure 2. Auburn vs. Georgia football game in 1895.]]Up until the 19th century, many versions of what can be called mob football existed. In fact, this variety of football may have inspired alternative ideas about has muddled the development story of how American footballdeveloped, although but historians believe that the formation of American football was ultimately tied to the development of rugby. Older American universities, particularly Harvard and Yale, had developed student football traditionsthat resembled a cross between rugby and mob football.<ref>For more on the origins and influence of mob football, rugby, and other related sports, see: <i>The DNA of Rugby Football A Short History of the Origin of Rugby Football</i>. 2015. Partridge Africa.</ref> These games initially had few clear rules except masses of students would play together and two sides would compete to possess a ball and try to achieve some win points with this ball. The games were more like soccer but much more violent. In fact, some places began banning the sports due to the excessive violence.

Things began to change, however, by 1869, when Rutgers and Princeton played what effectively became known as the first intercollegiate football game.<ref>For more on the first game and early history of American football, see: Whittingham, Richard. 2001. <i>Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football</i>. New York: Free Press, pg. 30</ref>. This game was still very different from American football but was a watershed because it standardized the game, with rules being set prior to the match. Furthermore, early coaches, names of positions, and many early strategies have their origin with this game, effectively making it a key moment in the history of American football. Nevertheless, scoring involved kicking the ball, which was the origin of the field goal, and the two teams each had 25 players. In 1876, an association of Harvard, Columbia, and Yale formed a group that formalized rules, although kicking was the way in which a team would score points. That was the year the first formal Thanksgiving game was also played. By 1875, what became the touchdown was invented. It was only by 1881 that the touchdown took precedent over the field goal. Throwing the football first occurred in 1895, which only emerged as a team was desperate to score before time ran out.<ref>For more on the late 19th century development of American football, see: Coombs, Danielle Sarver, and Bob Batchelor, eds. 2013. <i>American History through American Sports: From Colonial Lacrosse to Extreme Sports</i>. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.</ref>

By this timeIn 1876, many universities in the east coast and increasingly in the west coast began to adopt the emerging game an association of American football (Figure 2). HoweverHarvard, Columbia, this was still considered an illegal move and it was not until 1906 Yale formed a group that the forward pass was formally adoptedformalized rules, although limitations existed with how it kicking was applied and the way in which a team would score points. That was still a minor part of the year the first formal Thanksgiving gamewas also played. By 19051875, what became the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)touchdown was invented. It was only by 1881 that the touchdown took precedent over the field goal. Throwing the football first occurred in 1895, which helped to not only organize games around the country but helped establish more formal rules, emerged as a team was formeddesperate to score before time ran out. By then, <ref>For more than 432 cities had some form on the late 19th-century development of American football team, see: Coombs, Danielle Sarver, and Bob Batchelor, eds. Even the concept of the halftime show emerged by 1907 in Champaign, Illinois2013. The popularity of football may have reflect <i>American History through American social norms at the timeSports: From Colonial Lacrosse to Extreme Sports</i>. Santa Barbara, which included embracing leisure activities in greater numbers and the social Darwinian aspects of the game, which emphasized competition and fitness for the best teams and playersCalif: Praeger.</ref>

In 1909By this time, a touchdown worth six points many universities on the east coast and field goal worth three were formalizedincreasingly on the west coast began to adopt the emerging game of American football (Figure 2). At However, this point, American football developed more greatly as was still considered an illegal move and it was not until 1906 that the game forward pass was opened up more. In fact, as more universities formally adopted football, although limitations existed with how it also became an interest for universities to protect their players was applied and studentswas still a minor part of the game. A crisis in By 1905-1906 led to , what became the realization there needed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which helped to be changes in not only organize games around the country but helped establish more formal rules in , was formed. By then, more than 432 cities had some form of an American football to make it less violentteam. Thus, many Even the concept of the rules were intended to protect players but they also helped radically change the gamehalftime show emerged by 1907 in Champaign, Illinois.<ref>For more on the early 20th century developments The popularity of American football, see: Dyreson, Mark, and Jaime Schultz. 2015. <i>American National Pastimes: A History</i>.</ref> It may seem ironic but it was finding new rules to protect players that allowed have reflected American football to begin to look even more different from its rugby counterpart. In particularsocial norms at the time, rules protecting the passer became of which included embracing leisure activities in greater importance. Rules for catching the ball numbers and who can catch the ball downfield were made easier by social Darwinian aspects of the 1910s. Further crises of safetygame, where at which emphasized competition and fitness for the high school level many best teams and players died or were severely injured, influenced more reforms.<ref>For more on injuries, see: Coombs, Danielle Sarver, and Bob Batchelor, eds. 2013. <i>American History through American Sports: From Colonial Lacrosse to Extreme Sports</i>. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, p. 246.</ref> I

n particular==When did modern football begin to Emerge?==In 1909, the introduction of the line of scrimmage a touchdown worth six points and number of players that had to align there has its origin in this crisisa field goal worth three were formalized. At times in the 1910sthis point, American football developed more greatly as the game was severely criticized opened up more. In fact, as more universities adopted football, it also became an interest for its excessive violence universities to protect their players and what appeared students. A crisis in 1905-1906 led to the realization there needed to be overly competitive behavior that emphasized winning at all costs. World War I, however, changed in the rules in a way made those sentiments American football to make it less importantviolent. Thus, as competition and athletics many of the rules were seen as ways for men intended to become better soldiers. This protect players but they also helped to make radically change the game once again very popular and allowed it to survive its crises years regarding safety.<ref>WattersonFor more on the early 20th century developments of American football, John Saylesee: Dyreson, Mark, and Jaime Schultz. 20002015. <i>College FootballAmerican National Pastimes: A History, Spectacle, Controversy</i>. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 143.</ref>

It may seem ironic but it was finding new rules to protect players that allowed American football to begin to look even more different from its rugby counterpart. In particular, rules protecting the passer became of greater importance. Rules for catching the ball and who can catch the ball downfield were made easier by the 1910s. Further crises of safety, where at the high school level many players died or were severely injured, influenced more reforms.<ref>For more on injuries, see: Coombs, Danielle Sarver, and Bob Batchelor, eds. 2013. <i>American History through American Sports: From Colonial Lacrosse to Extreme Sports</i>. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, p. 246.</ref>  In particular, the introduction of the line of scrimmage and the number of players that had to align there has its origin in this crisis. At times in the 1910s, American football was severely criticized for its excessive violence and what appeared to be overly competitive behavior that emphasized winning at all costs. World War I, however, in a way made those sentiments less important, as competition and athletics were seen as ways for men to become better soldiers. This helped to make the game once again very popular and allowed it to survive its crises years regarding safety.<ref>Watterson, John Sayle. 2000. <i>College Football: History, Spectacle, Controversy</i>. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, p. 143.</ref> ==Emergence of When was the Modern GameNational Football League (NFL) Created?==What ultimately became the National Football League originated in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA).<ref> For more on the emergence of modern professional American football, see: Delaney, Tim, and Tim Madigan. 2009. <i>Sports: Why People Love Them!</i> Lanham, Md: University Press of America, pg. 45.</ref> Fourteen teams were the founding members but it soon expanded to twenty-two. The collegiate game, however, continued to influence how the game was played. By 1922, the NFL was formally named. By the 1930s, passing rules were modified further that which arguably made the game more like the modern one. The removal of a penalty or loss of five yards for a second incomplete pass and a loss of possession for an incomplete pass in the end zone now made passing a more important factor in American football. This helped to open up the game and subsequent rule changes helped to facilitate passing.

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