When Did Football Start?

If you are an avid fan, at some point you have probably wondered when did football start. The origins of football date back to the 1800s. The beginnings of the game arose from a challenge match between Harvard and McGill College.

The game that started it all was played in 1874. The two teams wanted to play each other in a sporting match. One side wanted to play a game like rugby and the other referring a game like soccer. They compromised and played a game of each.

After the match, the Harvard players had to agree that the game similar to rugby was more fun. Football thus evolved from there.

Walter Camp devised the first set of rules. He is best known for distinguishing football from rugby through the use of ideas such as scrimmage and down-distance measures.

Versions of Football

Although Europeans and most other parts of the world consider "football" to be the game that Americans call soccer, there are many versions of American football played around the globe. In most other countries, they refer to this form of football as American football or gridiron football, among other names. The rules and fields vary slightly but are very close to the rules used for the American version of the game.

When Did Football Become Popular?

While it is hard to pin down when football first made an appearance, it is easier to discuss the first time it gained public recognition. Thus, this can help provide a clearer answer to when did football start?

After starting in the late 1890s, college football developed as a sport between the 1900s and the 1930s. It was well entrenched by the time professional teams came upon the scene.

The college games drew audiences from local areas and the popularity was mainly centered on teams from the elite east coast schools. The next shift was from colleges to local teams in the Midwest when the Midwest began to create organized teams to compete in the region. Amateur football leagues began in the Midwest around 1900.

In 1920, the NFL was formed in Canton, Ohio. The development of these teams into the national professional football teams was steady. They shifted from amateur teams to professional teams and local teams shifted to major cities. Before long, a network of teams stretched across the country and the games had made it to television. Each football season ended in a championship game that was played between the two best teams from that season.

While the first NFL game was played in 1895, it wasn’t until the 1950s that football obtained a large following.

Changes to the Game

Over the years, the game has had many changes. The area with the most changes from the original game involves the equipment and safety devices that the players wear.

When the game started, no safety equipment was used and injuries were common. In 1900 President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid fan, fought to make the game safer. Players began to wear helmets and some padding in strategic places on the body. Even so, when you compare this to all the equipment worn by the players of today, it is easy to see the changes.

Protective gear worn by players today includes helmets with padding and facemasks. They have neck padding to reduce the injuries from extremely hard tackles. They have shoulder pads used to protect the shoulders, clavicle and chest since crushing tackle could easily break a rib.

Hip and thigh pads are standard to avoid injuries from falling and being hit. Shin and knee guards protect player's lower legs from kicks and falling on the knees against the firm ground or AstroTurf. Compared to the original football players, today’s football athlete looks like a virtual spaceman in all his protective gear. 

Rule Changes

The rules have also been refined from the initial games that were played. Over the years, there have been small changes in the rules that allow players and teams to move the ball more efficiently towards their goal. In the 1950s, free substitutions were allowed, which made it possible for teams to field both offensive and defensive teams during a game. So, although the answer to when did football start dates back to the 1800s, many things about the game look quite different today.